An Essential Guide to Infusions for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis & GI Disorders
A patient-friendly walk-through of Entyvio, Remicade, Inflectra & Avsola infusion treatments
When digestive issues interfere with daily life, infusion therapy can start to factor into treatment conversations. For patients living with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), medical infusions can help manage inflammation at its source, rather than simply treating surface-level symptoms.
In fact, infusion therapy for GI disorders can work with the immune system in incredibly precise ways, transforming how conditions like UC and Crohn’s are treated.
With that, patients considering infusions for Crohn’s or UC often want clarity around several key details, including:
At LUX Infusion, Crohn’s disease and UC infusions are delivered with both clinical precision and patient comfort in mind, combining evidence-based treatments with personalized care in a setting designed to make ongoing therapy more manageable.
What Is Medical Infusion Therapy for Crohn’s & UC?
Medical infusions for GI disorders are intravenous (IV) treatments used to manage immune-mediated inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
In conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the immune system attacks the lining of the digestive tract, contributing to symptoms like:
Abdominal pain
Bleeding
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Flare cycles.
Infusion medications, which are often biologics, can target the specific immune pathways responsible for inflammation. Rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, these therapies are designed to interrupt precise signals that drive GI inflammation.
Over time, this can help:
Reduce intestinal inflammation
Support remission and mucosal healing
Decrease flare frequency and severity
Improve long-term digestive function and quality of life.
By delivering medications directly into the bloodstream, Crohn’s and UC infusions allow for consistent dosing and reliable absorption. Treatments are typically scheduled at regular intervals, creating a predictable care routine for patients managing chronic GI conditions.
Common Infusion Medications for Crohn’s, UC & GI Disorders
Several infusion medications are widely used to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and related GI disorders. While all aim to reduce inflammation, they can work in distinct ways, selectively targeting the gut. That can result in unique dosing, infusion schedules, and more.
Among the most commonly prescribed infusion therapies for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are:
Comparing Infusion Medications for GI Disorders
Understanding the differences between various infusion medications for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease can help patients have more informed conversations with their care team.
| Medication | Primary Uses | Typical Infusion Duration | Infusion Frequency | Drug Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entyvio (vedolizumab) | Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease | ~30 minutes | Every 8 weeks (after loading doses) | Gut-selective integrin receptor antagonist |
| Remicade (infliximab) | Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, other autoimmune conditions | ~4 hours | Every 8 weeks (after loading doses) | TNF-α inhibitor biologic |
| Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) | Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis | ~2 hours | Every 8 weeks (after loading doses) | TNF-α inhibitor biosimilar |
| Avsola (infliximab-axxq) | Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis | ~2 hours | Every 8 weeks (after loading doses) | TNF-α inhibitor biosimilar |
Please be aware that:
Typical infusion durations listed above do not include the time it takes to check in, prepare for infusions, or conduct post-infusion monitoring. It simply refers to the average time it takes for the drug to be administered via IV therapy.
Exact schedules and infusion times may vary, based on provider guidance and individual patient response.
Entyvio Infusions for Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
Entyvio® (vedolizumab) is a biologic infusion therapy designed specifically to target inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It works by blocking certain white blood cells from migrating into inflamed gut tissue, making it a gut-selective treatment, rather than a systemic immune suppressant.
This targeted approach is generally why Entyvio is commonly prescribed for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, particularly in patients who want focused GI inflammation control.
Because Entyvio primarily acts in the digestive tract, it may be an option for patients seeking a therapy with limited immune activity outside the gut.
Entyvio infusions are typically administered after a loading phase, followed by maintenance infusions every eight weeks. The shorter infusion times typically associated with these UC and Crohn’s infusions are often appealing for patients managing long-term GI treatments.
Remicade Infusions for Crohn’s & UC
Remicade® (infliximab) is a well-established biologic infusion therapy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It works by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a key inflammatory protein involved in autoimmune activity.
Because TNF-α plays a role in several inflammatory diseases, Remicade is used across multiple autoimmune conditions.
For GI disorders, it has a long history of helping patients:
Achieve remission.
Reduce steroid dependence.
Maintain symptom control over time.
Remicade infusions typically take longer than newer therapies and require careful monitoring during administration.
At LUX Infusion, patients receiving Remicade infusions can benefit from experienced clinical oversight in a comfortable, spa-like setting.
Inflectra Infusions for Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s Disease
Inflectra® (infliximab-dyyB) is a biosimilar to Remicade®, meaning it is highly similar in structure, safety, and effectiveness while meeting strict FDA approval standards. Like Remicade, Inflectra targets TNF-α to reduce immune-driven inflammation in the digestive tract.
For many patients, Inflectra offers a clinically equivalent alternative, often influenced by insurance coverage or formulary preferences.
The infusion process, duration, and dosing schedule closely mirror those of Remicade.
As a result, Inflectra has become a common option for patients:
Starting biologic infusion therapy for GI disorders
Transitioning from brand-name infliximab infusion treatments.
Avsola Infusions for UC & Crohn’s
Avsola® (infliximab-axxq) is another Remicade® biosimilar approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It works by inhibiting TNF-α to help control inflammation and reduce immune activity in the digestive tract.
Avsola is often selected based on insurance coverage, formulary access, and/or provider recommendation.
Clinically, it follows the same infusion protocols as other infliximab-based therapies, including initial loading doses followed by maintenance infusions every 8 weeks.
At LUX Infusion, all medical infusions are administered with consistent safety monitoring, clinical expertise, and patient-focused care to support comfort, continuity, and confidence throughout treatment.
Infusion Therapy for Crohn’s & UC: FAQs
Starting Crohn’s or UC infusion therapy can raise a lot of questions, especially if you’re new to treatment or considering a change in care. Below are some helpful answers to common questions patients tend to ask about infusions for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
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Infusion times vary by medication, patient tolerance, and other factors. While some therapies, like Entyvio infusions, are generally shorter (~30 minutes), others—like infliximab-based therapies—can take 2 or more hours.
With infusion durations, it’s crucial to know that:
No matter what medications patients are receiving, it takes time to check in, get the infusion going, and monitor patients afterward.
As patients get more accustomed to receiving UC or Crohn’s infusions, they may tolerate it better, which can reduce the time it takes to receive these treatments.
An experienced infusion provider can share more specifics about timing and what to expect when you book an appointment.
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Most infusion therapies for GI disorders begin with a loading phase that requires one or more sessions within the first six to eight weeks of starting a course of the medication.
After this loading phase, maintenance infusions can usually occur every eight weeks.
However, your gastroenterologist may adjust the frequency of your infusion sessions, based on your condition and response to treatment.
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Yes. Infusion therapy is commonly part of long-term management plans for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, helping to:
Achieve and maintain remission.
Reduce flare-ups over time.
While a gastroenterologist may adjust dosing, medications, or other aspects of care as needs change, infusion therapy is often a core part of ongoing disease management for many patients.
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LUX Infusion provides a calm, patient-centered environment staffed by experienced infusion professionals.
Our team coordinates closely with care providers to ensure safe, comfortable, and consistent treatment that’s convenient and tailored to each patient’s needs.
Why Choose LUX Infusion?
LUX Infusion is an NICA-accredited infusion center that offers high-quality infusion therapy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, with a focus on safety, comfort, and coordinated care, helping patients feel confident at every stage of treatment.
If you’re exploring infusion options for UC, Crohn’s disease, or related GI conditions, our team is here to answer questions and help you schedule treatment.
