1. What are the side effects?
3. How are these medications different from other IBD treatments?
4. Will they lose their effectiveness over time?
5. What results can be expected from these medications?
2. What is known about these medications long term?
FAQs About S1Ps, Answered
5
People who take S1P receptor modulators most commonly experience adverse reactions that include elevated liver enzymes, upper respiratory infections, and headaches.
A study published in January 2021 in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis showed that Zeposia was safe and effective when taken by people with ulcerative colitis for up to four years. Improvement in symptoms occurred over the first two years of treatment. Velsipity, on the other hand, has only been studied so far in people taking it for up to a year.
2. What is known about this medication long term?
S1P receptor modulators are the only ulcerative colitis drug category that works on S1P receptors. They are taken by mouth, unlike some medications, which are given by infusion or injection.
Although longer-term studies are still needed, S1P receptor modulators are not expected to wane in effectiveness like some other ulcerative colitis drugs. One possible reason: People are unlikely to develop antibodies against the medication.
The results of clinical trials showed that Zeposia improved UC symptoms in about half of patients, and 15 percent achieved remission, says Moss. In clinical trials of Velsipity, 32 percent of patients achieved remission after taking the drug for a year.
