People stop taking their UC medication for a number of reasons, says Phanijphand.
One of the leading reasons is the steep cost of many UC medications, according to a research review published in 2025. The out-of-pocket cost for prescription medicines can run more than $2,000 per year, while the cost of UC care in general can run from roughly $15,000 to $25,000 per year, according to an earlier study.
These costs may increase as new medications become more common in UC treatment regimens. For example, around half of all people with UC get a prescription for antitumor necrosis factor medication, a type of biologic that reduces inflammation, within five years of their diagnosis. This has resulted in higher medication prices over time, with medication costs making up a larger percentage of a person’s overall UC care costs (compared to hospitalizations, for instance).
Another study found that the annual healthcare costs for people in the United States with UC, on average, are 20 percent higher than those in other parts of the world.
People also tend to stop taking their medication when symptoms subside and they are feeling better. “Some patients think that once their symptoms are gone, they can stop taking their meds,” Phanijphand says. “They believe they’re cured or that they may have been misdiagnosed.”
But that is usually not the case, especially when living with a chronic disease like UC. Taking all your medication as prescribed is crucial for staying healthy, even when you feel symptom-free.
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