Management of Ulcerative Colitis: Medications

Your health care provider may prescribe medication to help control your ulcerative colitis symptoms and help improve your quality of life. It won’t cure ulcerative colitis, but it can help keep it from slowing you down. Work closely with your health care provider. You may have certain side effects or your symptoms may change. In this case, your medication or dosage may need to be changed.

Anti-inflammatories

These drugs can reduce inflammation and pain in the intestinal lining. They must be prescribed by your health care provider. The most common anti-inflammatories for ulcerative colitis are called 5-ASA compounds, or mesalamine. They help control symptoms over long periods of time. They may be taken as pills, but they also can be taken as an enema or suppository, inserted directly into the rectum.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation. Unlike 5-ASA compounds, they are most often taken for short periods only, with dosages gradually reduced. They also shouldn’t be taken during remission. (Remission is a long period without severe symptoms.)

Immunomodulators

These medications cause your body's immune system to be less active. This can help reduce inflammation and calm your symptoms. They are taken as a pill by mouth. You may not feel their effects until you have taken them for a few months. But you can take them for a long time. You will need to have blood tests every few months to monitor your live and blood cell counts. 

Side effects may include:

• Nausea

• Body aches

• Inflammation of the pancreas

• Low white blood cell count

• Liver problems

• Low folic acid levels

• Infection

• Lymphoma

• Non-melanoma skin cancer

Biologic agents

These kinds of medications help stop a chemical your  body makes, which causes inflammation. The chemical is called tumor necrosis factor or TNF. The medications are also known as anti-TNK monoclonal antibodies. The way you take a biologic agent depends on how the drug is given. It may be given intravenously (IV) every 2 to 8 weeks. It may be given through an injection (shot) as often as once a week. Or it may be given as a shot once a month. These drugs can put you at risk for infections, so tell your doctor if you have a chronic infection. Your doctor should also test you for tuberculosis and hepatitis B infection before giving you the medication.

Side effects may include:

• Flushing, check pain, shortness of breath, hives, or a drop in blood pressure during IV treatment

• Joint and muscle aches

• Rash

• Fever

• Infection

• Lymphoma

• Skin cancers

• Hepatotoxity

• TNF-induced psoriasis

Antibiotics

These may be used if you also have an infection due to Crohn's disease, such as an abscess. Antibiotics may be give as a pill taken my mouth. Stay out of the sun while taking them. Also, do not drink alcohol. it may cause severe reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, and breathing problems. Also, tell your doctor right away if you have numbness or tingling in your hands or if your bowel symptoms become worse.

Side effects may include:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Dark urine

• Loss of appetitie

• Metallic taste in the mouth

• Sensitivity to the sun