Ulcerative Colitis Medication

Ulcerative colitis medication can come in many forms. Biologic response modifiers, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive drugs are a few types of medicines used to treat ulcerative colitis. It's important to ask your healthcare provider about the potential side effects of any medication that he or she prescribes as treatment for ulcerative colitis. It is also important to talk with your healthcare provider before taking any vitamin or herbal supplements during treatment for ulcerative colitis, since these drugs can sometimes be dangerous for people who have the disease.

Medications For Ulcerative Colitis: An Overview

There is no cure for ulcerative colitis, except for surgery that removes the whole colon. However, there are medicines that can be prescribed to:
 
Your healthcare provider will consider a number of factors before deciding on which ulcerative colitis medicine or medicines make the most sense for your particular situation. Some of these factors include:
 
  • The severity of symptoms
  • Complications you may be experiencing (see Ulcerative Colitis Complications)
  • Other ulcerative colitis medications you have tried in the past.
     
Not everyone with ulcerative colitis responds in the same way to medicines, so your healthcare provider may have to try several medicines before finding one that controls the disease and minimizes side effects.
 
Some examples of ulcerative colitis medications include:
 
  • Sulfasalazine
  • Other aminosalicylates
  • Corticosteroids
  • Immunosuppressive drugs
  • Biologic response modifiers
  • Antidiarrheal medicines.
     

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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