1. Ulcerative Colitis Slideshow Pictures
2. Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow
3. Take the Ulcerative Colitis Quiz

Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

The patient's health care professional will consider the possible causes of colitis, and any complications that need urgent treatment. The treatment goal of active ulcerative colitis is to relieve the inflammation and replace nutritional losses and loss of fluid due to diarrhea. About 80% of people improve with this approach.

• Drugs to control mild diarrhea, for example, diphenoxylate (Lofene, Lomotil), loperamide (Imodium, Kaopectate), codeine, and anticholinergics (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Bentyl) may help to reduce the number of bowel movements and relieve the feeling of bowel urgency. However, you should avoid these drugs if you have severe diarrhea because of inflammatory bowel disease. They should not be used if a fever is present.
• Cholestyramine (Questran), an agent that binds bile salts, helps to control diarrhea associated with Crohn's disease, particularly in people who have had a portion of their small intestine removed. Dicyclomine (Bentyl) may relieve intestinal spasms.
• Severe attacks of inflammatory bowel disease require hospital admission and supportive care including bowel rest, IV fluids, and correction of any electrolyte imbalance.
• The patient will likely be given a restricted diet.

Must Read Articles Related to Ulcerative Colitis

Abscess An abscess is has several causes and can appear on many parts of the body, such as the dental, vaginal, and rectal areas. In general, home remedies or cures are...learn more >>

Colitis Colitis is an inflammation of the colon. There are many cause of colitis, infectious colitis (bacterial or viral), ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease ...learn more >>

Colon Cancer The human colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long. It extends from the end of your small bowel to your anus, twisting and turning thr...learn more >>

See the Entire Ulcerative Colitis Topic Guide »