If these medicines don't work, your doctor may have you try infliximab (Remicade). Infliximab also blocks the inflammatory response in your body and helps reduce the inflammation in your colon.

Your health professional will want to see you for a follow-up visit about every 6 months while your condition is stable and more frequently if you are having problems. If you are taking medicines, you may have laboratory tests every 2 to 3 months. Many people who have ulcerative colitis are so familiar with the course of their condition that they can handle minor flare-ups on their own. In some cases, you may be able to consult with your health professional on the phone for minor problems.

Treatment if the condition gets worse

You may have to receive treatment in the hospital if you have severe, persistent ulcerative colitis with symptoms outside the digestive tract, such as fever or anemia. Treatment includes replacing fluids and electrolytes lost because of severe diarrhea.

Your health professional may increase your dose of corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone or prednisone) to control active disease or may increase your immunomodulator medicines (such as azathioprine [AZA], 6-mercaptopurine [6-MP], or cyclosporine) or infliximab to suppress your immune system. However, steroids are usually not used as long-term therapy because they do not keep ulcerative colitis in remission.

Surgery may be necessary if your symptoms do not improve with medicines or you have complications such as bleeding or perforation of the intestine. Removal of the large intestine (colon) cures ulcerative colitis. Some people with severe ulcerative colitis need urgent surgery to remove their colon.¹ Several types of surgery can be done. For more information, see the Surgery section of this topic.

Some people who have precancerous changes in their colon may decide to have surgery to prevent cancer even if they have no symptoms. In some cases, people decide to have their colon removed to improve their quality of life and to eliminate the risk of colon cancer.

Should I have surgery to cure ulcerative colitis?

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