Ulcerative Colitis

Prevention

You cannot prevent ulcerative colitis because the cause is unknown. However, you can take steps to reduce the severity of the disease.

• Medications taken regularly may reduce acute attacks and keep the disease in remission.
• Most experts recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief rather than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs have been linked to flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).⁷

Antibiotics may make ulcerative colitis symptoms worse and should only be used when necessary.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: November 14, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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