Colitis / Ulcerative Colitis

Overview

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the colon and rectum. It starts in the rectum and can extend further up the colon. Like Crohn's disease, it tends to alternate between flares and calmer periods.

Common Signs and Symptoms

• Diarrhea, often with blood or mucus
• Urgent need to have a bowel movement, or a feeling of not being finished
• Cramping belly pain
• Tiredness
• Weight loss
• Anemia from blood loss

When to Contact a Provider

Contact a provider about blood in the stool, diarrhea that won't settle, or waking at night to use the bathroom. Heavy bleeding, high fever, severe pain or a swollen belly needs urgent care.

How Treatment May Help

Mild UC is often treated with anti-inflammatory medicines called aminosalicylates. For moderate to severe UC, or UC that has not responded to other treatment, a gastroenterologist may prescribe a biologic. These medicines may help control inflammation, reduce the need for steroids, and achieve and maintain remission for some patients.

Therapies That May Be Available at Infuse Care

• Remicade, Avsola, Inflectra and Renflexis (infliximab products): IV infusion
• Entyvio (vedolizumab): IV infusion; some patients may later switch to injections for maintenance
• Stelara (ustekinumab): one IV starting dose, then injections under the skin
• Skyrizi (risankizumab): IV starting doses, then injections under the skin

Safety and Monitoring

Biologic medicines can raise the risk of infections, so your provider will usually screen for tuberculosis and hepatitis B before you start and review your vaccines. Infusion or injection reactions can occur, and our nurses monitor you during and after each treatment.

Your gastroenterologist will review the benefits and risks of each option with you.

Your prescribing provider decides which treatment is right for you. Infuse Care administers prescribed therapies after a referral, a clinical review and any required insurance authorization, and we keep your provider's office updated on your care.