Skip to main content

Medications for Ulcerative Colitis

Other names: Colitis Ulcerosa; UC

Common ulcerative colitis medications are Avsola, Stelara, Mesalamine, Humira, Xeljanz, Zeposia, and many more. The goal of ulcerative colitis medications are to reduce UC symptoms, induce remission (no symptoms), and maintain remission.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe ulcerative colitis medications based on the severity of your condition, previous medications used, and side effects.

Types of UC medications include:

1. Biologics:

2. Janus Kinase Inhibitors (JAK inhibitors): Xeljanz (tofacitinib), Rinvoq (upadacitinib)

3. Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P) Receptor Modulators: Zeposia (Ozanimod)

4. Immunosuppressants: Azasan, Imuran (azathioprine)

5. Corticosteroids: hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone

6. 5-ASA Medications:

Treatment for ulcerative colitis can may also include diet changes or surgery.

Drugs used to treat Ulcerative Colitis

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Lialda 7.0 28 reviews for Lialda to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
mesalamine systemic
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
mesalamine 7.1 103 reviews for mesalamine to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
mesalamine systemic
Brand names:
Lialda, Apriso, Asacol, Pentasa, Delzicol, Asacol HD, Rowasa, Zaldyon
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
sulfasalazine 5.5 22 reviews for sulfasalazine to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
sulfasalazine systemic
Brand names:
Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-tabs
Drug class:
antirheumatics, 5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Remicade 6.7 45 reviews for Remicade to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
infliximab systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, TNF alfa inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Entyvio 6.0 88 reviews for Entyvio to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
vedolizumab systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
azathioprine 6.8 24 reviews for azathioprine to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx D N
Generic name:
azathioprine systemic
Brand names:
Imuran, Azasan
Drug class:
antirheumatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Apriso 6.9 20 reviews for Apriso to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
mesalamine systemic
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
infliximab 6.2 54 reviews for infliximab to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
infliximab systemic
Brand names:
Remicade, Inflectra, Renflexis, Avsola, Ixifi, Zymfentra
Drug class:
antirheumatics, TNF alfa inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Stelara 6.5 6 reviews for Stelara to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
ustekinumab systemic
Drug class:
interleukin inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Humira 5.7 53 reviews for Humira to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
adalimumab systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, TNF alfa inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Simponi 5.6 9 reviews for Simponi to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
golimumab systemic
Drug class:
TNF alfa inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
vedolizumab 6.1 98 reviews for vedolizumab to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
vedolizumab systemic
Brand name:
Entyvio
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
budesonide 5.8 32 reviews for budesonide to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
budesonide systemic
Brand name:
Uceris
Drug class:
inhaled corticosteroids, glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
balsalazide 7.0 16 reviews for balsalazide to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
balsalazide systemic
Brand name:
Colazal
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
golimumab 6.0 10 reviews for golimumab to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
golimumab systemic
Brand name:
Simponi
Drug class:
TNF alfa inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Rinvoq 7.5 14 reviews for Rinvoq to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx N
Generic name:
upadacitinib systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
ustekinumab 6.2 9 reviews for ustekinumab to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
ustekinumab systemic
Brand names:
Stelara, Wezlana
Drug class:
interleukin inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Zeposia 7.0 2 reviews for Zeposia to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx N
Generic name:
ozanimod systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
upadacitinib 7.5 14 reviews for upadacitinib to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx N
Generic name:
upadacitinib systemic
Brand name:
Rinvoq
Drug class:
antirheumatics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
ozanimod 7.0 2 reviews for ozanimod to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx N
Generic name:
ozanimod systemic
Brand name:
Zeposia
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Asacol 5.4 11 reviews for Asacol to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
mesalamine systemic
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Pentasa 8.1 16 reviews for Pentasa to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
mesalamine systemic
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Imuran 7.2 13 reviews for Imuran to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx D N
Generic name:
azathioprine systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Delzicol 9.3 3 reviews for Delzicol to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
mesalamine systemic
Drug class:
5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Uceris 5.5 19 reviews for Uceris to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
budesonide systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Ulcerative Colitis

Learn more about Ulcerative Colitis

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.