Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, on the inner lining of the large intestine and rectum characterized by abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is not known. The MayoClinic.com says that the use of isotretinoin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause development of inflammatory bowel disease with similar signs and symptoms as ulcerative colitis.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin is the active substance in Accutane, a brand name prescription drug used to treat cystic acne in patients that do not respond to other skin treatments, according to the product label. Research conducted by S.D. Crockett and published in the "American Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2010 demonstrates that previous isotretinoin exposure is strongly associated with the cause of ulcerative colitis; the odds ratio for developing ulcerative colitis is 4.36 with a 95-percent confidence interval.
Moreover, higher dose concentrations of isotretinoin elevate the risk of disease, especially for people exposed to isotretinoin for more than two months. Nonetheless, the absolute risk of developing ulcerative colitis after being treated with isotretinoin is very small.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as naproxen, ibuprofen and celecoxib, are used to treat pain and inflammation. These drugs can also cause or exacerbate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Information on Drugs.com says that NSAIDs can cause serious and adverse gastrointestinal events that include inflammation, ulceration and bleeding in the large intestine, symptoms that are associated with ulcerative colitis.
Longer use of naproxen, for example, increases the risk of disease and symptoms. Research conducted by J.L. Faucheron and published in the "International Journal of Colorectal Disease" in 1996 found that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause inflammation of the colon associated with ulcerative colitis.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may cause ulcerative colitis as a result of consequent disturbance of normal bacterial flora of the colon. The incidence of abundant infection of pathological bacteria, such as bacteroidetes, Prevotella Spp, E. coli and Clostridium difficile, is associated with the cause and relapse of ulcerative colitis, according to research by K. Lucke, published in the "Journal of Medical Microbiology" in 2006, and M.S. Vilalta Castel, published in "Anales de Medicina Interna" in 2002.
Patients treated with antibiotics in hospitals and nursing homes are especially susceptible to become infected with these microorganisms. Antibiotics that can cause C. difficile infection include ampicillin, cephalosporins, penicillin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Ulcerative Colitis
- MayoClinic.com: Ulcerative Colitis Risk Factors
- Roche Pharmaceuticals: Accutane Prescribing Information
- "American Journal of Gastroenterology"; Isotretinoin Use and the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Crockett, S.D.; Sep 2010
- Drugs.com: Naproxen Tablets
