Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDrugs Increasing RiskOther Risk FactorsDiverticulitis MedicationNonprescription Drug TreatmentWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Drugs Increasing Risk
Other Risk Factors
Diverticulitis Medication
Nonprescription Drug Treatment
When to Seek Medical Care
It’s not well-understood what causes inflammation of outpouchings of the colon indiverticulitis, but certain medications may increase the risk or worsen symptoms.
Diverticular diseaseis a common condition that occurs as people age. Outpouchings called diverticula develop in the colon but often don’t cause symptoms. When they become inflamed, however, they lead to pain, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea.
This article will discuss how medications may interact with diverticulitis and the ways that diverticulitis symptoms might be treated through home remedies and prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
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Drugs That Can Increase the Risk of Diverticulitis
It’s thought that many factors merge to cause diverticular disease. Factors may include diet, genetics, lifestyle, and the microbiome (the community of microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) in the gut.It might not be possible for some people to avoid diverticular disease even when taking steps to lower their risk.
In some cases, medications such as the following can raise your risks of bleeding and perforations (holes) in the intestine during a flare-up of diverticulitis:
NSAIDs in Conditions That Cause Bleeding
Common brand names include the OTC NSAIDs Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and Naprosyn. Prescription NSAIDs include Celebrex (celecoxib), Indocin (indomethacin), and meloxicam.
Additional Diverticulitis Risk Factors
Some of theother factorsthat may contribute to the development of diverticulitis include:
Diverticulitis is uncomplicated in about 80% of cases.It can usually be treated at home with rest, a low-fiber or liquid diet, and pain management. In some cases, however, prescription medications might be needed.
More often, medications are used to treat complicated diverticulitis. This could take place either in the hospital or at home.
Antibiotics
Examples of antibiotics used include:
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Some people might have abdominal pain that continues after the acute symptoms improve. A low dose of tricyclic antidepressants might be used in these cases.It’s important to keep in close contact with a healthcare provider in the first weeks after a flare-up of diverticulitis to manage pain and avoid complications.
Treating Diverticulitis Pain Without Prescription Medication
Diverticulitis pain usually improves after a few days and should resolve within a few weeks. There are a few ways to ease pain or discomfort from diverticulitis without taking prescription drugs.
Acetaminophen
Tylenol (acetaminophen) might be recommended for pain. Other pain medications, including NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium), may be avoided when treating pain from diverticulitis.
Short courses of NSAIDs might be helpful and allowed for some people. But it usually is necessary for those who have a history of bleeding or gastrointestinal problems to avoid them. People with diverticulitis should ask a healthcare provider about which pain medications to take while in a flare-up and afterward.
Diet
Aliquid dietor alow-fiber dietmight be recommended when diverticulitis symptoms start. Some studies have shown that using a liquid diet might not be needed, but some people feel better being on a liquid diet for a few days.
After two or three days, a healthcare provider might suggest adding more foods back into the diet. This includes low-fiber foods at first and working up to ahigh-fiber diet.
Eating a high-fiber diet can cause bloating or discomfort at first.Working with a healthcare provider to understand how to scale up the diet from liquids or low fiber to high fiber will help.
Heating Pad
Using a heating pad is a way to relieve pain without resorting to medications. Some people find applying heat to the abdomen will help with abdominal discomfort.
There is no evidence that shows how much heat to use or how it might be best used for diverticulitis. However, it’s a relatively low-cost and simple way to try to cope with pain.
To avoid burns, follow the directions on the heating pad. People shouldn’t sleep on a heating pad or apply it directly to the skin. Plus, it should only be used for the recommended amount of time listed in the safety instructions.
Diverticulitis Treatment
People who have symptoms of diverticulitis (abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea) should seek care from a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. This is true even if it is not the first time the diverticulitis has flared up.
Adiagnosisis important to ensure that there are no complications and to confirm that you indeed have diverticulitis. The symptoms are so similar to many other digestive conditions that those other causes should be ruled out.
Symptoms such assevere abdominal painorbleeding, vomiting or diarrhea that won’t stop, or fainting are reasons to get care immediately at an emergency department.
Potential Diverticulitis Complications
Summary
It’s important to remember that not everyone can avoid diverticular disease completely because it is partly due to genetics. Both over-the-counter and prescription drugs also may have an impact on the development of diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis used to be treated with antibiotics. It has been shown that antibiotics are not always helpful and are reserved for when they clearly are needed. Pain medications can help, but it’s important to discuss which ones to use with a healthcare provider.
People who are concerned that they may develop diverticulitis should talk to a healthcare provider about their risk. Lifestyle changes, along with medical care, a healthy diet, and exercise, may reduce the likelihood of diverticulitis.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hall J, Hardiman K, Lee S, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of left-sided colonic diverticulitis.Dis Colon Rectum.2020;63:728-747. doi:10.1097/dcr.0000000000001679Kvasnovsky CL, Papagrigoriadis S, Bjarnason I.Increased diverticular complications with nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Colorectal Dis.2014;16:O189-O196. doi:10.1111/codi.12516Jalil AA, Gorski R, Jalil SA, et al.Factors associated with diverticular bleeding and re-bleeding: a United States hospital study.North Clin Istanb.2018;6(3):248-253. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.23540Reichert MC, Lammert F.The genetic epidemiology of diverticulosis and diverticular disease: Emerging evidence.Ueg J.2015;3:409-418. doi:10.1177/2050640615576676.Strate LL, Morris AM.Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2019;156:1282-1298.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.033Chabok A, Thorisson A, Nikberg M, Schultz JK, Sallinen V.Changing paradigms in the management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis.Scand J Surg.2021;110:180-186. doi:10.1177/14574969211011032Peery AF, Shaukat A, Strate LL.AGA clinical practice update on medical management of colonic diverticulitis: expert review.Gastroenterology. 2021;160:906-911.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.059Ferrer OE, Edo NR, Grau LAH, et al.Selective non-antibiotic treatment in sigmoid diverticulitis: is it time to change the traditional approach?Tech Coloproctol.2016;20:309-315. doi:10.1007/s10151-016-1464-0Zhang M, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Pasricha PJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of high-fiber diets and macronutrient substitution on bloating: findings from the OmniHeart Trial.Clin Transl Gastroenterol.2020;11:e00122. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hall J, Hardiman K, Lee S, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of left-sided colonic diverticulitis.Dis Colon Rectum.2020;63:728-747. doi:10.1097/dcr.0000000000001679Kvasnovsky CL, Papagrigoriadis S, Bjarnason I.Increased diverticular complications with nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Colorectal Dis.2014;16:O189-O196. doi:10.1111/codi.12516Jalil AA, Gorski R, Jalil SA, et al.Factors associated with diverticular bleeding and re-bleeding: a United States hospital study.North Clin Istanb.2018;6(3):248-253. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.23540Reichert MC, Lammert F.The genetic epidemiology of diverticulosis and diverticular disease: Emerging evidence.Ueg J.2015;3:409-418. doi:10.1177/2050640615576676.Strate LL, Morris AM.Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2019;156:1282-1298.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.033Chabok A, Thorisson A, Nikberg M, Schultz JK, Sallinen V.Changing paradigms in the management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis.Scand J Surg.2021;110:180-186. doi:10.1177/14574969211011032Peery AF, Shaukat A, Strate LL.AGA clinical practice update on medical management of colonic diverticulitis: expert review.Gastroenterology. 2021;160:906-911.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.059Ferrer OE, Edo NR, Grau LAH, et al.Selective non-antibiotic treatment in sigmoid diverticulitis: is it time to change the traditional approach?Tech Coloproctol.2016;20:309-315. doi:10.1007/s10151-016-1464-0Zhang M, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Pasricha PJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of high-fiber diets and macronutrient substitution on bloating: findings from the OmniHeart Trial.Clin Transl Gastroenterol.2020;11:e00122. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hall J, Hardiman K, Lee S, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of left-sided colonic diverticulitis.Dis Colon Rectum.2020;63:728-747. doi:10.1097/dcr.0000000000001679Kvasnovsky CL, Papagrigoriadis S, Bjarnason I.Increased diverticular complications with nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Colorectal Dis.2014;16:O189-O196. doi:10.1111/codi.12516Jalil AA, Gorski R, Jalil SA, et al.Factors associated with diverticular bleeding and re-bleeding: a United States hospital study.North Clin Istanb.2018;6(3):248-253. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.23540Reichert MC, Lammert F.The genetic epidemiology of diverticulosis and diverticular disease: Emerging evidence.Ueg J.2015;3:409-418. doi:10.1177/2050640615576676.Strate LL, Morris AM.Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2019;156:1282-1298.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.033Chabok A, Thorisson A, Nikberg M, Schultz JK, Sallinen V.Changing paradigms in the management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis.Scand J Surg.2021;110:180-186. doi:10.1177/14574969211011032Peery AF, Shaukat A, Strate LL.AGA clinical practice update on medical management of colonic diverticulitis: expert review.Gastroenterology. 2021;160:906-911.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.059Ferrer OE, Edo NR, Grau LAH, et al.Selective non-antibiotic treatment in sigmoid diverticulitis: is it time to change the traditional approach?Tech Coloproctol.2016;20:309-315. doi:10.1007/s10151-016-1464-0Zhang M, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Pasricha PJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of high-fiber diets and macronutrient substitution on bloating: findings from the OmniHeart Trial.Clin Transl Gastroenterol.2020;11:e00122. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122
Hall J, Hardiman K, Lee S, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of left-sided colonic diverticulitis.Dis Colon Rectum.2020;63:728-747. doi:10.1097/dcr.0000000000001679
Kvasnovsky CL, Papagrigoriadis S, Bjarnason I.Increased diverticular complications with nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Colorectal Dis.2014;16:O189-O196. doi:10.1111/codi.12516
Jalil AA, Gorski R, Jalil SA, et al.Factors associated with diverticular bleeding and re-bleeding: a United States hospital study.North Clin Istanb.2018;6(3):248-253. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.23540
Reichert MC, Lammert F.The genetic epidemiology of diverticulosis and diverticular disease: Emerging evidence.Ueg J.2015;3:409-418. doi:10.1177/2050640615576676.
Strate LL, Morris AM.Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2019;156:1282-1298.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.033
Chabok A, Thorisson A, Nikberg M, Schultz JK, Sallinen V.Changing paradigms in the management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis.Scand J Surg.2021;110:180-186. doi:10.1177/14574969211011032
Peery AF, Shaukat A, Strate LL.AGA clinical practice update on medical management of colonic diverticulitis: expert review.Gastroenterology. 2021;160:906-911.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.059
Ferrer OE, Edo NR, Grau LAH, et al.Selective non-antibiotic treatment in sigmoid diverticulitis: is it time to change the traditional approach?Tech Coloproctol.2016;20:309-315. doi:10.1007/s10151-016-1464-0
Zhang M, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Pasricha PJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of high-fiber diets and macronutrient substitution on bloating: findings from the OmniHeart Trial.Clin Transl Gastroenterol.2020;11:e00122. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122
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