Helpful resources

Self-management plans

• UC Proctitis – plan for managing flare
• UC Extensive/Pan-colitis – plan for managing flare
• UC Distal (left-sided) colitis – plan for managing flare
• Crohn’s Disease obstructive episode

Understanding Crohn’s and Colitis’

• Understanding Crohn’s and Colitis (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)  
• Medical terms explained (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk) 
• Fatigue/tiredness & IBD (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk) 
• Mental health and wellbeing and IBD (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk) 
• Smoking and IBD (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk) 
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding and IBD (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk) Please speak to your IBD team if planning or become pregnant or want to start breastfeeding.   
• Can’t Wait card (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)
• RADAR key (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)
• Travelling with Crohn’s or Colitis (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)

Active infections

Download the active infection information to print

Non-Covid

• If you take a mesalazine (e.g. Octasa, Salofalk, Pentasa, Asacol) you can continue this medication even if you have a temperature.
• If you are taking steroids (e.g. prednisolone, budesonide, hydrocortisone), please contact the IBD team [email protected]  
• For all other IBD medications, if you are unwell with a temperature, pause the medications. Restart when well and you have finished taking any antimicrobials (e.g. antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals).  If the pause is likely to be over 2 weeks, please contact the IBD team [email protected]  
• If you feel well, continue taking medication.  

Covid

• If you have Covid symptoms, take a test immediately, even if symptoms are mild.
• If the test is negative but you continue to have symptoms, take another test on each of the next two days (three tests in total over three days).  
• For all medications for IBD, except mesalazines, you are likely to be eligible for anti-viral treatment. You can self-refer to Alliance for Better Care or contact your GP practice or NHS 111 immediately.  
• Mesalazine can continue. 
• Steroids are likely to continue, but please check with the IBD team via [email protected]  
• Other immunomodulators must be paused until Covid symptoms have gone.    

Medications for IBD

Source: Crohn’s and colitis UK

• Adalimumab  
• Aminosalicylates (mesalazine, sulfasalazine, 5-ASAs) (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)
• Azathioprine and mercaptopurine
• Filgotinib for Colitis (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)  
• Golimumab  
• Guselkumab
• Infliximab   
• Methotrexate
• Mirikizumab
• Other medicines including Allopurinol
• Risankizumab
• Steroids  
• Tofacitinib 
• Upadacitinib
• Ustekinumab 
• Vedolizumab  

Biosimilars-Information-from-UHS (66kB)

Diet and IBD 

• Diet and Crohn’s disease
• Diet and ulcerative Colitis   
• Food (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)   

Surgery and IBD

• Surgery and Crohn’s disease
• Surgery and ulcerative colitis

Employment and IBD

• Employment: a guide for employers  
• Employment: A guide for employees  

Crohn’s and Colitis UK  is a national charity offering support and information to patients with IBD and their families. Their website has a lot of helpful and reliable information. You can contact them on 0845 130 2233 or [email protected].