Drugs to avoid with diverticulitis

Diverticulitis happens when small pouches called diverticula extend outward from the colon walls and become inflamed. These tiny sacs develop due to a related condition known as diverticulosis. 

You can experience diverticulosis without symptoms, but once the condition develops into diverticulitis, you may experience symptoms like:

• pain in the lower left side of the abdomen
• constipation 
• diarrhea
• fevers 
• chills
• nausea 
• vomiting

Some medications can worsen diverticulitis symptoms, particularly painkillers like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opiates. A doctor can advise you more about this when they give you a diagnosis.

Drugs that can affect diverticulitis

More than 30% of adults between ages 50 and 59 in the United States have diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is a condition where small pouches form in the digestive tract because of weakening intestinal wall muscles. Diverticulitis occurs in 10–25% of people living with diverticulosis. 

The condition may be painful, affecting your abdominal area, and also cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and fever, but some people may not notice any symptoms at all.

It’s important to note that certain medications might worsen the symptoms of diverticulitis because of how they affect your digestive system.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 

NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).

You might use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers to lower diverticulitis-related pain. However, healthcare professionals usually advise against this. 

If you have diverticulitis, it’s best to avoid these medications as they can irritate the lining of your digestive system.

One older 2011 study found a link between the use of NSAIDs or aspirin and a higher risk of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding. 

A 2015 study also noted that using NSAIDs could cause tears or holes (perforation) in the intestinal wall, which can lead to life threatening complications like internal bleeding.

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Corticosteroids 

Corticosteroids are prescription medications that can help lower inflammation due to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.

Some common corticosteroids include:

• cortisone
• dexamethasone (Decadron)
• hydrocortisone (Cortef)
• triamcinolone (Kenalog)
• prednisone (Rayos)
• prednisolone (Orapred)

An older study from 2017 found that the use of corticosteroids could raise the risk of perforation in the colon wall. The researchers noted that people with diverticular disease who used corticosteroids had double the risk of passing away when compared with people who didn’t use corticosteroids.

Opioid pain relievers

Opioids are medications doctors prescribe to help treat severe pain.

Some common opioids include:

• butorphanol
• fentanyl (Fentora)
• hydrocodone
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• methadone (Methadose)
• oxycodone (Oxaydo)
• tapentadol (Nucynta)
• tramadol (Ultram)

The use of opioids may lead to holes in the colon wall and create pockets of pus (abscesses) in people with diverticulitis. Opioids can also cause diverticular bleeding.

A 2023 study found that people with diverticulitis who used opioids had a higher risk of experiencing obstruction in the bowel and sepsis. 

Diverticulitis medications

Treatment for diverticulitis typically involves medications and diet changes, such as a temporary, clear liquid diet.

Your doctor may prescribe the following antibiotics if diverticulitis develops into a bacterial infection:

• amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin)
• metronidazole (Flagyl)
• moxifloxacin (Avelox)

Pain relief medications like Tylenol and antispasmodics may help lower diverticulitis-related pain.

To help prevent diverticulitis, you may try lifestyle changes such as:

• eating foods high in fiber
• avoiding alcohol, if you drink
• quitting smoking, if you smoke
• taking probiotics
• doing regular exercise

Summary

Diverticulitis happens when small sacs form in weak areas of the digestive wall and become inflamed, causing fever and abdominal pain.

Medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, corticosteroids, and opioids may worsen diverticulitis symptoms. These medications can also raise your risk of serious complications, like bleeding and abscess formation.

Talk with a healthcare professional about your options for safe symptom relief.

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