About budesonide rectal foam and enemas

Budesonide rectal foam and enemas are used to treat ulcerative colitis. These medicines are inserted into your bottom (rectum).

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where you get swelling (inflammation), and sometimes ulcers, in the lining of your bowel. The most common symptoms are stomach (abdominal) pain and diarrhoea with blood in it.

Budesonide is a type of medicine known as a steroid or corticosteroid.

Budesonide rectal foam and enemas do not cure ulcerative colitis. However, they can help symptoms by reducing the inflammation in your bowel.

This medicine is only available on prescription.

Budesonide also comes as:

• budesonide inhalers – for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• budesonide nasal spray – for allergic rhinitis, hay fever and nasal polyps
• budesonide tablets, capsules and granules – for inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and autoimmune hepatitis