Budesonide Versus Placebo for the Treatment of Lymphocytic Colitis

Inclusion Criteria: * Diarrhea, defined as greater than 4 bowel movements per day and greater than "mild"; currently on no treatment or active despite treatment. * Lymphocytic colitis confirmed histologically within one year of enrollment Exclusion Criteria: * Previous unsuccessful treatment with corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs * History of severe corticosteroid side effects * Corticosteroid, ticlopidine, or flutamide use within the previous 4 weeks * Antibiotic, mesalamine or bismuth subsalicylate use within two weeks * Current use of anticholinergics, cholestyramine, narcotics, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, or grapefruit juice * Known active medical conditions, including cancer, infection, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer disease, glaucoma, cataracts, liver cirrhosis or history of tuberculosis * Other diarrheal conditions (sprue, infection, hyperthyroidism, lactose intolerance) * Pregnant or nursing females * Patients without a telephone or unable to communicate in English over the telephone, or unable or unwilling to give consent * Known hypersensitivity to or intolerance of budesonide.