Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Ulcerative Colitis is a gastrointestinal disease that can interrupt one’s life for days at a time. It cannot be cured, but it can be treated.

The most common ways to treat it is with medication. Often, anti-diarrheal medications like Pepto Bismol and Immodium can be used to help ease the suffering. However, in severe cases of the disease, someone who has the condition may be dissuade form taking them due to the fact that they can cause toxic mega colon.

Anti-inflammatory drugs that act like aspirin can be used to treat the condition as well. They can be taken orally or rectally. Biologics are the newest type of treatment for Ulcerative Colitis. These include Remicade, which is the only FDA approved drug for the condition and can help to reduce symptoms and severity.

Azathioprine and other drugs like it help bring on remission of the disease. They need to be taken for here to 6 months to give this effect and the side effects are nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, liver problems, bone marrow limitations, and reduced resistance to various infections.

Drugs like Prednisone can help reduce inflammation in those who have Ulcerative Colitis. It can be given orally, intravenously, or through an enema. Because it is a steroid, it should only be used for a short time. The side effects include weight gain, acne, facial hair, osteoporosis, diabetes, and mood swings.

The last resort for this condition is surgery. Although many who have the condition never need it, 25 to 45 percent will require their colons removed due to illness, cancer risk, rupture, or bleeding.

An Ileostomy is where the doctor makes a small opening in an abdomen which is known as a stoma. He or she then attaches the bottom of the small intestine or the ileum to it. The opening is a quarter-sized opening and is covered by a pouch where waste escapes through it.

Ileoanal Anastomosis is a new procedure that keeps the anus intact and allows those who have it to have normal bowel movements. The colon is removed, however, there is an internal pouch attached from the small bowel to the anal sphincter.

There are cases where emergency surgery is needed. This is usually due to toxic mega colon, a severe condition where the intestinal wall is damaged and the movements in the intestinal wall which help bowel movements along stop. With any surgery, there are complications. The most common complications of these surgeries is pouchitis, which is an inflammation of the pouch.

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