Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

What are treatments for ulcerative colitis? Treatment for ulcerative colitis varies greatly, depending on the severity of the flare-up, or active colitis.

Moderate Treatment Options

If the ulcerative colitis is considered a mild episode, then a change in diet, as well as medications called corticosteroids and aminosalicylates may be used. One common corticosteroid used as an ulcerative colitis treatment is Prednisone, while common aminosalicylates are Sulfasalizine and Mesalamine. These two medications are often used together, to help control the disease, and help reduce or stop symptoms.

The diet changes may involve reducing the raw fiber in your diet, and eliminating foods that can be difficult to digest, or have the potential to get caught in ulcers, irritating and agitating the intestines further. Such foods can include, but are not limited to: corn, popcorn, seeds, nuts, and raw vegetables.

Severe Treatment Options

If the ulcerative colitis is of moderate severity, then treatments may include immunosuppressant medications, such as 6-MP. These medications essentially shut down the body's immune system, due to ulcerative colitis causing the immune system to work against itself.

When the immunosuppressant drugs still cannot control active ulcerative colitis, then the next treatment option is an intravenous (IV) immunosuppresant medication called Remicade. Remicade has the potential to help a person into remission when all other medications have failed to do so. Remicade also possesses the ability to sometimes help heal the intestinal walls.

Hospitalization and Surgery

If all the above treatments for ulcerative colitis do not prove effective, or if an onset of ulcerative colitis is severe enough, a person may be placed in the hospital. Often, with dehydration a common result of ulcerative colitis, due to the constant diarrhea and nausea, a person may have IV fluids run, as well as potential feedings through a line called a TPN, or total parenteral nutrition. This allows for the stomach and intestines to rest.

If the bleeding in the intestines is severe, and/or there is a perforation of the bowel, then surgery is potentially necessary. Surgery removes the affected area of the colon. When the colon section is removed, the two ends are reattached. This allows for two possibilites. If enough intestine remains, a pouch can be made for stool to continue to pass through. If not, then a colostomy bag will then be the remaining option.

Surgery is also necessary to rid the body of colon cancer. The good news is that once the affected intestine is removed, then the colitis and/or cancer is gone. The imminent threat is no longer present. Even with the missing bowel, reccurences of ulcerative colitis are still possible.