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Treatment Options for Ulcerative Colitis

Written By Abdelhakim on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 | 5:10 AM

Treatment Options for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is treated based on how severe the condition is. Treatment includes controlling the symptoms and a change in the patient’s diet. A person’s diet has a lot to do with Ulcerative Colitis. A colitis diet will help prevent the condition from getting worse. In worst cases, doctors will recommend surgery. Surgeries are reserved for cases that are most severe and life‐threatening.

Despite a lot of research done on Ulcerative Colitis, there is no known cure yet for the disease.
The patient must be aware that the goal of the treatment is to control the disease, keep the flare‐ups in check and prevent them from worsening, keep the side effects to a minimum, lessen the chances of cancer and other complications, and improve the general condition of the
patient.

Initial Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis
Initial treatment is always recommended at the first sign of Ulcerative Colitis. The disease is characterized by relapses, when the inflammation worsens, and remissions, when the inflammation subsides. This cycle of relapses and remissions will last for months, and even years. Medication and surgery minimize episodes of remissions.

During remission, the symptoms of the disease don’t manifest themselves, so you will not need any treatment. During flare‐ups, or relapses, doctors managed the condition with medication, if not surgery. Medicines for diarrhea and a healthy diet are recommended when mild symptoms occur.

When Ulcerative Colitis is in its active stage, corticosteroids are administered on the patient for weeks. Along with corticosteroids, the patient will also take aminosalicylates to control the symptoms.

When Symptoms are Mild to Moderate
Corticosteroids are also used when the symptoms are moderate or severe. But unlike when treating the mild symptoms, the dosage for symptoms that are moderate to severe is higher. Moderate to severe symptoms usually require corticosteroids to control inflammation.

Aminosalicylates are given to the patient once the inflammation has subsided. Cases that refused to be controlled by aminosalicylates require immune‐modulator drugs. Examples of these medicines are 6‐mercaptopurine and azathioprine, both of which to prevent further inflammation. The side effects of Ulcerative Colitis, like osteoporosis and infections, are also held in check by immune‐modulators.

In cases when the symptoms are not controlled by corticosteroids, doctors may recommend biologics, like infliximab. This puts the patient in a remission state. Biologics are also good at healing the intestine’s lining.

Ulcerative Colitis will be with the person for a long time, if not forever. The point of medication is to keep it in check. That’s why ongoing treatment is necessary to prevent relapses and to keep the disease in remission. Medicines for ongoing treatment include aminosalicylates, which prevent the recurrence of flare–ups.

Corticosteroids will be taken by the patient keep inflammation at a controllable level. An interesting note on the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis is that the chances of one suffering from the disease are lower among non‐smokers and former smokers. Ulcerative Colitis patients have been observed to respond positively to nicotine treatment.

Natural Remedies
Aside from the medicines mentioned above, natural remedies can also be used to fight the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis . Alternative treatment is becoming popular these days because of the aggressive campaign now for anything organic. Alternative remedies for Ulcerative Colitis make use of herbal medicines that are said to contain less chemicals that can harm the body.

Products made from aloe vera have attributes that fight inflammation. It is advised to choose products of aloe vera that are in their purest state.

The amino acid glutamine is good to resuscitate the lining of the intestines Another alternative remedy is probiotics, which are harmless bacteria that thrive in the gut. Probiotics have been found to be efficient in
controlling Ulcerative Colitis and minimizing its complications.

There are many other natural remedies for Ulcerative Colitis. Some of them are herbs found in the backyard or sold in alternative drugstores. But it should not be made to replace medicines and surgeries. They should be considered supplements to the more conventional way of treating Ulcerative Colitis. There have been incidents involving herbal remedies that don’t have any proven effects on patients. People suffering from the
signs and symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis must consult a doctor first before attempting to start his own regimen of natural remedies.

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