How can colitis be treated

Surgery for ulcerative colitis involves permanently removing the colon a colectomy. Once your colon is removed, your small intestine will be used to pass waste products out of your body instead of your colon.

Ileoanal pouches are increasingly used because an external bag to collect waste products is not required. As the colon is removed, ulcerative colitis cannot come back again after surgery. But it's important to consider the risks of surgery and the impact of having a permanent ileostomy or ileoanal pouch. Find out more about ileostomies and ileoanal pouches.

Living with a condition like ulcerative colitis, especially if your symptoms are severe, can be a frustrating and isolating experience. Crohn's and Colitis UK provides information on where you can find help and support. Page last reviewed: 23 January Next review due: 23 January The main aims of treatment are to: reduce symptoms, known as inducing remission a period without symptoms maintain remission This usually involves taking various types of medicine, although surgery may sometimes be an option.

Your treatment will normally be provided by a range of healthcare professionals, including: specialist doctors, such as gastroenterologists or surgeons GPs specialist nurses Your care will often be co-ordinated by your specialist nurse and your care team, and they'll usually be your main point of contact if you need help and advice.

Aminosalicylates Aminosalicylates, also known as 5-ASAs, are medicines that help to reduce inflammation. These medicines rarely have side effects, but some people may experience: headaches feeling sick tummy pain a rash rarely, diarrhoea Corticosteroids Corticosteroids , such as prednisolone , are a more powerful type of medicine used to reduce inflammation.

Side effects of short-term steroid use can include: acne weight gain increased appetite mood changes, such as becoming more irritable difficulty sleeping insomnia Find out more about the side effects of corticosteroids Immunosuppressants Immunosuppressants, such as tacrolimus and azathioprine , are medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system.

Treating severe flare-ups While mild or moderate flare-ups can usually be treated at home, more severe flare-ups should be managed in hospital to minimise the risk of dehydration and potentially fatal complications, such as your colon rupturing. Ciclosporin Ciclosporin works in the same way as other immunosuppressant medicines by reducing the activity of the immune system.

Side effects of intravenous ciclosporin can include: an uncontrollable shaking or trembling of part of the body a tremor excessive hair growth extreme tiredness fatigue swollen gums feeling and being sick diarrhoea Ciclosporin can also cause more serious problems, such as high blood pressure and reduced kidney and liver function, but you'll be monitored regularly during treatment to check for signs of these.

Biologic medicines Biologic medicines are medicines that reduce inflammation of the intestine by targeting proteins the immune system uses to stimulate inflammation. These medicines block these receptors and reduce inflammation. Find out more about biologic medicines from Crohn's and Colitis UK Tofacitinib Tofacitinib is a newer type of medicine for ulcerative colitis.

Surgery If you have frequent flare-ups that have a significant effect on your quality of life, or you have a particularly severe flare-up that's not responding to medicines, surgery may be an option.

The symptoms can also change over time. People diagnosed with UC may experience periods of mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. This is called remission. However, symptoms can return and become severe. This is called a flare-up. Researchers believe that UC may be the result of an overactive immune system. Different tests can help a doctor diagnose UC. A doctor will order multiple tests to rule out other conditions. Were you recently diagnosed? Before the procedure, a doctor will likely instruct you to reduce solid foods and switch to a liquid-only diet.

Typical colonoscopy prep involves taking a laxative the evening before the procedure, too. This helps eliminate any waste still in the colon and rectum. Doctors can examine a clean colon more easily. Your doctor will give you a sedative to help you relax and prevent any discomfort.

Once the medication takes effect, the doctor will insert a colonoscope into your anus. This device is long and flexible so it can move easily through your GI tract.

The colonoscope also has a camera attached so your doctor can see inside the colon. During the exam, the doctor will look for signs of inflammation and check for precancerous growth called polyps. The doctor may also perform a biopsy. The tissue can be sent to a laboratory for further examination. A colonoscopy is an important tool in detecting colorectal cancer as well.

They can help determine whether you may have UC or another bowel disease. UC is a chronic condition. The goal of treatment is to reduce the inflammation that causes your symptoms to prevent flare-ups and have longer periods of remission.

For mild symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce inflammation and swelling. This will help alleviate many symptoms. Some people may need corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation, but these can have adverse effects, so doctors try to limit their use. If an infection is present, you may need antibiotics. If you have moderate to severe symptoms, a doctor may prescribe a type of medication known as a biologic. Biologics are made from antibodies and help block inflammation.

Taking these can help prevent a symptom flare-up. A doctor may also prescribe an immunomodulator. These change the way the immune system works. Examples include methotrexate, 5-ASA drugs, and thiopurine drugs. Initially used to treat rheumatoid arthritis , this medication targets cells responsible for inflammation. You may also need to replace blood and to treat any other complications. Researchers continue to look for new treatments each year.

Learn more about the newest UC treatments. Surgery typically involves removing your entire colon and rectum as well as creating a new pathway for waste. This pathway can be out through a small opening in your abdominal wall. To redirect waste through your abdominal wall, the surgeon will make a small opening in the wall. Waste will drain through the opening into a bag. In other types of surgery, the surgeon removes the diseased part of your colon and rectum but retains the outer muscles of your rectum.

The surgeon then attaches your small intestine to the rectum to form a small pouch. Bowel movements will be more frequent and watery than normal. In certain procedures , the anus is also removed. Read more about each of the surgical options and their long-term effects.

Some of the medications prescribed to treat UC can have serious side effects. People with proctitis are not at increased risk of colon cancer. If your disease involves more than your rectum, you will require a surveillance colonoscopy every one to two years, beginning as soon as eight years after diagnosis if the majority of your colon is involved, or 15 years if only the left side of your colon is involved.

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Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Sometimes you may feel helpless when facing ulcerative colitis. But changes in your diet and lifestyle may help control your symptoms and lengthen the time between flare-ups. There's no firm evidence that what you eat actually causes inflammatory bowel disease. But certain foods and beverages can aggravate your signs and symptoms, especially during a flare-up.

It can be helpful to keep a food diary to keep track of what you're eating, as well as how you feel. If you discover that some foods are causing your symptoms to flare, you can try eliminating them. Although stress doesn't cause inflammatory bowel disease, it can make your signs and symptoms worse and may trigger flare-ups.

Many people with digestive disorders have used some form of complementary and alternative medicine CAM. However, there are few well-designed studies showing the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine. Although research is limited, there is some evidence that adding probiotics along with other medications may be helpful, but this has not been proved.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis may first prompt you to visit your primary care doctor. Your doctor may recommend you see a specialist who treats digestive diseases gastroenterologist.

Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of information to discuss, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor. Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time can help you make the most of your time. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.

For ulcerative colitis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:. Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:. Ulcerative colitis care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

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