Treatment of ulcerative colitis

**Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis** The main goal of ulcerative colitis treatment is to help regulate the body's immune system and lead you to a more normal and conscious life. Although there is no definitive treatment (in the sense that after taking a short period of medication, there is no need for medication anymore) for this disease and its relapses, a combination of treatment options can completely control the disease and you can live a completely normal life. The treatment of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis is multifaceted and includes the use of medicine and sometimes even surgery. It is the doctor's judgment that what treatment is suitable for you based on the history of your illness, examination, findings of endoscopy, colonoscopy, imaging, tests and pathology. **Pharmaceutical treatment of ulcerative colitis** For the management of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and even Crohn's disease, drugs are the most common method of treatment. Your doctor may prescribe several different medications, depending on your overall health, the severity of your illness, and your condition. Now let's take a look at the five main classes of drugs that are used to treat colitis today. **1. Aminosalicylate (5-ASA)** These drugs include 5-aminosalicylate acid (5-ASA) such as sulfasalazine, mesalamine. It is very important to know that these drugs have not been specifically approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Crohn's disease and do not play a role in the treatment of Crohn's disease and should not be prescribed. Prescribing these drugs in the treatment of Crohn's disease is **wrong**, but they can help control **Ulcerative colitis** by reducing inflammation in the large intestine. These drugs are especially useful for mild to moderate cases and can prevent the recurrence of the disease. **2. Corticosteroids** Medicines such as **Prednisone & methylprednisolone & Budesonide** orally or through local use (for example, in the area of rectum) are used. These drugs indirectly suppress the entire immune system to reduce inflammation. For patients with **ulcerative colitis** from the spectrum Moderate to severe are suitable, but you must remember that they have short-term and long-term side effects and **should not** be used as a maintenance treatment. if Steroids cannot control the recurrence of the disease, the doctor may add other drugs to the treatment. **3. Immunomodulators** These drugs help suppress the immune system's response, thus preventing ongoing inflammation. They are usually used in people who have not responded well to aminosalicylate (5-ASA) and corticosteroids or have had only a mild effect. Immunomodulators may reduce the need for steroids and be useful for maintaining the recovery of patients; Of course, it may take several months for their effect to be known. These drugs include Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, Methotrexate, Mycophenolate, Ozanimod, Tofacitinib, Upadacitinib. **4. Antibiotics** Antibiotics are used when co-infections such as Clostridium difficile occur in patients with ulcerative colitis. Examples of these drugs include metronidazole and vancomycin. **5. Biological treatments** These treatment methods are used as treatment for people who have not responded to previous treatments or have severe involvement. These drugs are from antibodies Produced in a laboratory environment, they prevent the growth of proteins that cause inflammation. These methods are effective in advanced cases of inflammatory bowel disease. These drugs include Infliximab, Adalimumab, Vedolizumab. **combination treatments** Sometimes the doctor may combine different treatments in order to increase the effectiveness. For example, adding a biologic drug to an immunomodulatory therapy. Of course, each therapeutic combination has its own risks and benefits; Therefore, your doctor will choose the best option according to your specific conditions. **diet and nutrition** Even if ulcerative colitis is not caused by foods, certain foods may aggravate symptoms. It is very important to have a healthy and relaxing diet, which replaces lost nutrients and provides energy to the body. Most patients find that soft and bland foods are easier to tolerate than spicy or fibrous foods. If you are allergic to lactose, it is recommended to limit the consumption of dairy products during the recurrence of the disease. **Surgery** In about a fifth of patients, drug treatments alone are not enough or may cause serious side effects. In these cases, surgery is an effective option. This operation usually involves removal of the large intestine (colectomy). Depending on the severity of the disease, your age and general health, the doctor may recommend one of the following two methods: - **Complete removal of the colon and anus:** Along with the creation of an ileostomy or external pouch. - **New surgical method:** which by removing the large intestine, the integrity of the intestine is maintained and there is no need for an external device. **Remember that if the patient needs surgery, it does not mean that the treatment has failed, the important thing is that the surgery should be performed at the right time on the right person by the right surgeon.** We at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease and IBD Specialist Center with the presence of Dr. Ali Reza Sima, as an experienced IBD Specialist, are ready to help you by providing advanced ulcerative colitis treatment and advanced Crohn's treatment. Our goal is Advancing Crohn's & Colitis Care and improving your quality of life.