Medicines
Several types of drugs can be effective in treating ulcerative colitis. The type of medicine you will take depends on the severity of the illness. Drugs that work well for some people may not work for others, so it may take some time to find a drug that helps you.
Intestinal Anti-inflammatories
In treating inflammatory bowel disease, anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first move. But note that, not all anti-inflammatory drugs can be used. The most frequently used are;
- Aminosalicylates: Sulfasalazine can be helpful in minimizing the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, but it does have a variety of side effects, including digestive conditions and headaches. Mesalazine is [3] the most widely used aminosalicylate [4] for the treatment of this disease.
- Corticosteroids: corticosteroids [5] are usually reserved for mild to extreme ulcerative colitis, including prednisone [6], hydrocortisone, and budesonide. They are used for UC, which do not respond to other therapies. Depending on the affected site, they are delivered orally, intravenously, or by suppository.
Corticosteroids can cause several side effects, including excessive facial hair, a swollen face, insomnia, night sweats, and hyperactivity. High blood pressure (hypertension), osteoporosis, diabetes, cataracts, bone fractures, glaucoma, and an increased potential for infection are more severe side effects. They need to be administered for only a short time duration.