1
Achieve remission
(no symptoms)
2
Maintain remission
(prevent symptom flare-ups)
3
Control inflammation
Making sure that you and your doctor are setting clear treatment goals is key to helping you get your UC controlled. Keep in mind that there’s no standard treatment that will work for all patients. Every person with UC has a different situation, and their treatment should be followed for their unique circumstances.
Individual factors that help you and your doctor determine a treatment approach include:
Disease severity
Location of the disease
in your body
Past responses
to medication
Side effects of medication
Comorbidities
(other diseases or medical
conditions you have)
It's important for you and your doctor to understand how severe your symptoms are. Beyond that, tests and procedures may be done to evaluate your disease activity and get an even better understanding of what’s really happening inside your body—and the inflammation that’s occurring—getting you to the treatment plan that’s right for you.
Medication for UC is designed to suppress your immune system’s abnormal inflammatory response—which is causing symptoms. When inflammation is suppressed, it offers relief from common symptoms (like diarrhea and abdominal pain).
There are 5 main categories of medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—like UC.
Given either orally or rectally, these drugs work to decrease inflammation in the lining of the intestines and are usually used to treat mild to moderate UC symptoms. Sulfasalazine and mesalamine are examples of 5-ASA medications.
There are also over-the-counter or non-prescription medications that can help relieve symptoms. Remember to always talk to your doctor before taking any of these medications, but know that depending on your disease severity, your doctor might recommend one or more of these:
Dr. Long discusses treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—like Crohn’s or UC—and the importance of setting treatment goals.
Medication is often the first treatment option. But there are cases when people with UC might require surgery.
Surgery in ulcerative colitis usually involves removal of the colon and rectum. This is called a proctocolectomy, which might include:
It’s important to keep in mind that UC can still cause symptoms after surgery—so it's essential to continue to work with your doctor to keep up with the management of your disease. If you have treatment that works for you, it’s possible to achieve remission without surgery.
When it comes to people with ulcerative colitis, in a given year:
The longer a person with UC maintains symptom control, the less likely he or she is to experience a relapse, or flare-up, in the following year.
First and foremost, know that you and your doctor have the power to find the right treatment plan for you. While dealing with UC can definitely be difficult at times, never give up hope. And when it comes to your treatment plan, always keep the conversations open and honest with your care team.