Overview
Pathological Varieties for Ulcerative Colitis
Clinic Classification of Ulcerative Colitis
The Dilemma of Treatments for UC
Chinese Herbs Can Induce and Maintain Remission of UC
Discussion
The current drug therapy is designed to induce and maintain remission and to improve the quality of life for people with UC. But up to now, there are no drugs that can cure the people with UC or completely control their symptoms. A contradictory phenomenon can be found that when the people with UC need to control their inflammation; the drug they take shows the side effect of infection. They want to stop their diarrhea but the drug may cause diarrhea. Also, the side effects of drugs might be worse than the disease of UC itself, resulting in the people being hesitant about using the drugs. They have to “swim” among the drugs and “try” one by one to get any benefit.
Control inflammation drugs: This group of agents contains 5-aminosaliyclin acid (5-ASA), such as olsalazine, mesalalmine, aminosalicylates and sulfasaliazin, which contain sulfa pyridine and 5-ASA for the people with mild or moderate UC. Sulfasaliazin may lead to side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Reduce inflammation drugs: Corcosteroids, such as prednisone, methylprednison and hydrocortisone for the patients with moderate or severe UC. As every one knows, these drugs can cause the side effects of weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, and an increased risk of infection.
Modulate immune system drugs: such as azathioprine and 6-mercapto-purine to indirectly reduce inflammation for the cases failed from 5-ASA and corticosteroids. These groups of drugs have two problems: (1) Slow-acting; people have to take the drugs up to 6 months. (2) Severe complications, such as pancreatitis, hepatitis and an increased risk of infection. (3)
Antibiotics drugs: Such as ciprofloxacin are prescribed for an extended period of several months to improve the symptoms. The side effect includes nausea and diarrhea. Metronidazole (Flagyl) is effective against anaerobic intestinal bacteria for those who have had a colostomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.
Biologic therapies: such as infliximab (Remicade). It is a special type of antibody made from a human-made protein and designed to target a specific biological substance. The common side effects are headache, vomiting and respiratory infection.
Colostomy or Surgery: If all the above drug treatments fail, a colostomy will be considered. After entire colon and rectum are removed, the people have to face to a lot of physical and emotional problems. This is why the people with UC take colectomy as the last choice for UC treatment.
Is there any therapy can induce and maintain remission of UC without side effect before colectomy?
My opinion is to try the Chinese herbs.