Are There New Ulcerative Colitis Medicines Being Investigated?
Research into new ulcerative colitis treatments is currently being conducted in numerous universities and medical research facilities. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) in the United States reports that there are currently about 270 clinical studies underway or recently completed into new ulcerative colitis treatments. More than 600,000 individuals in the U.S. alone – and millions more around the world – could benefit from new ulcerative colitis drugs and therapies developed in these trials.
Ulcerative colitis is rarely fatal. Approximately 300 deaths result from it annually in the United States. Nonetheless, it is considered to be a serious digestive condition which causes approximately eighty thousand hospitalizations every year. There are more than two million prescriptions for ulcerative colitis medications filled annually.
Ulcerative colitis is a disorder that arises from inflammation in the lining of the colon and intestines. This inflammation results in ulcers that bleed and produce pus..
At the moment, there are no cures for ulcerative colitis. A number of ulcerative colitis medications (described below) may help alleviate painful symptoms Medications may help decrease inflammation, lessen the risk of complications, replace blood and nutritional losses, and and prevent any further progression. There are several additional benefits too. Ulcerative colitis medications have shown an ability to help damaged tissue heal, lower the risk of future flare ups and even postpone or prevent the need for surgery.
Your doctor will choose ulcerative colitis medicine based on the severity of your condition, any complications that may have occurred, and the section of the intestinal tract affected by the disorder.
When patients have mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, the doctor will generally choose aminosalicylates as the first course of treatment. Drugs called sulfasalazine or mesalamine are often the first choice in these situations. The purpose of aminosalicylates is to decrease inflammation, promote remission, and render the disorder inactive. In many cases, aminosalicylates work well enough to keep ulcerative colitis in remission, which is considered to be a period of time without symptoms.
If aminosalicylates don’t get the job done, your doctor will then recommend corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are intended mainly to decrease inflammation, and they won’t be used anymore once inflammation is under control. Once this has happened, your doctor will put you back on aminosalicylates.
Different medications may be needed if neither aminosalicylates nor corticosteroids bring your ulcerative colitis under control and into remission. Generally, these medications would include cyclosporine, immunomodulators, and infliximab. The goal of these medications is to reduce inflammation – and therefore symptoms – by modulating the response of your immune system to your illness.
It’s important for pregnant women to discuss their options for ulcerative colitis medications with their doctor. Aminosalicylates and corticosteroids are generally safe for women who are pregnant, especially if your doctor believes your disorder may be more harmful to your unborn child than any effects of the medicine. There are a number of ulcerative colitis medicines your doctor can prescribe that are appropriate for different stages of your pregnancy and the severity of your symptoms.
A number of recent research projects have demonstrated that the nicotine patch may help reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Data has not firmly established, however, just how effective the nicotine patch can be at preventing flare ups. It’s also not certain how long benefits of using the patch may last. In addition, there’s a danger of addiction and other possible side effects. Because of this, most doctors will only recommend the nicotine patch if all other medications have failed.
As mentioned above, there are literally hundreds of research studies and clinical trials in progress aimed at discovering new treatments and ulcerative colitis medications. Ulcerative colitis sufferers can take heart knowing that new treatments and medications may soon be developed thanks to these research efforts.
Related topics: new treatments for ulcerative colitis and new drugs for ulcerative colitis. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and TV reporter. To read more of his articles, click on maintaining colon health.
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