Inflammation of the inner lining of the large intestine or the colon is a debilitating condition that can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea and can develop into life threatening complications. If the inflammation begins in the rectum and involves almost the entire colon, it is known as ulcerative colitis. In the case of Crohn's disease, inflammation may begin in any part of the digestive tract and only segments of the colon may be involved. There is no cure for inflammation of the colon, although several steps can be taken to reduce the symptoms.
Diet
Eating small amounts of food throughout the day, drinking lots of water and avoiding high-fiber foods, fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine and dairy products are some of the suggestions made by MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, to help patients with colon inflammation. These drugs do not cure the condition but may provide relief from the symptoms such as gas and diarrhea.
Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as sulfasalazine, mesalamine and corticosteroids are the drugs of choice to reduce the inflammation of the colon. According to MayoClinic.com, sulfasalazine has many side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and heartburn and should not be used in patients who are allergic to the drug. Mesalamine has fewer side effects, is available in tablet and suppository forms and can cure mild cases of ulcerative colitis in 90 percent of cases, according to the clinic. Corticosteroids may be prescribed only to treat severe cases of ulcerative colitis and have many side effects including weight gain, high blood pressure, facial hair and type 2 diabetes.
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants are drugs that reduce the inflammation of the colon by acting upon on the immune system and are prescribed to patients who do not respond to anti-inflammatory drugs. Azathioprine and 6-mercapto-purine are the most common immunosuppressants used to treat colitis and can be taken orally. These drugs may take as long as six months to act and the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse recommends monitoring the patients for side effects such as pancreatitis, hepatitis and low white blood cell count.
Anti-diarrheals
Fiber supplements such as psyllium powder and methylcellulose can relieve mild to moderate diarrhea associated with inflammation of the colon, according to the MayoClinic.com. Loperamide may be used for more severe cases. A life-threatening condition known as toxic megacolon that causes rapid widening of the colon is a major complication of anti-diarrheal drugs and hence, the condition of the patient should be closely monitored.
Surgery
About 25 to 40 percent patients with ulcerative colitis may require surgery, according to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. The procedure, known as proctocolectomy, generally involves removal of the colon and rectum.Surgery can provide complete relief to patients with ulcerative colitis but Crohn's disease may reoccur after surgery. Also, patients who have undergone surgery may still develop other conditions associated with colitis such as swelling and scaring of the bile ducts in the liver and inflammation of the lower back.
