New online IBD article summarizes current medical treatment options

On Website gastroendonews.com/index -- under column Clinical Review-- there is an article entitled "Crohn's and Colitis: Treatment of 5-ASA Responders and Nonresponders" that I find interesting. It may also be helpful for members here who have Qs about their own present situation with UC, which is discussed 1st in the article. You have to register to use this site, but it's free. Just follow the instructions for a short registration profile in order to login. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily; seem to be back in remission)

Thanks heaps Old Hat. Great article. Interesting that they said that (for left sided UC) taking your oral 5ASA and just doing 2 5ASA enemas a week is way better than just doing the oral 5ASA. I'm going to add 2 foam enemas per week and see what happens.

Hi, Mitz! No, I have just a basic science background from college credit distribution requirements. I agree that some of this text is heavy reading, especially due to biochemical references, so printing it out to facilitate comprehension is definitely a help. The author is one of the most IBD-knowledgeable gastros in the U.S., a practicing doctor, a medical school professor who also participates in continuing ed seminars for established doctors, a collaborator in molecular biology studies on IBD, + involved in clinical drug trials for ca. a couple decades; that's why the writing is dense for us in places. But I think the chart on 5-ASA differences & other features could be useful for members here ... I'd rather sort thru this level than stay with the super-optimistic pap that generally is written for patients-only! / Old Hat

Old Hat....Awesome info..thanks for posting the site! I prefer hard copies as well, so printed it, but haven't had time to read all of it yet. Makes sense so far....at my last appointment, my doc mentioned new focus/talk about subtypes and gearing treatment.

In the archives, the one titled "Patient Adherence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease" is equally compelling...worth a read for all UCers.

quincy

Old Hat, this is great, thank you! I read it, I am going to reread it a few times to digest the info, but this will keep me thinking and is just what we all need. thank you.

Thanks for posting this link! I read the article, then went to my GI for my 6-month followup today. He recommended tapering the Imuran and, thanks to your posting, I was able to discuss this intelligently with him.

Just started reading. Looks like a very informative article. Thanks. =)

That's a cool Web site, too. Can I send their "Patients Guide to Probiotics" to my GI's nurse? When I was telling her what supplements I take, she had no idea what a probiotic was. I had to explain it to her.

For Annie76-- this explains 5-ASA choices & reasons for changing to harder meds. / Old Hat

5ASA chart is in part 1 on ulcerative colitis. / Old Hat

Bump

bump-- for Eurelyus & others wanting to know where in GI tract the various oral 5ASA meds break down, see chart in Part 1 of article.

Judy...old and easy habits die hard....the docs and unfortunately the patients have high expectations of having flares dealt with asap. I personally think it sets patients up for more failure in future treatments than the 5ASA meds.

There is still a HUGE lot of docs that refuse/don't prescribe rectal meds for UCers....figure that one out??? If a patient has to beg for rectal meds, there's something wrong with that doc's way of thinking..especially now-a-days!

quincy

Print Part 1 & give to your gastro if you need more help with meds to achieve remission. / Old Hat