The Side Effects of Taking Steroids for Your Ulcerative Colitis

The side effects of medications for Ulcerative Colitis are many. It is difficult to deal with all of them and it takes mental toughness.

The most frequent medication that is used for Ulcerative Colitis is some form of steroid; this steroid may be administered in a number of ways. It is almost always used in the event of a "flare-up."

The most disheartening side effect that occurs with the usage of steroids is the development of a "Cushing-Like" appearance or in layman's terms a "Moon Face". This consists of a rounding of the face and some loss of facial features. Additionally, fatty pads can occur virtually at any place on the body. Of course, this effect can make anyone depressed and, frankly, there is little that can be done.

Another side effect of steroids is weight gain. This will happen no matter what actions a patient takes. It doesn't matter if a person adheres to a diet, when they are on active treatment, a patient will have weight gain.

There are times that a person has a feeling of heat from the medication.

When someone is on steroids they have a tremendous appetite. This is in addition to the natural tendency to gain weight. Therefore, a person has a double whammy.

Perhaps the most difficult side effect to deal with is that of constant mood swings. It can be very difficult on family members because at one time a patient may feel fine and within the next few minutes feel very agitated and even angry. It can be compared to Manic Depression as far symptoms.

How should and can a patient deal with these problems?

First, even though it won't help as far as weight loss, it is a good idea to follow a diet so that one doesn't add additional problems. While there will be weight gain, it can be minimized by watching one's diet. Fluids are always a good thing to drink because they are filling and don't irritate the colon.

Perhaps, during a flare minimizing social activity might be a good idea to develop your emotional strength.

The best thing a patient can have is a good family support group who is going to deal with mood changes and understand that everything is temporary. In most cases steroids are used only for flares and when it passes, all of the problems regarding weight and mood swings will pass when a patient gets back to their regular (or in some case no) medicinal regimen.

Ulcerative Colitis creates problems. The majority of medicines don't cause major problems; however, steroid treatment definitely does cause problems. In order to survive your illness it is important to have a good support group and keep telling yourself that a flare doesn't last forever.