Patient discussions

  • Patients should be aware that most non-prescription analgesics and symptomatic relief products contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs and have the potential to trigger or worsen colitis. Where non-specific pain relief is needed, paracetamol or an opioid that has less effect on motility (e.g., tramadol) may help.

  • If planning pregnancy, patients should be counselled to conceive during remission and advised to continue their maintenance pharmacotherapy unless they are taking a drug contraindicated during pregnancy. Before conception, patients should be well nourished and take folate supplements.[126]​

  • There is little evidence to implicate dietary components in the aetiology or pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. However, patients are prone to malnutrition and its detrimental effects.

  • Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of cancer from long-standing intestinal inflammation and/or the use of immunosuppressive therapies to treat IBD. In patients with IBD treated with thiopurines there is an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancers, non-intestinal lymphoma and genitourinary cancer.[138]

  • All adult patients with IBD should be screened for depression and anxiety annually.[142]

  • Patients should be offered advice on where additional information may be obtained and help in interpreting information where the need arises.[53]​ The following provide access to both general and more detailed information:

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