Microscopic Lymphocytic Colitis Treatment

Microscopic lymphocytic colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease which causes the intestines to become inflamed. Symptoms of the disease are abdominal cramping, urgent bowel movements, weight loss, stool leakage and watery diarrhea that does not contain blood. It is usually necessary to take a biopsy to confirm the disease, which is most prevalent in elderly females. Microscopic lymphocytic colitis treatments are available.

Avoid Certain Medications

• One of the simplest treatments for microscopic lymphocytic colitis that doctors recommend is to have the patient avoid taking medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Some patients improve immediately when they avoid these medicines and avoid other substances, such as beverages and foods that contain lactose and caffeine, both known to increase the odds of developing diarrhea.

Antidiarrheal Medication

• If the patient cannot or will not avoid the medicines and substances that cause diarrhea or if avoiding the substances does not help significantly with the diarrhea, the doctor might suggest that the patient take an antidiarrheal medication, such as Lomotil or Imodium. Both of these medications can be purchased over the counter.

Upset Stomach Medication

• If the diarrhea medication does not control the patient's diarrhea, the doctor might recommend taking an upset stomach medication, such as Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol. These medications are recommended for managing microscopic lymphocytic colitis. Some doctors suggest using the Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate instead of or together with antidiarrheal medicine.

Cholestyramine Medication

• If the upset stomach medications do not control the diarrhea resulting from microscopic lymphocytic colitis, the doctor may advise the patient to take cholestyramine, which is available by prescription and includes anti-inflammatory medicines, such as mesamine, sulfasalazine or balsalazide.

Corticosteroids Medications

• If the previous treatments all fail to work, the doctor might prescribe corticosteroids for the patient. Due to all the side effects associated with steroids, this medication will only be recommended if the microscopic lymphocytic colitis symptoms are very severe and the other therapies have not helped.

Surgery

• In some rare cases where the microscopic lymphocytic colitis fails to respond to any of the medications, the doctor might recommend a ileostomy. This is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon will attach the last portion of the small intestine, called the ileum, to an abdominal wall opening. It is sometimes performed in conjunction with a colostomy, in which all or a portion of the colon is removed.