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Tips for Supporting Your Loved One
A little support can go a long way
Here are some tips you may want to consider in the interest of supporting your loved one who has ulcerative colitis (UC).
Encourage correct medication usage
Some people with UC do not take their medicines as prescribed.
This is unfortunate, because the chance of a flare-up of UC symptoms is increased if a treatment plan is not followed correctly.
The goal of UC treatment is to attain remission of symptoms in order to provide an improved quality of life. A recent
survey by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of American (CCFA) found that 65 percent of patients with UC reported being poorly
compliant with their current therapy. One of the most common reasons for not taking medicine was the inconvenience of having to take
multiple pills too often throughout the day. Some UC treatments require 3 to 4 times daily dosing and 6 to 16 pills a day.
However, once-daily Lialda has convenient once-daily dosing that may help patients improve compliance.
We have created a Medication Tracker to help your loved one keep track of taking Lialda and to help ensure that your loved one is taking his or her Lialda every day. The tracker contains a convenient 12-month calendar that lets you or your loved one mark off each day Lialda tablets are taken. You or your loved one can also write in notes that may be helpful and that can be shared at the next doctor appointment when discussing your loved one’s UC.
Click here to download the full Medication Tracker PDF.
Be patient and understanding
At times, UC can change the way people live their lives. Symptoms of
UC—even the fear of having symptoms return unexpectedly—can interrupt family life, work productivity, social activities,
and more. This can create inconveniences, not only for the person who has UC, but for family members and friends who may find
themselves faced with having to make sacrifices and special accommodations. Do your best to show patience and understanding when your
loved one isn't feeling well.
Encourage open communication
Many of the symptoms of UC involve bodily functions that normally aren't
openly discussed. Although UC certainly isn't anything to be ashamed of, it's understandable if your loved one feels hesitant to
share certain details of his or her illness. You, too, may feel less than comfortable talking about UC. Please realize that your loved
one is already bearing the burden of a chronic illness. Not having an outlet for talking through some of the pains and frustrations
of UC can lead to feelings of isolation. Let your loved one know that the subject of UC isn't off limits, as far as you're concerned.
You may also want to bring up the possibility of joining a UC support group by contacting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of
America at http://www.ccfa.org.
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You should not take Lialda if you are allergic to salicylates (including mesalamine or aspirin) or to any of the ingredients of Lialda. Tell your doctor if you have a stomach blockage or are allergic to sulfasalazine. Mesalamine has been associated with a syndrome that may be difficult to distinguish from an ulcerative colitis flare-up. If you experience cramping, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, headache or rash, talk to your doctor immediately. Some patients taking mesalamine have reported heart-related hypersensitivity reactions, such as inflammation of the heart muscle and inflammation of the lining of the heart. Tell your doctor if you have problems with your liver or kidneys. In worldwide clinical trials, Lialda was generally well tolerated. The most common adverse events were headache and flatulence. As with other medications, some serious side effects may occur. Less than 1% of patients experienced inflammation of the pancreas, which led to discontinuation of therapy with Lialda. Please see Lialda Full Prescribing Information Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe | For Health Care Professionals
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