Pericarditis

Home » Pericarditis » Pericarditis Treatment

Treatment

The primary treatment for pericarditis is the use of anti-inflammatory agents. Aspirin may be prescribed as initial therapy. In many cases, one of a group of agents called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is prescribed. NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil®, Medipren®, Motrin®, Nuprin®, Rufen®), indomethacin (Indocin®), and naproxen (Aleve®, Anaprox®, Naprosyn®). NSAIDs are usually quite effective in reducing inflammation and eliminating the pain associated with pericarditis. The main side effects of these medications are stomach irritation and, occasionally, ulcers.

Rarely, stronger anti-inflammatory therapy is needed and steroids are prescribed. Steroid treatment lasts at least several weeks, and the dosage must be tapered (reduced slowly). Unfortunately, after some patients have completed the therapy, pericarditis returns.

If pericardial effusion is significant and there is concern that fluid is beginning to "compress" the chambers of the heart, the doctor may recommend draining the fluid. During this procedure, which is called pericardiocentisis, a thin hollow needle is carefully inserted through the chest wall into the area of accumulated fluid, and the fluid is drained through the needle. Often, a small "drain" is left in place for about a day to allow continuous fluid drainage. The fluid is usually sent to a lab for analysis, which may suggest a cause for the pericarditis.

Pericarditis, Pericarditis Treatment reprinted with permission from cardiologychannel.com
© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Pericarditis Resources

Pain Management Information for Patients (Free Handout)
	Join Our Pericarditis Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer