Treatment

Treatment for pericarditis depends on the cause and the severity of your symptoms. Mild pericarditis may get better without treatment.

Medications

Medications to reduce the inflammation and swelling are often prescribed. Examples include:

• Pain relievers. Pericarditis pain can usually be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). Prescription-strength pain relievers also may be used.
• Colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare). This drug reduces inflammation in the body. It's used to treat acute pericarditis or if your symptoms tend to come back. You should not take this drug if you have liver or kidney disease. Colchicine can also interfere with other drugs. Your doctor will carefully check your health history before prescribing colchicine.
• Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are strong medications that fight inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid such as prednisone if your symptoms don't get better with other medications, or if symptoms keep returning.

If your pericarditis is caused by a bacterial infection, you'll be treated with antibiotics and drainage, if necessary.

Surgeries or other procedures

If pericarditis causes fluid buildup around the heart, you may need drainage or surgery. Treatments include:

• Pericardiocentesis. In this procedure, a doctor uses a sterile needle or a small tube (catheter) to remove and drain the excess fluid from the pericardial cavity. You'll receive a numbing medication (local anesthetic) before the procedure. The doctor uses ultrasound and echocardiogram images to guide the needle and tube to the correct location in the body. This drain stays in place for several days while you are in the hospital.
• Pericardiectomy. This surgery removes the entire pericardium. It may be done if the sac surrounding your heart has become permanently rigid due to constrictive pericarditis.