Behcet's Disease.

Management and treatment

Treatment

There is not yet a cure for Behcet's disease, but its symptoms can be treated and managed. When treatment is effective, many people with Behcet's enter a quiet stage of the disorder after an active phase of a few years. With new medicines available, the outlook is good for maintaining vision and avoiding life-threatening problems.

Health care team

Medications

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following medicines.

• Corticosteroid creams applied directly to the mouth, skin, or eyes to reduce pain and swelling. These medicines are related to cortisone, a natural body hormone.
• Corticosteroid pills, such as prednisone. These help reduce pain and swelling throughout the body. These are powerful medicines. If used for a long period of time, they can cause side effects, such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.
• Pain-relieving rinses for mouth ulcers.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain and swelling.
• Colchicine, a medicine used to treat gout, to reduce active pain and swelling.
• Cytotoxic drugs, such as chlorambucil (Leukeran) or azathioprine (Imuran). These are usually given to people who have eye or brain involvement. These drugs reduce pain and swelling. They also slow down the disease process. They are powerful medicines and can have serious side effects. If you are taking these medicines, you will have regular blood tests to check for side effects.
• Experimental drugs are sometimes tried if other drugs do not work. For example, the drug cyclosporin, which is given to people who have organ transplants, may be effective in treating people with Behcet's disease.

Work with your doctor to decide which medicine is best for you. Ask your doctor about side effects and how to take the medicine. If you notice any side effects, call your doctor.

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