Behcet's Disease.
Last updated Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Management and treatmentHow is behcet's disease treated? 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.
What health care professionals may help treat or manage behcet's disease? Because various parts of your body may be affected, you may need to see
different types of doctors, such as an eye doctor, skin doctor, and
arthritis specialist.What medications are used to treat or manage behcet's disease? 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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