What's the treatment for myocarditis?
Treatment of myocarditis depends on the cause and severity. For example, patients with only mild viral myocarditis may be allowed to rest at home. They will be advised not to smoke or to drink alcohol, and they will need to limit strenuous activities
until an EKG test is normal.
Except in systemic sarcoidosis and immune inflammation (such as from systemic lupus) where myocarditis can respond to corticosteroids, no proven effective medications are currently available for treating myocarditis. Current treatment of myocarditis mainly involves alleviating heart failure (salt restriction, water pills, ACE inhibitors, etc.) and treating as well as monitoring heart rhythm abnormalities.
In the later phases (ie not in the first two weeks) myocarditis is treated with pain-relieving medications or anti-inflammatory drugs. Antibiotics may be prescribed if the myocarditis is due to a bacterial infection. Bed rest is advised only in the acute stage of myocarditis and exercise should be limited until the acute phase is over. Symptoms vary and may be treated with a variety of medications to control heart muscle function or rhythms. |
