Which medications are typically prescribed for pericarditis?

• A. Anti-inflammatory medicines and corticosteroids.
• B. Antibiotics only.
• C. Beta-blockers.
• D. Anticoagulants.

Answer: (A)

Pericarditis is an inflammatory condition of the pericardial sac, so treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and relieving pain. Anti-inflammatory medicines, especially NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or aspirin), are the first-line therapy to decrease inflammation and symptoms. Corticosteroids are used when NSAIDs are not suitable or in autoimmune-related or recurrent cases, but they are not the initial choice due to longer-term side effects. In practice, colchicine is often added with NSAIDs to reduce recurrence.

Antibiotics are reserved for bacterial pericarditis; if no infection is present, they aren’t indicated. Beta-blockers don’t address the inflammatory process and aren’t routinely used for pericarditis. Anticoagulants are generally avoided in acute pericarditis because of the risk of bleeding into the pericardial space or worsening tamponade if effusion is present.

So, medications that are typically prescribed are anti-inflammatory medicines and corticosteroids.