Medicines to Treat Pleural Effusion

Generality

Pleural effusion is a condition characterized by an accumulation of fluid inside the pleural cavity, in much greater quantities than the pleural cavity would normally contain (10-20 ml of pleural fluid at most).

Causes

Pleural effusion occurs when there is insufficient disposal (transudates) of pleural fluid; or when there is an "excessive production (exudates) of the same fluid.
Generally, the main cause of transudate formation is heart failure (or heart failure), cirrhosis or hypoalbuminemia.
Exudates, on the other hand, are mainly caused by pneumonia, neoplasms, pulmonary embolism and tuberculosis.

Symptoms

Symptoms that may occur in patients with pleural effusion are dyspnoea, chest pain, dry cough, hypoxia, tachypnea and hypercapnia.
In addition, some individuals may also experience: fever, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, hiccups, ascites, anemia and decreased body weight.
If not properly treated, pleural effusion can lead to complications and permanent lung damage.

The information on Pleural Effusion - Drugs to Treat Pleural Effusion is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Pleural Effusion - Medicines to Treat Pleural Effusion.

Medicines

The treatment of pleural effusion is aimed, first of all, at counteracting dyspnea and other breathing difficulties caused by the accumulation of fluid. To do this, it is essential to remove excess pleural fluid from the cavity and it is necessary to treat the primary cause that has caused the payment itself.
In milder cases of pleural effusion, the physician may institute symptomatic treatment by submitting patients to oxygen therapy and diuretic drug-based therapies.
In the event that the pleural effusion is caused by bacterial infections, then the administration of broad spectrum antibiotics is also required (if the infectious agent has not been identified), or specific antibiotics (if it was possible recognize the beating responsible for the infection).
In the most serious cases of pleural effusion, on the other hand, it is possible to resort to the use of the thoracentesis technique.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against pleural effusion and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the active ingredient and dosage most suitable for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment.

Diuretics

As mentioned, diuretics can be used in the treatment of pleural effusion, in order to reduce the excessive volume of accumulated pericardial fluid.
Among the various active ingredients that can be used, we mention furosemide (Lasix ®, Lasix Fiale ®). This active ingredient is available for both parenteral and oral administration. When administered via the latter route, the usual dose of furosemide used is 25-50 mg per day.
When, on the other hand, furosemide is administered by intravenous injection, the dose of active ingredient usually used is 20 mg per day.
In any case, it will be up to the doctor to determine the exact amount of medicine to be taken for each patient.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can be used to treat pleural effusion caused by bacterial infections.
In the event that it is possible to identify the bacteria that supports the infection, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic therapy aimed at eradicating that same bacteria from the patient's body.
In the event that it is not possible to identify the microorganism responsible for the infection, however, the doctor may resort to the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, such as, for example, amoxicillin (Augmentin ®, Zimox ®, Amox ®, Clavulin ®, Velamox ®).

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic belonging to the penicillin class. The dose of drug usually administered in adult patients is 1-3 grams per day, to be taken orally in 2-3 divided doses. In any case, the exact dosage of medicine must be determined by the physician on an individual basis.