Pharmacological treatment for chronic oedema.

Chronic oedema is mainly treated by physical methods (compression, lymphatic drainage, massage and exercise), with drugs not having a major role to play. However, antibiotics are essential in the management of cellulitis, a common and important complication of chronic oedema. Diuretics and cortico-steroids may be appropriate in some types of oedema such as that associated with advanced cancer. Analgesics may be helpful in managing pain, particularly in the short term e.g. pain from cellulitis, although long-term use may also be appropriate, e.g. in cancer pain. Benzopyrones are not routinely used in the management of lymphoedema in the UK.