There are a few different drugs used to treat sarcoidosis, which often work by reducing symptoms.

Sometimes sarcoidosis medicines treat a single body part, such as eyedrops or skin creams. Other medicines treat the whole body from the inside and can be particularly useful for treatment of the lungs, brain and heart.

These include:

• Prednisolone and prednisone (steroids) - these are the most commonly drugs used for sarcoidosis.
• Methotrexate and azathioprine are often used to help people come off prednisolone (this is known as steroid sparing).
• Infliximab and similar drugs can sometimes work when prednisolone or steroid sparing drugs do not work.

• Side-effects

  Sarcoidosis responds very well to steroids, but they do not cure the disease. Sarcoidosis may get worse again after the steroids are stopped. Steroids can also cause side-effects, such as weight gain, diabetes, thinning of the bone (osteoporosis) and skin, and mood swings. Other drugs can have other side-effects. It is a good idea to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment prescribed to you.

  If you begin steroid treatment, your doctor will help you to find the lowest dose that can control your symptoms by gradually lowering the dose over time. If it cannot be lowered, a second drug such as methotrexate or azathioprine may be added.

• Monitoring and support

  Monitoring of your condition will depend on how sarcoidosis affects you. Most people are seen every 3 months or so for the first 2 years.

  Besides medication, other support such as exercise, pulmonary rehabilitation and psychological support may be offered.

  Talk to your doctor about the options that could help you.

• Treatment for different organs affected

  Find out more about the different treatment options for organs such as the heart, nervous system, skin and eyes that may be affected by sarcoidosis.

The majority of people diagnosed with sarcoidosis get better without specific treatment within 12-18 months and lead perfectly normal lives. This is because the body’s immune system heals the granulomas over this time.

Sometimes, for reasons that are not understood, this healing does not happen and scar tissue forms (fibrosis). This can result in permanent damage.

A multidisciplinary approach is recommended for people with sarcoidosis

WASOG and the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) have developed a process whereby clinics can apply to be certified as WASOG Centers and Centers of Excellence.

‘WASOG Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence’ refers to a multidisciplinary team of specialised medical and paramedical professionals with a shared specialised facility that has proven sustainability over years, and provides leadership, best practices, research, support and/or training for sarcoidosis patients and professionals. It should contain sarcoidosis experts in at least two different disciplines.

To find out more about certified centres visit the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research’s website or contact sarc.clinic@stopsarcoidosis.org.

• Find WASOG sarcoidosis clinics in your country

  Find details of current WASOG Sarcoidosis Clinics in your country
  

  
  

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