Medications for Lupus

HEALTHJOURNEYS
Jane Doe Lupus

I am a 46 year old woman who was diagnosed with lupus in 2017. I suffer from achy and swollen joints, extreme fatigue, skin rashes, and occasional chest pain. Through the help of my family and loved ones, I am able to work through my condition.

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Lupus can cause a lot of different health problems, there are many different kinds of medicines that can treat it. You and your doctors can work together to find the right combination of medicines for you. 

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a type of antimalarial medicine. Antimalarials work by reducing autoantibodies (proteins in the blood that attack healthy cells and tissues).  Doctors use antimalarials to treat malaria, but these medicines can also treat lupus by:  

  • Reducing pain and inflammation 
  • Preventing lupus flares and helping with lupus skin problems
  • Lowering the dose (amount you need to take) of your other lupus medicines

Most people with lupus take hydroxychloroquine throughout their lives. It helps control lupus symptoms with very few side effects. 

Hydroxychloroquine may also help prevent blood clots and organ damage from lupus. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to start working. 

  • NSAIDs These anti-inflammatory medications relieve some lupus symptoms by reducing the inflammation responsible for the stiffness and discomfort in your muscle, joints, and other tissues. NSAIDs are milder than many other lupus drugs and may be taken either alone to treat a mild flare or in combination with other medications.
  • Anti-Malarial Drugs Plaquenil and other anti-malarials are the key to controlling lupus long term, and some lupus patients may be on Plaquenil for the rest of their lives. For this reason, you can think of anti-malarials as a sort of “lupus life insurance.”
  • Steroids Synthetic cortisone medications are some of the most effective treatments for reducing the swelling, warmth, pain, and tenderness associated with the inflammation of lupus. Cortisone usually works quickly to relieve these symptoms. However, cortisone can also cause many unwelcome side effects, so it is usually prescribed only when other medications—specifically NSAIDs and anti-malarials—are not sufficient enough to control lupus.
  • Immunosuppressive Medications Immunosuppressives are medications that help suppress the immune system. Many were originally used in patients who received organ transplants to help prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplanted organ. However, these drugs are now also used for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • DHEA DHEA is a mild male hormone that is effective in treating some of the symptoms of mild to moderate lupus, including hair loss (alopecia), joint pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction (e.g., difficulty thinking, memory loss, distractibility, difficulty in multitasking). DHEA can also be effective against osteoporosis.

There is no cure for lupus, however there are different medications that can help to control it very effectively. If your condition is controlled early, the likelihood of later complications may be reduced. There are also many strategies you can use to manage your condition, including physical activity and lifestyle changes. 
Medication can help manage your symptoms and assist in controlling your overactive immune system. Because people with lupus experience different symptoms, and to varying degrees, there is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment.

As well as medication, other treatments that may help you manage your lupus include: 

  • limiting sun exposure
  • applying sunscreen lotion
  • regular exercise
  • annual flu vaccinations
  • regular medical check-ups
  • eating a healthy, balanced diet
  • managing your stress
  • limiting alcohol.