Treatments for Lupus Disease
Explore your options: Medications and treatments for patients with Lupus

What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the kidneys, skin, joints, and blood. In lupus, which is an autoimmune disorder, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between damaging antigens and its own cells and tissues. The body produces antibodies called auto-antibodies, which produces problems in the immune system. These immune system problems result in a buildup in the tissues. This causes injury to tissues, inflammation, and pain.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus found in people. The SLE form of lupus causes inflammation in the skin, muscles, joints, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, lungs, and in the nervous system.
Lupus symptoms and warning signs
Lupus symptoms vary from person to person. However, the most common lupus symptoms include pain in the muscles and joints, fever and loss of appetite, skin rashes, sensitivity to sunlight, unexplained weight loss or gain, hair loss, swelling of the feet and legs, and ongoing high blood pressure.
Medications for Lupus
NSAIDs
This drug helps reduce swelling and pain in the joints while easing stiffness. The drug controls pain with a low dose, but you need higher doses of the drug to control inflammation. However, taking NSAIDs increases heartburn and leads to side effects such as ulcers and bleeding. It may also be linked with kidney disease. The drug inhibits the body’s ability to clot blood properly and may also interfere with blood thinning medications.
COX-2 Inhibitors
This drug is actually a sub-class of NSAID. Unlike standard NSAIDs, Cox-2 inhibitors do not inhibit the body’s blood clotting abilities. However, the Cox-2 also leads to negative side effects such as kidney failure and risk of heart attack.

Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (commonly found in over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol) relieves mild to moderate joint pain. This drug can be combined with an anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain.
Corticosteroids
Cortisone is a steroid produced by the body. It reduces swelling and inflammation and can also help regulate the immune system. Corticosteroids resemble cortisones but have a powerful effect on inflammation. Side effects of this drug include high blood pressure, sleep problems, bone loss, weight gain, and cataracts.
Anti-malarials
These medications help manage skin rashes, joint pain, and fatigue associated with lupus. The most common negative side effect of these medications is nausea. A very rare side effect is also loss of vision. Be sure to have eye examinations before starting the medication and monitor your vision carefully as you take the drug.
Cytotoxic drugs
These drugs are often prescribed to control inflammation through suppressing the immune system. Serious side effects of these drugs include decreased blood cell count, susceptibility to infection, and risks of developing certain kinds of cancer. If you are taking this drug, you must be monitored closely by a doctor and take regular blood tests.