Lupus Treatments
By Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH, About.com Guide to Lupus
Once it is determined that a patient has lupus, treating the illness can take one a number of forms -- from medicinal treatments to lifestyle changes.
Treatment
It's important to review the variety of treatments that may be recommended, and what they entail, so that you can play an active role in your care.
Healthcare Team
If you’ve been diagnosed with lupus, you already have a good idea of what a rheumatologist is and what she does. And there is a good chance your rheumatologist is suggesting that you put together a team of professionals to focus on your symptoms.
Common Medications
Since medicinal treatment is one of the most often used and successful treatment options for lupus, you should become familiar with these specific drugs and their side effects.
- Anti-Malarials
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressants
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan)
- CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil)
- Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
- Imuran (Azathioprine)
- Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)
- Prasterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
- Prednisone
- Trexall
Lupus Flares
Lupus is a disease that flares up and then goes into remission – only to flare up once more. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare for and cope with lupus flares.
Research
Research into what causes lupus and what might be a cure for this disease that has no cure grows more each day. The more studies that are conducted, the closer we will get to understanding how to crack its code.
- Gender, Ethnicity and Lupus -- The LUMINA Study
- Genetic Link Between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Kidney Disease-Research on Lupus-Related Kidney Disease
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus vary by patient and by healthcare practitioner. And there is little doubt that throughout a lupus patient’s life, she might explore different ways to treat the disease. Some of the methods might stray off the path of conventional medicine, and into complementary and alternative medicine, defined as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.
