There are severallupustreatment options.
Lupustreatment may include medications such as immunosuppressives, antimalarials, steroids, and biologics.
It can also include alternative therapies and lifestyle changes.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
The right treatment depends on what will be the safest and most effective for that individual.
Goals of Lupus Treatment
Lupus treatment options are tailored to your needs and may change over time.
Some patients never need medications, while others take them only as needed or for a short time.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Other patients with lupus need constant drug therapy with different doses.
Can Over-The-Counter (OTC) Meds Help Lupus?
All lupus medications have risks.
Most patients do well on lupus medications and have few if any side effects.
If you do have side effects, tell your provider.
You should never suddenly stop taking your lupus medications because doing so can be dangerous.
Always ask your provider before changing your dose or stopping your treatment.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Antimalarials also affect your platelets to reduce the risk of blood clots and lower plasma lipid levels.
A common side effect of antimalarials is stomach upset, but there are also some more serious adverse effects.
You should also know that there are risks to taking medications likeisotretinoinandthalidomideif you are pregnant.
These drugs areteratogens, which means that they can damage a fetus.
You should not take these drugs if you are thinking about getting pregnant or are pregnant.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroidsare strong anti-inflammatory drugs.
They are also useful in controlling the involvement of major organs in lupus.
Corticosteroids are approved by the FDA for treating lupus and are usually administered by mouth (orally).
Some lupus patients only need corticosteroids during the active stages of the disease.
Patients with severe disease or serious organ involvement may need long-term treatment.
Healthcare providers sometimes give very large amounts of corticosteroid by IV over a brief time (usually days).
This is called bolus therapy or pulse therapy.
If you’ve been on prolonged corticosteroid therapy, know that the drugs must not be stopped suddenly.
Talk to your provider about slowly reducing and stopping your dose when it’s time.
When you take corticosteroids, your bodys own production of adrenal hormones slows or stops.
Tapering the dose allows your bodys adrenal glands to recover and start making natural hormones on their own again.
However, its usually used as a short-term treatment.
Prednisone is effective in treating active lupus and symptoms often get better quickly.
People with mild cases of active lupus may never need to take it.
This means they have not been approved by the FDA for treating lupus.
Immunosuppressives can also be used to reduce or even eliminate the need for corticosteroids.
Is Chemo Used to Treat Lupus?
These drugs are the second line of defense against lupus and other forms of arthritis.
They can be taken by mouth or given in an IV.
Although they work in different ways, each bang out can help decrease or prevent an immune response.
Immunosuppressives and DMARDs used to treat lupus include:
Immunosuppressives and DMARDs can have serious side effects.
There are many serious risks associated with the use of immunosuppressives and DMARDs.
As with other treatments for lupus, there is a risk of relapse after the immunosuppressives have been stopped.
Options for Other Lupus Types
Other types of lupus may need other types of treatment.
However, the treated skin should be covered with a plastic film or Cordran tape.
If you dont cover them, youll need to apply corticosteroid ointments and gels twice a day.
If none of these treatments work, your provider will likely try a systemic treatment.
It may take up to 6 months for drug-induced lupus symptoms to go away after the medication is stopped.
In the meantime, other treatments that can help with symptoms can also be used.
Lupus does not typically shorten your lifespan.
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