Lupus Treatment: Medications and Complementary Therapies


How do you Treat Lupus?

Lupus treatment is the greatest strategy to heal different symptoms and prevent disease progression.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is treated according to symptoms and indicators.

With treatment, you can −

  • Get rid of your problems.

  • Bring down the swelling.

  • Stop and calm flare-ups.

  • Stop organ loss and other health problems from happening.

Medicines to treat Lupus

Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Lupus can cause joint pain and stiffness in your wrists, fingers, and knees. Fever may occur. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications) usually assist. Buy them without a license.

Acetaminophen is a nonprescription anti-inflammatory.

Other medications include  Aspirin, Naproxen, Ibuprofen

Side Effects

Anti-inflammatory drugs can sometimes upset your stomach. To avoid this, take them with food or milk. When you take more than the recommended amount of NSAIDs, your risk of caediac stroke or heart attack increases.

Antimalarial Drugs

Some medicines for malaria can also be used to treat Lupus. Rashes, oral sores, and joint pain may benefit. Lupus patients worry that they reduce blood clot risk.

Antimalarial medications may protect your organs from Lupus and your skin from UV radiation.

Side Effects

Most side effects are rare and mild, like stomach disorder.

Corticosteroids

Parts of your immune system work too hard when you have Lupus, causing it to attack good tissue by accident. This defensive reaction is slowed down by corticosteroids. If you have problems with your heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, or blood systems because of Lupus, your doctor may prescribe these medicines.

Corticosteroids work quickly to reduce inflammation-related stiffness, warmth, and pain in the joints. They can be taken as a pill or through an IV. They can also stop heart damage over time.

Side Effects

Corticosteroids can cause harmful side effects, such as −

  • Diabetes Cataracts

  • More likely to get sick

  • Weakness in muscles

  • Your bones are weak or broken, especially in your hips.

You could perhaps put on weight, experience satiety, and alter your disposition. If your symptoms improve, your physician will likely start you on the lowest effective dosage and gradually reduce it.

Immunosuppressive Drugs

These medications inhibit your immune system, prevent and regulate symptoms of organ damage like corticosteroids. If corticosteroids aren't doing the trick, this might be the next step.

Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide, and Methotrexate are all examples of immunosuppressants used to treat lupus.

Immunosuppressant drugs are sometimes used with corticosteroids. You'll take less of each drug, reducing the risk of illness.

Both types of medications must be assessed for efficacy and negative effects.

Side Effects

Immunosuppressant's can also have terrible side effects. They can even make it harder for your body to fight off infections and increase your risk of getting cancer.

Azathioprine can cause gastritis or a type of hepatitis as a side effect. Cyclophosphamide can cause problems with the kidneys, hair loss, or problems with getting pregnant. Methotrexate can make you sick, give you headaches, and mouth sores, make you sensitive to the sun, cause you lung infections, and hurt your liver.

Some Other Medicines

Your doctor might also give you one or more of the following −

Anticoagulants. These thin your blood to stop dangerous blood clots, which can happen if you have Lupus.

Monoclonal antibodies. Among first Lupus medication was Belimumab (Benlysta). Intravenous or subcutaneous administration targets specific immune cells. It also helps reduce steroid need, although it hasn't been evaluated for severe Lupus. When other Lupus treatments fail, Rituxan (Rituximab) may be utilized. Anifrolumab-fnia (Saphnelo) treats mild to severe SLE in lupus medication users.

Repository Corticotropin injections. H.P. Acthar Gel might help your body make anti-inflammatory steroid chemicals like cortisol.

Other Medicines' Side Effects

  • Anticoagulants often cause side effects like diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, stomach pain, and loss of hunger. Rarely, you might get bruises, a rash, back pain, sore throat, or jaundice when your eyes and skin turn yellow.

  • Monoclonal antibodies could cause stomachaches, headaches, hives, or changes in blood pressure. Most of the time, these gets cured over time.

  • Acthar Gel may induce edema, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, mood changes, increased hunger, and weight gain.

Different Ways to Treat Lupus

Any non-traditional treatment is alternative medicine. Acupuncture may help Lupus patients.

  • Massage

  • Meditation

  • Biofeedback

  • Herbs and other nutritional aids

  • Treatments for chiropractic

Though not scientifically proven, these things can be used instead of medical care. Some vitamins could even make your lupus symptoms worse.

Acupuncture, meditation, biofeedback, and standard procedures have been demonstrated to reduce pain and stress. Alternative treatment.

Before you try any alternative or additional methods for your Lupus, you should talk to your doctor.

Changes in Lifestyle

Living healthily helps you feel refreshing better and stop flare-ups. It also help stop problems like heart attack, kidney disorders, and stroke linked to Lupus.

Use these ideas −

  • Eat a well-balanced diet.

  • To protect and maintain your heart and blood vessels, stop smoking, or don't start.

  • Tiredness is a regular sign of Lupus, and getting a lot of rest can help.

  • Most days, you should work out to help your sleep, happiness, and heart health.

  • Use good sunscreen every time you go outside.

  • Get the flu and pneumonia shots to avoid getting sick.

Updated on: 10-May-2023

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