NSAIDS, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are used to relieve achy joints and arthritis in mild lupus when pain is limited and organs are not affected.
The anti-malarial drug, hydroxycholorquine, is prescribed for lupus-related arthritis and skin problems especially.
Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is prescribed to reduce inflammation and suppress the activity of the overactive lupus immune system. A helpful way to think of prednisone is as a steroidal anti-inflammatory, in contrast to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory [NSAID] which is not as potent and doesn’t require a prescription. Prednisone is often used for major organ involvement and other serious complications.
“Off-label” treatments that doctors and patients have used for lupus include the organ transplant drugs azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®), the rheumatoid arthritis and non-Hodgkins lymphoma drug, rituximab (Rituxan®), and the cancer drug methotrexate. Because these medicines technically have not been FDA-approved for lupus, patients may have difficulty getting insurance coverage for them.
Other medicines to treat complications of lupus are commonly taken by people with the disease. These vary widely and may include blood pressure drugs, anti-clotting medicines (such as 81 mg aspirin), and supplementary calcium to protect bone density, among others.
What You Can Do
During a flare: Get plenty of rest.
When in remission: Exercise to increase joint flexibility and muscle strength.
If you are sensitive to sun: Use sunscreen and avoid the sun.
If rashes persist: check with your doctor about using a cortisone cream.
Relieve stress: Support groups, counseling, talking with friends, family, and doctors can be helpful.
For fever over 100 degrees F: Call your doctor.
Get regular checkups: These usually include blood and urine tests.
Ask questions: When in doubt, call your doctor.
Report any side effects or new symptoms promptly: Help your doctor know when a change in therapy might be needed.
Treatment News
Lupus Treatments
Over the past 20 to 25 years, better diagnostic techniques and treatment methods have enabled doctors and patients to diagnose lupus earlier in the course of the disease, monitor it more carefully, and in some cases strategize to protect precious organs from permanent damage.
Only 40 percent of people diagnosed with lupus in the mid-1980s or earlier were expected to live more than 3 years following a diagnosis. Today, with access to knowledgeable physicians and good care, many people in the same situation can look forward to a normal lifespan.
But still, the treatments for lupus are still very limited in number, and often cause as much—or more—damage than the disease itself. Only one new drug—Benlysta—has been approved for lupus by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in over 50 years. The drugs on pharmacy shelves today simply treat the symptoms and complications of lupus; none actually target the disease itself.
Hope Ahead
Thankfully, understanding and insight into the immune system and what goes wrong in lupus has surged ahead, and is generating excitement and hope that good lupus treatments soon will be identified and approved.
Even a few years ago, only a handful of drug companies were interested in finding treatments for lupus. Today there are more than 20. See what companies are researching new treatments for lupus.
A number of these companies, in addition to researchers at academic institutions and in government, have started clinical trials for lupus. These trials are the key to new treatments, as they generate crucial data about safety and effectiveness that the FDA requires before approving a new drug.
A number of these trials have already generated results. More »
Cautious optimism on new treatments for lupus is growing. More »
