Apart from treating lupus naturally, your doctor can also prescribe medication. Note that medication should only be obtained from your doctor because of the side effects that may come with the drugs and the dosage and frequency required. There are different types of lupus and can attack various organs in the body, so treatment varies from one person to another.
For patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), doctors often treat the symptoms of the illness. For example, treatment for patients who suffer from lupus nephritis will have a different treatment from those with chronic lupus arthritis. Some available treatments are the following:
- Anti-malarials. These are drugs that were originally designed to treat malaria, but research has found that they have multiple benefits for lupus. Anti-malarials contain hydroxychloroquine which helps reduce lupus flares and treat skin rashes, arthritis, and constitutional symptoms like weight loss, fever, chronic pain, and fatigue.
- Statins. These are given to patients who have high cholesterol only. Statins have also been shown to improve inflammation; however, statins can induce Drug-induced Lupus Erythematosus (DILE). Doctors use statins only for those who are at risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and immunomodulators. Depending on the severity and the organs involved, DMARDs are used because of their immunosuppressant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Immunosuppressants inhibit the immune system in attacking while its cytotoxic abilities help fight toxins that are in the body. Patients who have lupus nephritis, vasculitis, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement are given cyclophosphamide, a very potent drug DMARD. Methotrexate and Azathioprine are for patients who need arthritis treatment and those with the non-renal disease.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are used primarily for symptomatic therapy or the treatment of the symptoms and not the disease itself. Depending on the severity of the pain patients are prescribed to take Ibuprofen, Naproxen, or Diclofenac.
- Corticosteroids. They are involved in lupus therapy for their immunosuppressant response and anti-inflammation properties. Some examples are methylprednisolone and prednisone. Among all other therapies, corticosteroids have the most immediate anti-inflammatory effect. They can be used for mild to severe flares.
- Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIGs). IVIGs consist of antibodies from blood donors. They have been known to treat patients who have CNS involvement, peripheral nervous system symptoms, and psychiatric disorders. This treatment can also be used for pregnant women because there are no known serious side effects.
- Therapeutic Plasma Exchange. The treatment is a blood purification technique that removes large molecular weight substances from the plasma. Doctors hypothesized that removing large molecular weight from the plasma reduces damage from lupus and in some cases also means remission from the symptoms.
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. It is used for patients who have severe symptoms and who have not responded to the more common immunosuppressant therapy.
- Antiplatelet Treatment. This treatment is a management and prevention therapy for patients who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases. The treatment works by diminishing platelet deposits, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases.
- Anticoagulation. Anticoagulants are used for the prevention of stroke among high-risk patients.
It must be repeated that the treatments mentioned often have side effects and should not be taken without the advice of a qualified doctor.
References:
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332244-medication
https://resources.lupus.org/entry/drug-spotlight-on-hydroxychloroquine
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791452/
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