Lupus treatment

Currently, there is no cure for lupus. Instead, treatment is aimed at managing the signs and symptoms of lupus and minimizing their interference with daily life.

The larger goals of lupus treatment¹⁶ are suppressing (decreasing) the immune system’s activity, increasing the likelihood of remission (being symptom-free), and preventing organ damage or failure.

Medication for lupus

Certain medications¹⁷ have proven beneficial in managing the signs and symptoms of lupus. The type of medication (and dosage) your healthcare provider will prescribe will depend upon the severity and types of symptoms you experience.

Some medications commonly used to manage lupus include:

• Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are first-line agents used to minimize the inflammation caused by lupus (especially during flares). High doses of steroid medications like methylprednisolone (generic A-Methapred, Medrol) are often used to manage serious or life-threatening complications, such as lung or heart involvement, kidney inflammation, and central nervous system issues. Corticosteroids are typically used in conjunction with antimalarial medications.
• Antimalarial drugs: Primarily used to treat malaria, these medications, including hydroxychloroquine (generic Plaquenil), are often recommended as the first line of treatment in patients with lupus. Antimalarial drugs affect the immune system, helping to decrease the risk of flares. They are also effective in treating lupus-related arthritis, rashes, fatigue, and mouth sores.
• Immunosuppressants: As their name suggests, immunosuppressants work by suppressing (decreasing) the immune system’s activity. These medications, which are especially helpful in severe cases of lupus, include mycophenolate mofetil (generic CellCept), methotrexate (generic Trexall), and azathioprine (generic Imuran, Azasan).
• Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, can help relieve inflammation caused by lupus. High doses of steroid medications like methylprednisolone (generic A-Methapred, Medrol) are often used to manage serious or life-threatening complications, such as lung or heart involvement, kidney inflammation, and central nervous system issues.
• Biologics: The FDA has approved the intravenous injection of the biologic belimumab (generic Benlysta) for the treatment of active SLE.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These over-the-counter pain medications can help provide relief from discomfort and pain associated with lupus. Some commonly used NSAIDs include naproxen sodium (generic Aleve) and ibuprofen (generic Advil, Motrin IB).

Your provider may prescribe the following medications for lupus:

Managing lupus

In combination with certain medications, your healthcare provider may also recommend the following steps¹⁸ to manage your signs and symptoms:

• Recognize the warning signs of a flare
• Check in with your healthcare providers regularly
• Limit exposure to sun, fluorescent light, and halogen light
• Adopt and stick to a healthy diet
• Get sufficient sleep
• Exercise at a moderate intensity (with your healthcare provider’s approval)
• Ensure you have a good emotional support system

Since lupus is a multi-system autoimmune condition, it may require a team of several healthcare professionals with different subspecialties to treat all aspects of the condition.