Living With Lupus

CURRENT TREATMENTS AND MEDICATIONS

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which decrease inflammation, are often used to treat people with joint or chest pain, fever and swelling. Some NSAIDs, like ibuprofen and naproxen, are available over the counter, others require a doctor’s prescription. They may be used alone or in combination with other types of drugs under a doctor’s direction.

Antimalarials

While antimalarial drugs prevent and treat malaria, they’re also useful for lupus. A common antimalarial for lupus, hydroxychloroquine, may be used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and lung inflammation. Clinical studies have found that regular use of antimalarials may prevent flares from recurring.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a family of drugs related to cortisol, a natural anti-inflammatory hormone. Rapidly suppressing inflammation, corticosteroids are potent drugs with side effects, so doctors will seek the lowest dose to achieve the desired benefit, or use them in combination with less potent drugs.

Immunosuppressives

If your kidneys or central nervous system are affected by lupus, you may need immunosuppressive therapy, which restrains the overactive immune system by blocking the production of immune cells. The risk for side effects increases with the length of treatment.

BLyS-specific inhibitors

In 2011, the FDA approved belimumab (Benlysta®), a B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein inhibitor, for patients with lupus receiving other standard therapies. Given by IV infusion, belimumab may reduce the number of abnormal B cells thought to be a problem in lupus.

In July 2017, belimumab was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a self-injectable (subcutaneous) formulation for people with systemic lupus erythematosus being treated with standard therapy. The new formulation allows patients to administer the drug to themselves as a once-weekly injection.

Related medications
In addition to treatments for lupus itself, patients may also take additional medications to treat lupus-related problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or infection.

Content provided courtesy of Lupus Research Alliance.