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A New Free Report - What Is Lupus?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What is the medical definition of lupus?
- What are the symptoms of lupus?
- What tests are there for lupus? How do you get a diagnosis?
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Medical Treatments for Lupus
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Lupus!
Medical treatment for lupus sufferers varies per patient. Due to the fact that each patient’s symptoms can vary widely, the treatment also varies. Doctors often use a combination of different medications as well as alternative or complementary therapies to treat lupus patients.
Some of the common medications include NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and antimalarials. Other medicinal treatments include glucocorticoids and immunosuppressives. Still, there are other treatments used for skin problems and sun sensitivity.
Even with all the medications available, there are always new medications coming to light that may revolutionize lupus treatment. There are also medications that have come under investigation as of late due to their severe side effects. Still, most medication is relatively safe, and any side effects can be dealt with by the treating physician. Sometimes doctors will change dosage or take a person off the medication altogether.
Due to the potential risks inherent in any medication, lupus patients need to take any medication under a doctor’s care. Any medication, even over-the-counter medicine, can have different effects and can be problematic if mixed with other medication. Therefore, a patient should only take the medication that the doctor approves.
Approaches to Medications
Again, the medications provided to lupus patients are very individual. Doctors often have to prescribe a variety of medications to treat the different symptoms. This often means that getting the right medication for you may require a lot of time, effort, and communication between you and your doctors.
Many of the medications you will be taking require 4 to 8 weeks to take effect. This can mean living with acute symptoms for a period of time while waiting for the medicine to work. It also means that, if the medication is not effective at alleviating symptoms, you will have to go through another month or two of waiting with another medication. Also, lupus patients are notoriously allergic to medications, so you may find that what seems a harmless medication may make symptoms work. For many patients finding the right medication only comes from a trial and error approach.
It is this trial and error approach that requires a significant amount of communication between your doctors. The last thing you want is to make your symptoms worse through a wrong mix in medications. It is helpful to keep a list of medications and dosages with you at all times. This way anytime you need a new medication or changes to an existing medication you have a reference on hand to make sure there are no negative interactions.
There are basically four main approaches to treating lupus with drugs, which are outlined here.
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for lupus patients, and for the most part you do not even need a prescription to get them. NSAIDs are items like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). There are some NSAIDs that require prescription, though.
For the most part, NSAIDs can be used alone or together with other drugs. They are used to decrease pain, swelling, and fever. Common side effects of NSAIDs include stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, and fluid retention. NSAIDs can also cause kidney and liver inflammation in lupus patients. These side effects make it imperative to take NSAIDs under a doctor’s care – even if you can buy them over the counter.
There is also a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs becoming available known as COX-2 inhibitors. Most people recognize them by their brand names of Celebrex (celecoxib), Vioxx (rofecoxib), and Meloxicam (mobic). They function similarly as NSAIDs in that they alleviate pain, swelling, and fever, but they have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than NSAIDs. They are not approved by the FDA as of yet for the treatment of lupus as more testing needs to be done. If testing is successful, they may be as beneficial as other NSAIDs.
Antimalarials
During World War II, the drug chloroquine (also known as Aralen) was used to prevent servicemen from contracting the disease Malaria. Soon a chemically related compound called Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) was synthesized. By the 1960’s antimalarials were found to have a number of positive side effects that could be useful in treating other disorders. Many chronic users of antimalarials found that their joint pain decreased and skin lesions improved.
Some of the benefits of antimalarials include:
- Blocking of UV light from damaging the skin
- Have an anti-inflammatory effect
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Inhibit clotting
- Block cytokines from promoting inflammation
- Alter the acid-base of cells so they cannot process antigens as well
- Do not lower blood counts
- Do not make patients more susceptible to infection
Two of the most common antimalarials used are Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and Aralen (chloroquine). They are often prescribed after other anti-inflammatory drugs are found to be inadequate or cause problematic side effects. They can also be used in conjunction with steroids like Prednisone so that the steroid dosage can be lowered.
Approximately 90 percent of patients taking antimalarials usually see an improvement in discoid lesions, redness, mouth ulcers, and hair loss.11 Patients may also see a decrease in inflammation around the pleura and pericardium along with a decrease in fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. However, they are not as effective in treating organ-threatening disease.
Like most medications, antimalarials usually come with several side effects. They include common side effects like diarrhea, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. In most cases these side effects disappear once the patient’s body adjusts to the drug. However, if any side effects persist over time, a discussion with your doctor may be in order.
There are some more troublesome side effects that some patients experience. Many of these side effects are less common. They include bleaching hair, increased hair loss, or blue/black discoloration of the skin, fingernails, or mouth. Others include dizziness, lightheadedness, itching, nervousness, restlessness, or skin rash. Again, these symptoms usually go away, but if they persist a doctor’s attention may be necessary.
In very rare circumstances patients may find themselves having severe side effects. Any of these side effects require immediate attention from a physician. These damaging side effects are seizures, increased muscle weakness, major mood or mental changes, ringing or buzzing in the ears, loss of hearing, sore throat and fever, or unusual bleeding or bruising. These symptoms may be signs of potential damage to the body, especially toxicity of the retina, and a doctor's immediate attention is warranted.
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Lupus!
© Health Research Today
