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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Because lupus can cause a lot of different health problems, there are many different kinds of medicines that can treat it. You and your doctors can work together to find the right combination of medicines for you. Learn more about treating lupus. Hydroxychloroquine and other antimalarialsHydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a type of antimalarial medicine. Antimalarials work by reducing autoantibodies (proteins in the blood that attack healthy cells and tissues). Doctors use antimalarials to treat malaria, but these medicines can also treat lupus by: Reducing pain and inflammation Preventing lupus flares and helping with lupus skin problemsLowering the dose (amount you need to take) of your other lupus medicinesMost people with lupus take hydroxychloroquine throughout their lives. It helps control lupus symptoms with very few side effects. Hydroxychloroquine may also help prevent blood clots and organ damage from lupus. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to start working. Types of antimalarialsHydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is the most common antimalarial for lupus. If you can’t take hydroxychloroquine, your doctor may recommend chloroquine (Aralen®). These medicines can be taken as pills or liquids. Side effects of antimalarialsMost people don’t notice any side effects, but antimalarials sometimes cause stomach pain and digestive problems, like nausea or diarrhea. These side effects usually go away once your body adjusts to the medicine.In rare cases, taking a high dose of antimalarials or taking them for a long time may damage your eyes. If you’re taking antimalarials, ask your doctor about getting regular eye exams to make sure your eyes are healthy and to monitor for any changes. SteroidsSteroids can help reduce pain and inflammation. They work by decreasing the activity of overactive white blood cells. This prevents them from causing inflammation that leads to lupus symptoms. You may hear other words for steroid medicines, like corticosteroids, glucocorticoids or cortisone. Steroids you take for lupus are different from the steroids that some athletes take to improve their performance — those are called anabolic steroids.Types of steroidsPrednisone is the most common steroid that doctors use to treat lupus. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend different steroids called prednisolone or methylprednisolone (Medrol®).There are a few different ways to take steroids:Most people take steroids as pillsIf you can’t take steroid pills or you’re having severe lupus symptoms, your doctor may give you steroid injections (also called pulse steroids)If you have skin problems, your doctor may recommend steroid skin cream or
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