What medicine to take to manage lupus erythematosus

There is currently no medication to treat systemic lupus erythematosus, and patients can only be relieved of their symptoms through medication. Commonly used drugs in clinical practice include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, biologics, etc.

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: such as aspirin, acetaminophen, indomethacin, etc., can control local symptoms caused by inflammation, such as reducing joint pain and muscle soreness, but usually cannot control the progression of the disease;

2. Glucocorticoids: Glucocorticoids are generally not recommended for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, but if there is important organ involvement, such as kidney, nervous system, heart or lung involvement, the use of glucocorticoids may relieve symptoms or aggravate the condition.Commonly used drugs in clinical practice include prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, etc.;

3. Immunosuppressants: Long-term use of immunosuppressants may affect the patient's blood system, nervous system, etc., and will have an impact on the patient's disease control and treatment. Therefore, immunosuppressants can be used as second- or third-line treatments, such as cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, etc.;

4. Biological agents: such as rituximab, which is a chimeric monoclonal antibody in humans and mice, can be used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus.

In addition, immunosuppressants may be considered for patients who are not candidates for corticosteroids or who have serious adverse effects after corticosteroid use.Although the role of immunosuppressants in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus is not clear, they can be used during the induction of remission to achieve better control of the disease. If the disease is well controlled, immunosuppressants can also be used as first-line medications.