The short and truthful answer is no, there is not a cure for lupus. However, that doesn’t mean you have to live with lupus pain without the following effective recourse options:
1. Learn what triggers your lupus symptoms so you will be able to prevent lupus flares. Common flare triggers include taking sulfa drugs, not taking your medication as indicated, not limiting sunlight exposure, not reducing risk of infections, not getting enough rest, and smoking.
2. At present, there are prescription medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarial drugs, corticosteroids, and cytotoxic drugs, and immune suppressants that offer relief of lupus symptoms, but they promise side effects.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed for lupus relief. Their side effects can include confusion, heartburn, skin rashes, stomach upset, swelling, ulcers, and urine decrease.
Other factors to be considered before taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include people with certain conditions like the following should not take them:
- Alcohol consumption exceeding three drinks a day
- Anemia
- Bruising that happens easily
- Heart disease
- Heartburn
- Hypertension
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Stomach pains
- Ulcers
No one should take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs more than 10 days without confirmation from their medical professional.
Antimalarial drugs are also prescribed for lupus relief, but those side effects include diarrhea, nausea, rash, and vision problems. It should be noted improvements will not be noticed for at least six months, the time it takes for these drugs to take affect.
Corticosteroids are prescribed for lupus relief, too. They offer reversible, as well as irreversible, side effects. The reversible side effects include anxiety, bruising, gastritis, glaucoma, hypertension, infection increase, insomnia, lack of concentration, mood swings, muscle weakness, swelling, ulcers, and weight gain. The irreversible side effects include artery damage, bone thinning, bone weakening, cataracts, excessive hair growth, joint softening, and stretch marks.
For more serious cases of lupus, cytotoxic drugs and immune depressants may be prescribed. You should be made aware of some side effects of cytotoxic drugs include an increased susceptibility to infection; a suppressed immune system, bone marrow, and hair cell growth; hair loss; and sterility. Some side effects of immune depressants include lymphoma (cancer in the lymph glands, liver, and spleen), nausea, malignancy increase, leukemia, bladder cancer, pregnancy difficulties, bleeding, hair loss, increased susceptibility to infections, and white blood cell count decrease.
3. There are all-natural dietary supplements available for lupus relief. With so many products claiming the best ingredients, effectiveness, and safety, it’s important to do research to see which product best addresses your needs.
4. Remember that research is constantly being performed to better understand lupus, its cause, its wide and nonspecific symptoms, and its effects. Part of the research includes trying to understand the reasoning behind the cultural susceptibility of lupus. Grants and funding has increased over the years, which should be encouraging to lupus sufferers and their family.
No, there is no cure for lupus, BUT . . .
There is hope.
