Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause a variety of symptoms in different areas of the body.
While there's no cure for the disease, lupus symptoms can be managed using a number of different treatment options.
Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of your condition and whether you've recently been experiencing flares (times when symptoms are present).
Flares can range from mild to severe.
The goal of treatment is to prevent flares, treat flares when they occur, and limit organ damage and other potential complications.

Medications for Lupus

Medications commonly used to treat lupus include the following:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These medicines can help treat pain, swelling, and fever associated with lupus.
Common over-the-counter NSAIDs include Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). Stronger NSAIDs are available with a prescription.
Antimalarial medicines: Drugs typically used to treat malaria may help control lupus symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, rashes, and mouth sores.
Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is a common antimalarial drug used to treat lupus.
Corticosteroids: These medicines can help control inflammation, but they may cause long-term side effects such as weight gain, thinning of bones, high blood pressure, diabetes, easy bruising, and infection.
Deltasone (prednisone) is a corticosteroid that's commonly prescribed for lupus.
Immunosuppressants: These drugs suppress the immune system, which is the source of the inflammation associated with lupus.
Immunosuppressants can cause serious side effects, including raising the risks of cancer, liver damage, and suppressing the bone marrow’s functioning (and thereby increasing the risk of infection).
Biologics: These newer drugs are already approved for other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Examples include Rituxan (rituximab) and Orencia (abatacept).
In 2011, the biologic drug Benlysta (belimumab) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat lupus in certain cases. It was the first new drug approved for lupus since 1955.
Newer treatments, including stem cell transplantation and immunoablation (a therapy that uses powerful drugs to wipe out a damaged immune system), are currently being studied as options for people with lupus.

Alternative Medicine

Alternative therapies to treat lupus may include:
While some people with lupus report improvements with alternative treatments, research hasn't proven that these methods work.
Be sure to talk to your doctor before trying an alternative therapy.
Don't stop or change any treatment plan without first talking with your doctor.

Lupus Diet

Despite claims frequently made on the Internet, there isn't a standard diet for people with lupus.
Still, most doctors agree that adopting healthy eating habits can be beneficial.
Try to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
You may want to avoid garlic and alfalfa sprouts if you have lupus. Some people report that their symptoms worsen when they consume these foods.
If you take corticosteroids, your doctor may tell you to limit your fat and salt consumption, and to increase your intake of calcium. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products and dark, leafy greens.
Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids may help lower inflammation. These foods include sardines, salmon, mackerel, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.
Alcohol may interact with certain medicines used to treat lupus. Talk to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you to drink.

Living with Lupus

Most people with lupus can perform normal daily activities much of the time. You may have to slow down during times when your symptoms worsen.
You can help prevent lupus flares and improve your quality of life by:
  • Seeing your doctor regularly
  • Getting enough rest
  • Avoiding sun exposure
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Reducing unnecessary stress

Lupus Life Expectancy

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, between 80 and 90 percent of people with lupus who get proper treatment can expect to have a normal lifespan.
Lupus can be fatal, but the majority of people with the disease live long, productive lives.
Some factors that can affect your prognosis include your:
Gender: Men tend to have more severe types of lupus than women.
Studies show that men are more likely to have kidney damage and more likely to have an active form of lupus early on in their disease.
Age: In people who have their first lupus symptoms before the age of 16, chances are greater that the condition will involve their nervous system and kidneys.
People who exhibit their first lupus symptoms after the age of 50 tend to have a worse prognosis.
Race: People of Hispanic, Asian, and African descent get lupus more frequently and have a worse prognosis than whites.
The increased incidence of lupus in these racial groups is probably due to genetics, but some of the poorer prognoses may be due to socioeconomic factors, such as access to health care.