Your Lupus Treatment

All lupus patients are NOT equal. therefore, treatment is not always the same. However, the backbone of treatment is.

1) HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE (Plaquenil)

The cornerstone medication for any lupus patient is hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), which is an old anti-malarial medication. Chloroquine may be used in those who do not tolerate hydroxychloroquine.

Hydroxychloroquine has been shown to be very useful in lupus patients. This is why I love this medication for my lupus patients:​

• It reduces lupus flares

• It increases survival

• It reduces organ damage

• It helps cholesterol

• It reduces the risk of blood clots

• It reduces heart disease

• It prevents seizures​

Safety

Hydroxychloroquine is a safe medication. A rare yet problematic complication of long-term use of hydroxychloroquine is an injury the retina. The risk of this occurring is one in 5000 patients, around 5 years after the initiation of therapy, therefore all patients on hydroxychloroquine must see an ophthalmologist at least annually.

2) VITAMIN D REPLACEMENT

Maintaining an appropriate vitamin D level has been shown to:

• Benefit in bone health

• May prevent heart disease

• May prevent breast cancer

• May prevent diabetes

• May help to reduce protein loss in urine in SLE

• Reduce lupus disease activity

• Reduces fatigue

• Reduces risk of blood clots

• Reduces blood pressure​

3) PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

In order to minimize flares, patients are recommended to avoid sun exposure and/or apply sunscreen with SPF 100 and reapplied every four hours if they remain outdoors.

Medications and Supplements to Avoid

• Cold medications containing Echinacea

• Sleeping aids containing melatonin

• Alfalfa sprouts

• Garlic supplements and/or powder/cloves

• Bactrim (Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) Antibiotic