Managing Lupus | Medication & Lifestyle Changes | Singapore General Hospital
You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Turn off Animations
Turn on Animations
CTDetailNew
It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.
Appointment
Find a Condition or Treatment
Find a Doctor
Menu
MAIN
Back to Home
About Us
Corporate Profile
Newsroom
Contact Us
Patient Care
Conditions & Treatments
Specialties & Services
Your Clinic Visit
Pre/Post Surgery
e-Services
Regional Health Systems Network (RHS)
Patient Resources
Research & Innovation
About NDRIS
Our Research
Our Achievements & Innovations
Our Research Team
Education & Training
Dental Professional Training
DO Advanced Practice Programme
Alumni
Calendar of Events
SingHealth Academy
Careers
Why Choose Us
Career Choices
Sponsorships and Scholarships
Job Opportunities
Giving
Why Give?
Get Involved
Your Gift At Work
Be Informed
Make a Gift
Conditions & Treatments
Back to Home
Conditions & Treatments
Find a Doctor
Medicine
Specialties & Services
Back to Home
Department of Orthodontics
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Medicine Unit
Department of Restorative Dentistry
Endodontics
Prosthodontics
Paediatric Dentistry
Periodontics
Geriatric Special Care Dentistry Clinic
Multidisciplinary Services
Corrective Jaw Surgery
Maxillofacial Rehabilitation
Aesthetic Dentistry
Tele-dentistry Oral Care for Seniors (T-DOCS)
Your Clinic Visit
Back to Home
Getting to NDCS
Getting Around NDCS
Arriving and Registering
Getting to NDCS Clinic@HPB
Your First Visit to NDCS
Collecting Your Medication
Follow Up and Discharge
Emergency Dental Services
Facilities Virtual Tour
Operating Hours
Consultation Charges
Bill Payment Options
Frequently Asked Questions on your visit to NDCS
Pre/Post Surgery
Back to Home
Preparing for Surgery
Observation and Going Home
Home Care After Gum Surgery
e-Services
Back to Home
Make/Change Appointment
Pay Your Bill Online
Request for Dental Report
Request for Dental Images
Regional Health Systems Network (RHS)
Back to Home
About NDCS Regional Health System (RHS)
Community Programmes & Services
Infant Oral Health Programme
Oral Health 8020 Movement
Oral Health Education Programme (OHEP)
Project Silverscreen
Tele-Dentistry Oral Care for Seniors (T-DOCS)
NDCS Mobile Dental Bus
CAPP Partners
Patient Resources
Home
to skip to the main content on a page
to skip to the main content on a page
About Us
Back to Home
Corporate Profile
Vision, Mission & Values
Our History
Who We Are
Awards and Achievements
Newsroom
NDCS in the News
Media Releases
Check Fake News
Contact Us
Referrals
Share Your Feedback
Whistle-blowing Policy
Patient Care
Back to Home
Conditions & Treatments
Conditions & Treatments
Find a Doctor
Medicine
Specialties & Services
Department of Orthodontics
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Department of Restorative Dentistry
Geriatric Special Care Dentistry Clinic
Multidisciplinary Services
Tele-dentistry Oral Care for Seniors (T-DOCS)
Your Clinic Visit
Getting to NDCS
Getting Around NDCS
Arriving and Registering
Getting to NDCS Clinic@HPB
Your First Visit to NDCS
Collecting Your Medication
Follow Up and Discharge
Emergency Dental Services
Facilities Virtual Tour
Operating Hours
Consultation Charges
Bill Payment Options
Frequently Asked Questions on your visit to NDCS
Pre/Post Surgery
Preparing for Surgery
Observation and Going Home
Home Care After Gum Surgery
e-Services
Make/Change Appointment
Pay Your Bill Online
Request for Dental Report
Request for Dental Images
Regional Health Systems Network (RHS)
About NDCS Regional Health System (RHS)
Community Programmes & Services
CAPP Partners
Patient Resources
Research & Innovation
Back to Home
About NDRIS
Vision & Mission
Clinical Trials
SingHealth Research
Contact Us
Our Research
Singapore Oro-Facial Initiative (SOFI)
Singapore Oral Multiomics Initiative (SOMI)
Singapore Oral Population Health Initiative (SOPI)
GLOBICS
Our Achievements & Innovations
Grants
Publications
Our Research Team
Education & Training
Back to Home
Dental Professional Training
DO Advanced Practice Programme
Alumni
Calendar of Events
SingHealth Academy
Careers
Back to Home
Why Choose Us
Career Choices
Dentists
Nurses
Allied Health Professionals
Management and Administration
Ancillary and Support
Sponsorships and Scholarships
Job Opportunities
Giving
Back to Home
Why Give?
Get Involved
Your Gift At Work
Be Informed
Make a Gift
Home
>
Patient Care
>
Conditions and Treatment
>
Lupus
>
Treatment
Facebook
WhatsApp
Email Us
share
Font Resize
A-
A
A+
Print
Lupus
Lupus - How to prevent?
Lupus - Causes and Risk Factors
Lupus - Treatments
Treatment of lupus depends on the signs and symptoms and which organs are involved. Determining what medications to use requires a careful discussion of the benefits and risks with a rheumatologist.
Medication
For quick control of lupus, a rheumatologist may recommend more powerful drugs in higher doses initially but as the disease flare subsides, the dosage can usually be tapered off slowly and carefully.
More aggressive lupus usually requires more powerful drugs. In general, when first diagnosed with lupus, your doctor may recommend the following medications:
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These include diclofenac acid (Voltaren) and the COX 2 inhibitors (Celebrex and Arcoxia). They are effective in controlling fever, muscle aches, joint pains and swelling.
2. Antimalarial drugs
Although there is no known relationship between malaria and lupus, these medications have proved useful especially in patients with mild lupus and those with skin involvement. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is the most commonly prescribed antimalarial drug.
3. Corticosteroids
These drugs counter the inflammation of lupus and are very effective. They can have serious long term side-effects including weight gain, easy bruising, high blood pressure, diabetes, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and an increased risk of infection. Very often, doctors need to prescribe corticosteroids (eg. prednisolone) in order to prevent permanent organ damage such as kidney failure or even death. To help reduce the side-effects, your doctor will try to find the lowest dose that controls the disease and prescribe the medicine for the shortest possible period of time.
4. Immunosuppressive drugs
These drugs suppress the immune system and may be useful in serious cases of lupus including patients with severe kidney or brain involvement. The most often used immunosuppressive drugs are cyclophosphamide and azathioprine. Cyclophosphamide is often given by injection into the veins. Side-effects include an increased risk of infection, low white cell count, liver damage and infertility. These drugs should only be used under close supervision by a rheumatologist or a nephrologist (kidney specialist).
5. Mycophenolate Mofetil (cellcept)
This is a relatively new immunosuppressive drug which has proven to be effective in lupus affecting the kidneys and other major organs. It has fewer side-effects than corticosteroids and is proving to be an effective alternative to cyclophosphamide.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes could mitigate the possibility of relapse and also improve overall well-being, these include:
Get adequate rest and sleep
Be sun-smart, avoid sun-bathing and stay out of the sun entirely when it is the strongest i.e. 8am – 6pm.
Use sunblock and wear protective clothing
Get regular exercise but do not overstrain your body
Maintain a healthy diet
Do not smoke and avoid excessive alcohol intake
Lupus - Preparing for surgery
Lupus - Post-surgery care
Display Entire Article +
Diagnosis
Other Information
Tags:
Rheumatology & Immunology,
Lupus Nephritis,
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,
Antimalarial,
Corticosteroid,
Mycophenolate Mofetil,
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
The information provided is not intended as medical advice.
Terms of use
. Information provided by
Our Breast Team
Filter:
By designation or sub-specialty
By Designation:
By Sub-Specialty:
TOP
[]
Related Conditions
Lupus Nephritis
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
View more
Related Medicine
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Antimalarial
Corticosteroid
View more
Healthy Living Tips
by
View more
Discover articles,videos, and guides afrom Singhealth's resources across the web. These information are collated, making healthy living much easier for everyone.
Kidney Failure How to Prevent
Tips to Prevent Kidney Stones
×
SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the updates to your email inbox...
Find a Doctor
Conditions & Treatments
Home
Appointment
E-services