The main objective of lupus treatment is to treat inflammation, thereby protecting the organs. An effective treatment plan should be able to prevent flare-ups and manage other lupus symptoms successfully. Although there are various treatment options and plans to choose from, the most effective lupus treatment plan would be the one tailored to meet the specific requirements of each patient.
Treatment Objectives
A successful lupus treatment plan might take some time to materialize, considering the adjustments to be made based on the changing needs of the patient and the occurrence and intensity of associated symptoms. Even though the major objective of the treatment plan would be to control the body systems of the patient, there are other factors to be taken into account while devising the plan. These include reducing the inflammation in the body caused by lupus, treatment of flares as and when they occur, effective prevention of future occurrence of flares and minimizing the damage caused to the organs as much as possible.
The involvement of a trained medical professional is crucial in devising a proper treatment plan for lupus. The benefits of the proposed plan, the side effects caused by the medications included and the prognosis need to be discussed in detail before finalizing the treatment plan. Medical treatment for lupus also involves regular and timely lab tests and physical examinations to understand how the patient is responding to the treatment so that the course can be adjusted or modified based on the new information.
Choosing The Right Plan
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug used in the treatment of lupus related arthritis as well as rashes. The drug can help prevent blood clots and the occurrence of flares by almost 50%. Corticosteroids and immune suppressants may be prescribed for people with life-threatening conditions such as heart, lung or central nervous system lupus. Serious illnesses like kidney inflammation are also treated with the same group of medicines. Belimumab is an FDA approved drug used in the kind of treatments that target particular parts of the immune system of the patient’s body. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is yet another way to sustainably manage lupus symptoms to a great extent.
The lupus treatment course and duration would depend largely on the type of lupus, the intensity of inflammation it has caused and the resultant damage to the organs. A treatment plan that targets all these conditions will be the best fit to help manage the disease.
