by Lynnette Southwood

Created on: June 30, 2007   Last Updated: September 17, 2007

Getting a grip on lupus with medication-Revised

I know very few people with Lupus that do not take some form of medication to stabilize the disease. Whether we like having synthetic materials in our bodies or not, prescription and non-prescription medications are a way of life for us.
Personally, with all of the medications I have taken over the years, I fully expect to start glowing or grow an extra arm.

There are many drugs used in the treatment of lupus and they are important for treating what can sometimes be a complicated disease providing us with quality of life. This is but a short list of the many medications doctors will sometimes prescribe for their patients.

Any drug comes with some risk so ask it is a good idea to questions and research what you are taking and what the consequences and contradictions are. Ask your physician whether or not what he/she is prescribing is absolutely necessary and what symptoms it is being used for. Exercise and paying attention to food and liquid intake is strongly recommended.

NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; (NSAIDS), which generally consist of aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandin's, substances that are mediators during the inflammatory process. They relieve fevers, headaches, muscle aches, depression and arthritis. NSAIDs can erode the stomach and can lead to bleeding ulcers but taking NSAIDs with a sugar coating on them and taking them with food prevent or reduce the risk of this happening. It is important to consult with your doctor if you suffer from: upset stomach, vomiting, heartburn, nausea, vomit or blood in the stool. Anyone taking NSAIDs should have complete blood, liver and kidney test approximately every 3-4 months. Side effects include but are not limited to: bloating, fluid retention, gastrointestinal problems, bruising, diarrhea, ringing ears, headaches, allergy or asthma attacks, and rashes.
Brand names: Advil, Aleve

COX-2 INHIBITORS
COX-2 Inhibitors (cyclooxygenase-2) are new class of NSAIDs that has recently been as an option to traditional NSAIDs because they are kinder to the stomach. The downside is these do not provide the same protections as NSAIDs in combating heart disease. You should not take these along with prescription or over the counter NSAIDs. Side effects include but are not limited to: headache, indigestion, diarrhea and upper respiratory infection.
Brand names: Celebrex, Vioxx, Bextra.

ANALGESICS
There was a time when acetaminophen

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