How is SLE treated?
Depending on your symptoms, blood test results, and what organs are involved, you may receive one or more of the following: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); COX-2 inhibitors, such as rofecoxib (Vioxx) or celecoxib (Celebrex); hydroxychloroquine (Palquenil), also known as an antimalarial drug; corticosteroids, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone (Medrol), by mouth, injection, or intravenously; immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprine (Imuran), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), and mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept), Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), some of which also may be given by injection or intravenously. Further, if you have problems with blood clots, you may need to take aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin) , heparin, or low molecular weight heparin (Lovenox or Fragmin). In addition, when appropriate, experimental therapies may be available. For more information, click here to read our full In-Depth Disease Overview on SLE.
