Getting the Most From Your Lupus Medications

Most people with lupus take medicines as a part of their treatment plan. Medicines can help lower lupus activity, prevent lupus flares (periods when your lupus symptoms get worse), protect your organs from damage, and improve your symptoms. But with so many different types of medicines available — and because many people take more than one — keeping track of medicines can be overwhelming!

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to stay on top of your medicines and make sure you get the full benefits from them.

Common medicines for lupus 

There are many different types of medicines people can take to help manage lupus, including:

• Antimalarials —Although they were first developed to prevent and treat malaria, doctors have found that these medicines treat lupus and in particular help with the pain, fatigue, inflammation, and skin problems caused by lupus. They can also prevent lupus flares and can make it so that you can take lower doses of other lupus medicines. 
• Steroids — Are powerful medications that immediately reduce the organ inflammation caused by lupus.  
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) — Like steroids, NSAIDs reduce pain and inflammation. While NSAIDs have fewer side effects, they are used to treat mild symptoms.
• Immunosuppressives — These medicines work to stop your immune system from attacking your body’s healthy organs and tissues.
• Blood thinners — These medicines prevent blood clots. You might take these if you have something called antiphospholipid antibody syndrome,   or if you’ve ever had a blood clot before.
• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) — These medicines are a type of biologic medicine. Biologics are created in a laboratory from yeast, bacteria, or animal cells. These medicines can find and then attach to specific substances in the body. They are able to target and deactivate cells in the body that are causing inflammation.

Get more details about medicines for treating lupus.

Brand-name vs. generic medicines

When a new medicine is developed, it’s usually produced by a specific pharmaceutical company. That company then sells the medicine under a brand name. For several years, only the company that developed the medicine is allowed to make and sell it. But after a certain number of years, federal law allows other companies to start making their own version of the medicine. 

Many people wonder if generic medicines are as good as brand-name medicines. Generic versions are as safe and effective as brand-name medicines. But because there might be minor differences in how a generic medicine is made — like slightly different inactive ingredients —some people experience different side effects from generic medicines.   

Keep in mind that in many cases, generic medicines cost less so your insurance might prefer these over the brand name. You can ask your lupus doctor or your pharmacist to review your list of medicines with you. They can also answer any questions you may have about the difference between generic and brand-name medicines. 

Read more about generic medicines.

Biosimilars

You may have heard about a newer type of medicines called biosimilars. These medicines create the same effects as biologics — medicines that are made in a laboratory from yeast, bacteria, or animal cells.

Because biologics are very costly to develop and manufacture, they’re expensive. Biosimilars work in the same way and are just as safe as biologics but cost less.

Read more about biosimilars.

Tips for getting the full benefit from your lupus medicines

Medicines for lupus can help you live longer and better. But there are things you need to do to make sure you’re getting the full benefit from your medicines.

Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the medicine

You can help make sure your medicines work correctly by taking them the way your doctor or pharmacist tells you. Following their instructions exactly will help prevent lupus flares and make sure that the medicines are as effective as possible.

If you skip a dose, stop taking a medicine, or don’t take a medicine the right way, the medicine might not work as well as it should. For example, some medicines need to be taken at the same time each day to be effective. If you skip a dose, or take it too late or too early, the medicine won’t work correctly and you won’t get the full benefit. 

Following your doctor’s instructions also helps to prevent negative side effects from your medicines. For example, many people with lupus take hydroxychloroquine (brand name: Plaquenil) an antimalarial. This medicine can cause nausea if you take it on an empty stomach, so most doctors tell you to take it with food.

And keep in mind that in some cases, not taking a medicine correctly can be dangerous. You might have a bad reaction, or experience complications. This is especially true for blood thinners.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about any medicines you take. Make sure you understand why you’re taking them and how to take them correctly.

Work with your doctor and pharmacist

Keep in mind that if you have questions about or problems with your lupus medicines, your doctor can help. Be open and honest with them about whether you’ve been taking your medicines correctly. And let them know if you’re having side effects that are difficult to deal with. They might be able to change your medicine, lower your dose, or give you other tips for preventing side effects.

Let your doctor know, too, if you want to stop taking one of your medicines. They’ll talk with you about the risks and benefits and make sure you stop your medicine in a safe way.

Your pharmacist is another great resource for managing your lupus medicines. They can answer any questions you have about what your medicines do and how to take them safely.

Keep track of your medicines

Remembering when and how to take your lupus medicines can be a challenge! Try out these tips to help you keep track of your medicines and doses.

Stay organized 

Try filling a pill box at the beginning of each week with your doses for each day. That way, you can also see if you’re running low on any of your medicines and make a plan to refill them before you run out.

Create a schedule

Some people like keeping a printed schedule with all their doses written out. Put it somewhere you’ll see it often — like on your bathroom mirror or fridge.

Make your medicines part of your routine

Try taking your medicines right after you do something else that you do each day — like after brushing your teeth in the morning, or after finishing dinner. This can be especially helpful if you have medicines that need to be taken at the same time each day.

Log your doses 

Write down each dose that you take in a journal or notebook. You can use the same notebook to keep track of any side effects or symptoms you have. If you have a smartphone, you can use a medication management app to keep track — and it might be able to send you reminders, too.

Set reminders, or ask a loved one to help you remember

Consider setting an alarm on your phone or watch to remind you to take your medicine. You can also set reminders using smart speakers like Alexa or Google Home — or ask a friend or family member to help you remember.

Take advantage of automatic refill

Some pharmacies let you set your prescriptions to automatically refill, so you’ll never run out of your medicine.

Review your medicine list with your doctor or pharmacist

It’s a good idea to go over your medicines with your doctor — or your pharmacist — from time to time. That way, they can check to make sure that all your medicines are safe to take together and answer any questions you might have about them.

Taking  your medicines correctly is one of the best things you can do to protect your health! If you’re having trouble with your medicines, don’t get discouraged. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your concerns. And try new ways of keeping track of your medicines until you find a way that works well for you.