Skip to main content

Medications for Lupus

Other names: Disseminated Lupus Erythematosus; SLE; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 1, 2023.

Lupus treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), antimalarial drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics.

  • NSAIDs, such as naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil), may be used to symptoms such as pain or swelling
  • Antimalarial drugs used to treat lupus include hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), which can help reduce lupus flares
  • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, help to reduce inflammation, but should only be used short-term
  • Immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), mycophenolate (Cellcept), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), or leflunomide (Arava), may be used to control immune system activity in severe lupus 
  • Biologics, such as belimumab (Benlysta) and rituximab (Rituxan) work with other lupus medications to reduce disease activity. 

 

Drugs used to treat Lupus

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Plaquenil 6.6 35 reviews for Plaquenil to treat Lupus
Rx N N
Generic name:
hydroxychloroquine systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, antimalarial quinolines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
hydroxychloroquine 7.1 76 reviews for hydroxychloroquine to treat Lupus
Rx N N
Generic name:
hydroxychloroquine systemic
Brand names:
Plaquenil, Sovuna
Drug class:
antirheumatics, antimalarial quinolines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Benlysta 7.8 56 reviews for Benlysta to treat Lupus
Rx C N
Generic name:
belimumab systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
prednisone 7.2 7 reviews for prednisone to treat Lupus
Rx C N
Generic name:
prednisone systemic
Brand name:
Rayos
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
belimumab 7.8 58 reviews for belimumab to treat Lupus
Rx C N
Generic name:
belimumab systemic
Brand name:
Benlysta
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Saphnelo 7.0 2 reviews for Saphnelo to treat Lupus
Rx N
Generic name:
anifrolumab systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
anifrolumab 7.0 2 reviews for anifrolumab to treat Lupus
Rx N
Generic name:
anifrolumab systemic
Brand name:
Saphnelo
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
mycophenolate mofetil Off-label 8.5 4 reviews for mycophenolate mofetil to treat Lupus
Rx D N
Generic name:
mycophenolate mofetil systemic
Brand name:
CellCept
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
azathioprine 5.4 24 reviews for azathioprine to treat Lupus
Rx D N
Generic name:
azathioprine systemic
Brand names:
Imuran, Azasan
Drug class:
antirheumatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Imuran 5.3 20 reviews for Imuran to treat Lupus
Rx D N
Generic name:
azathioprine systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
aspirin Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N X
Generic name:
aspirin systemic
Drug class:
salicylates, platelet aggregation inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Kenalog-40 8.5 6 reviews for Kenalog-40 to treat Lupus
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
triamcinolone 8.5 6 reviews for triamcinolone to treat Lupus
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Brand names:
Kenalog-40, Clinacort, Kenalog-10
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
dexamethasone Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
dexamethasone systemic
Brand names:
Dexamethasone Intensol, De-Sone LA, Dxevo, HiDex
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Rayos Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
prednisone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Acthar Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
corticotropin systemic
Drug class:
corticotropin
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Azasan 4.0 1 review for Azasan to treat Lupus
Rx D N
Generic name:
azathioprine systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Dexamethasone Intensol Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
dexamethasone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
CellCept Off-label 8.5 4 reviews for CellCept to treat Lupus
Rx D N
Generic name:
mycophenolate mofetil systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Clinacort Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
cyclophosphamide Off-label Rate Add review
Rx D N
Generic name:
cyclophosphamide systemic
Drug class:
alkylating agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
De-Sone LA Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
dexamethasone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Dxevo Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
dexamethasone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
HiDex Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
dexamethasone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Kenalog-10 Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Alternative treatments for Lupus

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Lupus. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Lupus.

Learn more about Lupus

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.