1. Lupus is as Lupus Does
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that affects people by attacking healthy tissue. The symptoms of drug induced Lupus mimic Lupus, but you can relieve the symptoms by discontinuing the medication that caused it. The difference between these conditions is that drug induced Lupus doesn't usually affect the kidneys and central nervous system like Lupus does.
2. The Culprits
Doctors can trace nearly all cases of drug induced Lupus to one of five different medications. Two of these medicines, Quinidine and Procainamide, are treatments for abnormal heartbeats. Other culprits are a medication for high blood pressure called Hydralazine and a drug to treat tuberculosis (TB), Isoniazid. The last common cause for drug induced Lupus is Phenytoin, a drug that controls seizures.
3. Patience
Drug induced Lupus doesn't usually make itself known for months or years after regular use of certain medications. Once you're diagnosed with drug induced Lupus, the symptoms can continue for about six months after discontinuing the use of these drugs, although the severity of the symptoms subside slightly within a week or two. The only sure way to diagnose drug induced Lupus is to stop the medication and notice the relief of the symptoms.
4. Who Is At Risk?
Although women seem to be more at risk of contracting the disease Lupus, men over 50 years old suffer the effects of drug induced Lupus more often. This is because men of that age more commonly suffer from conditions that require the medications that may cause drug induced Lupus. People who can metabolize these medications quickly have a lower risk of contracting drug induced Lupus than those who take longer to change the chemical makeup of these drugs in the liver.
5. Side Effects or Symptoms?
Be careful not to confuse side effects of drugs with drug induced Lupus. Side effects occur rather quickly, within a few hours or days of using a medication, while drug induced Lupus takes more time. Note joint or muscle pain with fever, nausea or other flu symptoms to raise concerns about drug induced Lupus. Indications often start out gradually and can lead to a debilitating state with continued use of the medication responsible for the drug induced Lupus. Consult your physician before you stop taking any prescribed medication that you believe is responsible for your onset of symptoms.
