i have Lupus and back problems im on some pretty strong pain medicine do you think its a good idea to stop??

Answer 1

As lupus erythematosus is a chronic disease with no known cure, treatment is restricted to dealing with the symptoms; essentially this involves preventing flares and reducing their severity and duration when they occur. There are several means of preventing and dealing with flares, including drugs, alternative medicine and lifestyle changes.


[edit] Drug therapy
Due to the variety of symptoms and organ system involvement with Lupus patients, the severity of the SLE in a particular patient must be assessed in order to successfully treat SLE. Mild or remittant disease can sometimes be safely left untreated. If required, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and anti-malarials may be used.[14]

In more severe cases, medications that modulate the immune system (primarily corticosteroids and immunosuppressants) are used to control the disease and prevent re-occurrence of symptoms (known as flares[2]). Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used preventively to reduce incidence of flares, the process of the disease, and lower the need for steroid use; when flares occur, they are treated with corticosteroids. DMARDs commonly in use are the antimalarials (e.g. methotrexate and azathioprine). Hydroxychloroquine (trade name Plaquenil) is an FDA approved anti-malarial used for constitutional, cutaneous, and articular manifestations, while Cyclophosphamide (trade names Cytoxan and Neosar) is used for severe glomerulonephritis or other organ-damaging complications, and in 2005, CellCept became accepted for treatment of lupus nephritis.

Patients who require steroids frequently may develop obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis. Depending on the dosage, corticosteroids can cause other side effects such as a puffy face, an unusually large appetite and difficulty sleeping. Those side effects can subside if and when the large initial dosage is reduced, but long term use of even low doses can cause elevated blood pressure and cataracts. Due to these side effects, steroids are avoided if possible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupus_erythematosus

Chapter Locator - Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) provides most of its direct services through a nationwide network of chapters, branches and support groups. ...
www.lupus.org/chapters/locator.asp - 41k

Answer 2

It really depends on your level of pain tolerance and whether or not the pain or meds interfere with your daily life. Is the pain unbearable? Then stopping meds is probably not a good idea, because you won't be able to function. You might try stretching your time between doses, and seeing if that makes a difference. Or wait til the pain gets to a certain level before taking the meds. I have fibromyalgia, and take pain meds... muscle relaxers, vicodin, percocet, etc. I wait until I really need them before taking them. But when I need them, I need them. If the pain is that bad, I can't do anything anyway. Lupus is another disorder where all you can really do is treat the symptoms.

Answer 3

It depends on how long you have been taking it, how much you take a day, whether you take it as it is prescribed.....basically whether or not you think you are developing a dependency. If you do think that you may be developing a dependency, you should go talk to your doctor. If you still need a pain medication for pain relief and have become dependent on that one, perhaps they could switch you to another. That is really a question that only you and a qualified medical professional that actually evaluates you regularly can answer.

Answer 4

You would suffer withdrawl symptons that would be 5 times worse than any pain you can imagine, ask your Doctor if you can stop or ask a Doctor for help. You would have to be weaned off he Narcotics and it is not a pretty sight.

Answer 5

First find an alternative health practicioner. Try Energy Therapy like healing touch, reiki. Herbal supplements can also help improve your health.

Answer 6

Nope