Has anyone out there ever been treated with Rituxan for SLE Lupus?
607383
Some new drugs are also becoming helpful in dealing with lupus at the cellular level. One drug receiving a great deal of attention for lupus is rituximab, known as Rituxan. This drug is having success in studies in achieving remission and getting rid of many of the more serious health effects of lupus. \n\nSide effects:\nHeadache, nausea, facial flushing, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.\n\nRemember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.\n\nTell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fatigue, decrease in amount of urine, weakness, fever, chills, pain at the tumor site, joint or muscle pain, stomach pain, sore throat.\n\nTell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: chest pain, cough, diarrhea, increased thirst or urination, tingling of the hands or feet, flushing, unusual bleeding or bruising, sweating, mental/mood changes.\n\nTell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: fast/slow/irregular pulse, chest pain, slow or shallow breathing, dark urine, yellowing eyes or skin.\n\nIf you have hepatitis B, rituximab may infrequently cause the infection to worsen. Very serious liver disease could occur (during or within several months after rituximab treatment). Seek immediate medical attention if you develop persistent stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, extreme fatigue, yellowing eyes and skin. Treatment with antiviral medication is usually given to control hepatitis B.\n\nA serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.\n\nIf you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
136830
Do not know but I do know how to treat lupus and put it into withdrawl.
414454
This question should be for your personal doctor because no one else could give you an adequate answer without a complete understanding of your medical history. Please consult your physician. Lupus is a very complese immune disorder and no advice from people without your complete history should be taken.\n\nGood luck, I wish you the best.
256072
This combination of positive autoantibody tests is stongly suggestive of some form of lupus erythematosus.  In particular, the anti-SM test is positive in about a third of subjects ultimately diagnosed as having systemic lupus (SLE), but almost never in other autoimmune diseases.  This makes it about as specific for SLE as tests in rheumatology ever are.  The anti-nuclear antibody test (anti-ANA) is positive in up to 99% of true cases of SLE, but it can also be positive in other autoimmune diseases, in people taking certain medications, and among health elderly people.  This makes it a much less specific indicator of SLE.  The anti-histone antibody test is interesting because it can be used to differentiate between drug-induced lupus and SLE (idiopathic lupus).  Thus, the array of positive antibody tests listed in the question suggests drug-induced lupus erythematosus.  Drugs sometimes associated with this condition include procainamide, isoniazid, chlorpromazine, penicillamine, sulfasalazine, hydralazine, methyldopa, and quinidine.  Drug-induced lupus is usually less severe than SLE, and the symptoms will tend to disappear shortly after the person stops taking the medication.
553571
Yes, you already have one autoimmune disease so it getting worse and developing into lupus is not unheard of. Taking the right supplements and getting rid of toxins in your environment will go a long way towards fixing the problem.
448440
I'm not quite sure what your question is but you should be working with a Rhuematologist for your Lupus and a Kidney doctor to tell you what meds you should and should not be taking. Avoid salt and chemicals in your diet/products.
443292
Like all the previous replies, know you are not alone. We all have this disease and that is why we are able to reply here and help you out.  It is extremely frustrating when others don't understand the disease, or find it surprising how we can get so tired so often; how we can be in pain so often.  Sometimes I truly believe others think we are making it up. I am on a sick leave from work due to a string of flares that would just not go away. I get foggy spells sometimes, I am usually tired most of the time, and my joints get very achy and I can be bed-ridden for the entire day. Then some days are flare/pain free and you wouldn't even know I had the disease.\nOn a side note, I also have been taking Plaquenil for the past year and a half and have always been worried in the back of my mind that I would be within that small percentage who suffer eye damage from it. If you are on Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine is another name for it)--make sure you see your Optometriest twice a year, rather than once a year.  \nLastly, to all the people who replied to this question and are suffering from ANY auto-immune disease, I wish you all the best of luck and hope that someday they will find a cure for us all.  Take care.
351795
How is restless legs syndrome treated?\n\n\n\nAlthough movement brings relief to those with RLS, it is generally only temporary. However, RLS can be controlled by finding any possible underlying disorder. Often, treating the associated medical condition, such as peripheral neuropathy or diabetes, will alleviate many symptoms. For patients with idiopathic RLS, treatment is directed toward relieving symptoms. \n\nFor those with mild to moderate symptoms, prevention is key, and many physicians suggest certain lifestyle changes and activities to reduce or eliminate symptoms. Decreased use of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco may provide some relief. Physicians may suggest that certain individuals take supplements to correct deficiencies in iron, folate, and magnesium. Studies also have shown that maintaining a regular sleep pattern can reduce symptoms. Some individuals, finding that RLS symptoms are minimized in the early morning, change their sleep patterns. Others have found that a program of regular moderate exercise helps them sleep better; on the other hand, excessive exercise has been reported by some patients to aggravate RLS symptoms. Taking a hot bath, massaging the legs, or using a heating pad or ice pack can help relieve symptoms in some patients. Although many patients find some relief with such measures, rarely do these efforts completely eliminate symptoms \n\nPhysicians also may suggest a variety of medications to treat RLS. Generally, physicians choose from dopaminergics, benzodiazepines (central nervous system depressants), opioids, and anticonvulsants. Dopaminergic agents, largely used to treat Parkinson's disease, have been shown to reduce RLS symptoms and PLMD and are considered the initial treatment of choice. Good short-term results of treatment with levodopa plus carbidopa have been reported, although most patients eventually will develop augmentation, meaning that symptoms are reduced at night but begin to develop earlier in the day than usual. Dopamine agonists such as pergolide mesylate, pramipexole, and ropinirole hydrochloride may be effective in some patients and are less likely to cause augmentation. \n\nIn 2005, ropinirole became the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of moderate to severe RLS. The drug was first approved in 1997 for patients with Parkinson’s disease. \n\nBenzodiazepines (such as clonazepam and diazepam) may be prescribed for patients who have mild or intermittent symptoms. These drugs help patients obtain a more restful sleep but they do not fully alleviate RLS symptoms and can cause daytime sleepiness. Because these depressants also may induce or aggravate sleep apnea in some cases, they should not be used in people with this condition. \n\nFor more severe symptoms, opioids such as codeine, propoxyphene, or oxycodone may be prescribed for their ability to induce relaxation and diminish pain. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and the risk of addiction. \n\nAnticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and gabapentin are also useful for some patients, as they decrease the sensory disturbances (creeping and crawling sensations). Dizziness, fatigue, and sleepiness are among the possible side effects. \n\nUnfortunately, no one drug is effective for everyone with RLS. What may be helpful to one individual may actually worsen symptoms for another. In addition, medications taken regularly may lose their effect, making it necessary to change medications periodically.
1027185
This is the correct answer. RA is a horrible disease and I have it. I have defeated it with glucosamine and fish oil. I also take 1 Aleve tablet every morning. 2000 mg glucosamine with chondroitin, and 3000 mg fish oil. It takes a while, but it works, and many doctors now recommend this proven cure. \n\nRichard E
245856
Hi. I too have Lupus. My advice is to get rest. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy cells. The immune system is basically overactive. You will probably need to get on medication(s). I take 400 mg of Plaquinel a day plus 80 mg aspirin, 400 mg of ibuprofen. It is not an easy disease to live with, but it could be worse. It is not a death sentence. People can live long good lives with Lupus.\nHope this helps :-)
420395
I have not tried and would never try it. \n\nThe FDA's position is colloidal silver or silver salts are not recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded.  \n\nAnd I really would not enjoy spending the rest of my life with a purplish colored skin (argyria).\n\nCheck out what quackwatch has to say:\n\nhttp://www.quackwatch.org/search/webglimpse.cgi?ID=1&query=colloidal+silver\n\nMy rule of thumb: the more diseases/disorders a product claims to "cure", the bigger the fraud.
676971
Lupus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect virtually any system in the body. Think of it as a 'self-allergy' where the body attacks its own cells and tissues, causing inflammation, pain, and possible organ damage.\n\nMany studies have shown that women are about 10 times more likely to have or to develop lupus than men. In Birmingham, the figures showed that lupus occurred in almost exactly one in 2,500 adult women; which shows that lupus is not a rare disease in women. It is however rare in men, occurring in approximately 1 in 25,000 adult men. Although the disease can start at any age, the first signs of the disease in women usually appear during the reproductive years (after the onset of menstrual periods and before the menopause). The disease is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 20 and 40, and it appears to be milder in those in whom the disease starts after the menopause (when the monthly periods stop). There is no particular age pattern in men with lupus. \n\nIt is also well recognised that people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds are at different risks of developing lupus. People of West Indian origin are particularly likely to develop the disease, even when they are born and live in North America or the UK. Surprisingly, people of West African origin (from which the West Indian populations were descended) are at low risk of developing lupus. Studies have suggested that up to 1 in 250 women in Jamaica develop lupus. In Birmingham, 1 in 500 women of Afro-Caribbean background have lupus, compared with about 1 in 1000 women from India and Pakistan, and about 1 in 2,500 white European Caucasians. Other studies have shown that people of Chinese and Polynesian backgrounds are also at increased risk of developing lupus, compared with white Caucasians. \n\n\nAlthough there is no cure for lupus, for the vast majority of people with the disease effective treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation, and maintain normal bodily functions. Medications often are prescribed for people with lupus, depending on which organ(s) are involved, and the severity of involvement. Commonly prescribed medications include: \n\nNonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – These drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are usually recommended for muscle and joint pain, and arthritis. \n\nAcetaminophen – A mild analgesic used for pain, such as Tylenol. \n\nCorticosteroids – Synthetically produced corticosteroids, such as Prednisone, are used to reduce inflammation and suppress activity of the immune system. \n\nAntimalarials – These drugs, such as Plaquenil, are prescribed for skin and joint symptoms of lupus. It may take months before these drugs demonstrate a beneficial effect. \n\nImmunomodulating Drugs – These drugs, such as Imuran and Cytoxan, act in a similar manner to the corticosteroid drugs in that they suppress inflammation and tend to suppress the immune system. \n\nBiologic Drugs – These drugs include agents that block the production of specific antibodies, like those against DNA, or agents that act to suppress the manufacture of antibodies through other mechanisms.
1130067
I know this sounds insane but we have a medical column written by Dr. Gott (I think) in our daily paper.  He has published numerous letters from people who put a bar of soap under their sheets and it stops restless leg syndrome.  My mother-in-law was visiting from Montana a couple of years ago and was complaining about her RLS so I showed her one of the articles.  She is a very skeptical person but she tried it and now swears by it. She mentions it every time she visits.  Worth a shot, right?
317264
If I couldn't walk, I would be worried.  Sounds great that the lupus came back negative, but what is next?  If the DR is not doing more test, or taking another coarse of action, maybe a second opinion is in order!
472873
They very well can be.  Lupus is a disease of many faces.  My daughter has lupus.  She has had tremors also.\n\nJust to be on the safe side, please see your doctor.  Symptoms vary widely, it is necessary to seek help for a proper diagnosis.
1081141
stem cell transplants in lupus patients is only used in severe cases. it is used in life or death senerios. The latest treatment right now is a drug called Cellcept. Depending on what type of lupus u have. It is used to help lupus that attacks the organs.
357495
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115