How Much Time Does the Treatment Last?
Lupus is a chronic disease, as are hypertension, diabetes, various intestinal diseases, allergies, and other rheumatological diseases. All people who have these diseases need prolonged follow-up, but that does not mean that the disease will always be causing symptoms, or preventing the person [10] from living their life, working outside, as natural evolution of lupus, is characterized by periods of greater and lesser “activity” (with a greater or lesser amount of symptoms). At the same time, the regular use of medications helps to keep the disease under control and, the irregular use of corticosteroids, antimalarial (chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine diphosphate), azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil favors the reactivation of the disease.
Some measures are for life like sun protection (hats, parasols, etc., in addition to the photo-protective creams already mentioned), not smoking, regular physical exercises, food control, not missing appointments, carrying out tests at the recommended intervals, and following the instructions guidelines and always clear your doubts with your rheumatologist.
As for the use of medicines, this varies according to the stage of the disease. The rheumatologist, who is the specialist doctor for the treatment of SLE, will always try to use the drugs in the lowest possible doses, for the shortest possible time
Consultations are usually scheduled every 3 to 6 months [11], however, in cases of active disease, more frequent returns, such as weekly and, if necessary, even with hospitalization (a condition that is not necessary for most women), may be necessary.
References:
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365790
[2] https://www.lupus.org/resources/medications-used-to-treat-lupus
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365790
[4] https://www.webmd.com/lupus/understanding-lupus-treatment#1
[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365790
[6] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365790
[7] https://www.webmd.com/lupus/understanding-lupus-treatment#1
[8] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365790
[9] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365790
[10] https://www.webmd.com/lupus/features/lupus-medications-treatments
[11] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332244-treatment#:~:text=Induction%20therapy%20involves%20potent%20immunosuppressive,safer%20than%20long%2Dterm%20therapy.