New Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lupus
Treatment of moderate cases
It would require the higher dose of prednisolone in most cases to control the symptoms. If a person does not get desired results with prednisolone, the specialist would mostly use stronger drugs to suppress the immunological system (Methotrexate, Azathioprine, Mycophenolate, Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus and many others). Immunosuppression is a double-edged sword as it has many side effects including increased risk of developing cancer or contracting infectious diseases.
Newer drugs that selectively suppress the immune system and have fewer side effects are now being widely used, two such approved drugs in recent history are belimumab and rituximab.