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Medications

Can Your Medications Cause Lupus?

January 27, 2025 ·

Drug induced lupus can act like lupus but resolves when the medication is stopped

Drug-induced lupus, a form of lupus caused by certain medications, and not something you hear much about. It differs from the regular “systemic” lupus in multiple ways, including the expected symptoms, the positive blood tests and the prognosis. 

What is Drug-Induced Lupus?

We’ve all heard of lupus, but did you know there’s a version that can be triggered by medications? It is called drug-induced lupus. Unlike the more familiar systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a chronic autoimmune disease, drug-induced lupus occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to a specific medication.

[Read more…] about Can Your Medications Cause Lupus?

Know the Prednisone Side Effects

December 23, 2021 ·

It's important to know the side effects of prednisone

Let me be clear – I wouldn’t want to be on prednisone either. In fact, when suffering from a wicked case of vertigo, I fought my doctor buddies who advised I take a Medrol dose pack to ease the symptoms.

“I’m going to gain weight!” “I’m going to have anxiety!”

As a Rheumatologist, I am well-versed in all the possible side effects of prednisone (and similar meds) and feared the worse.

But I also know that there is a time a place for prednisone. Not only was I currently in need of the benefits of prednisone, many of my patients are as well. But there ARE side effects that need to be considered and discussed.

[Read more…] about Know the Prednisone Side Effects

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment – pt 1

July 28, 2021 ·

It takes a medical degree, a 3 year Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship to learn how to best treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. There are many nuances and caveats and even seasoned rheumatologists find themselves asking for help from colleagues. But it doesn’t serve anyone to leave all the decision making to the doctor. Although the topic can get complicated, there are concepts that everyone with RA should be familiar with. Understanding the strategy behind why your doctor prescribes certain medications can ensure that you continue to have productive and effective conversations.

[Read more…] about Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment – pt 1

Fibromyalgia Treatment: the basics

January 5, 2021 ·

Find out how to treat Fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia symptoms with the currently FDA approved medications.

Getting a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia can be relieving, yet terrifying, all at the same time. For those dealing with unexplained symptoms, just to know it has a name can be reassuring. However that relief can replaced by overwhelm as we enter into the world of fibromyalgia treatment. There are currently only 3 FDA approved medications for fibromyalgia, all of which focus on the nervous system. For many, these types of medications are new and can come with scary sounding side effects. Why are these the medications approved and what do they do? What do they not do?

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Can Joint Injections help your arthritis?

January 5, 2021 ·

Joint injections are everywhere, but can they help your arthritis?

Joint injections come in many different flavors and if you have ever talked to your doctor about your joint pain, they have most likely come up. But do they help? What can you expect from them? And which kind should you get? To learn more keep reading and check out the video above.

[Read more…] about Can Joint Injections help your arthritis?

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