Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDrugs That Cause DILRisk FactorsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Drugs That Cause DIL
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
The symptoms of DIL mimic those ofsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There are many, including muscle and joint pain, weight loss, and fever.
Drug-induced lupus can be life-threatening, but it’s completely reversible once you stop taking the drug that’s to blame.
Daniel Kourey / Getty Images
Drugs That Cause Drug-Induced Lupus
More than 40 drugs have been known to cause this form of lupus, but several are considered primary culprits.
They’re mainly drugs used to treat chronic conditions such asheart disease,thyroid disease,hypertension(high blood pressure), neuropsychiatric disorders, inflammation, and epilepsy.
The three drugs most often involved in drug-induced lupus are:
Classes of drugs that have been implicated in DIL include:
Most people who take these medications will not develop the disease. DIL is a rare adverse reaction.
Healthcare providers don’t know why some people develop drug-induced lupus while taking certain medications and others don’t. However, certain factors may make it more likely, including:
Here’s a look at the percentage of people who develop DIL after one to two years of using the following drugs:Procainamide: 20%Hydralazine: 5%Other drugs: Less than 1%
Here’s a look at the percentage of people who develop DIL after one to two years of using the following drugs:
Men are more likely to be prescribed the drugs that cause drug-induced lupus, though they develop it at the same statistical rates as women.
DIL is most common in people between 50 and 70 years old.It’s more likely to develop in White people than African-Americans, as well.
Drug-Induced Lupus Symptoms
If you’re experiencing drug-induced lupus, you may have symptoms that are similar to what people with SLE experience, such as:
These symptoms can appear gradually or quickly.
While SLE can impact major organs, DIL usually doesn’t.
A clue that you are experiencing DIL and not typical drug side effects is that the symptoms arise after months or years of continuously taking the medication without issue. Regular side effects, on the other hand, usually come on soon after you start taking a new medication.
Signs and Symptoms of Lupus
Healthcare providers often have a hard time diagnosing DIL because the symptoms are similar not only to SLE but to numerous other autoimmune diseases and chronic pain conditions.
If you’re having symptoms that are consistent with DIL, be sure to tell you healthcare provider about all of the medications and supplements you’re taking.
If they believe you have DIL, you will likely need to stop taking the drug suspected as the cause. Staying on the medication will not only make your symptoms worse, but it could also even make the condition become life-threatening.
There’s no single, specific test for DIL. When considering this diagnosis, your healthcare provider may perform a range of tests, including:
The four types of blood tests used to diagnose DIL are:
You were put on the medication in the first place for good reason. Since staying on it is dangerous, you and your healthcare provider will need to discuss alternative treatments for whatever condition the drug was intended to treat.
The good news is that once you stop taking the offending medication, your symptoms should resolve within several weeks to several months. In some cases, however, it might take up to a year for symptoms to go completely away.
To help you manage during this time, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to treat your symptoms. Some options include:
A Word From Verywell
Work with your healthcare provider to find the correct diagnosis, an alternative drug, and the treatments that can help you manage the symptoms of DIL until they go away. Once you’re off the offending medication, the prognosis is generally excellent.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merola JF. Pisetsky D, Rameriz Curtis M (eds).Drug-induced lupus. UpToDate.Dalle Vedove C, Simon JC, Girolomoni G.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus with emphasis on skin manifestations and the role of anti-TNFα agents.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012;10(12):889–897. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2012.08000.xLupus Foundation of America.What is drug-induced lupus?Hogan JJ, Markowitz GS, Radhakrishnan J.Drug-induced glomerular disease: immune-mediated injury.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10(7):1300-10. doi:10.2215/CJN.01910215Katz U, Zandman-goddard G.Drug-induced lupus: an update.Autoimmun Rev. 2010;10(1):46-50. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2010.07.005Additional ReadingDrug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus. MedlinePlus.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merola JF. Pisetsky D, Rameriz Curtis M (eds).Drug-induced lupus. UpToDate.Dalle Vedove C, Simon JC, Girolomoni G.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus with emphasis on skin manifestations and the role of anti-TNFα agents.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012;10(12):889–897. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2012.08000.xLupus Foundation of America.What is drug-induced lupus?Hogan JJ, Markowitz GS, Radhakrishnan J.Drug-induced glomerular disease: immune-mediated injury.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10(7):1300-10. doi:10.2215/CJN.01910215Katz U, Zandman-goddard G.Drug-induced lupus: an update.Autoimmun Rev. 2010;10(1):46-50. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2010.07.005Additional ReadingDrug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus. MedlinePlus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merola JF. Pisetsky D, Rameriz Curtis M (eds).Drug-induced lupus. UpToDate.Dalle Vedove C, Simon JC, Girolomoni G.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus with emphasis on skin manifestations and the role of anti-TNFα agents.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012;10(12):889–897. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2012.08000.xLupus Foundation of America.What is drug-induced lupus?Hogan JJ, Markowitz GS, Radhakrishnan J.Drug-induced glomerular disease: immune-mediated injury.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10(7):1300-10. doi:10.2215/CJN.01910215Katz U, Zandman-goddard G.Drug-induced lupus: an update.Autoimmun Rev. 2010;10(1):46-50. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2010.07.005
Merola JF. Pisetsky D, Rameriz Curtis M (eds).Drug-induced lupus. UpToDate.
Dalle Vedove C, Simon JC, Girolomoni G.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus with emphasis on skin manifestations and the role of anti-TNFα agents.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012;10(12):889–897. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2012.08000.x
Lupus Foundation of America.What is drug-induced lupus?
Hogan JJ, Markowitz GS, Radhakrishnan J.Drug-induced glomerular disease: immune-mediated injury.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10(7):1300-10. doi:10.2215/CJN.01910215
Katz U, Zandman-goddard G.Drug-induced lupus: an update.Autoimmun Rev. 2010;10(1):46-50. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2010.07.005
Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus. MedlinePlus.
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