Cytoxan and Lupus

corena · Silver Member Joined: 18 Jan 2002 Posts: 284

Hi. I was diagnosed with systemic lupus and my doctor has proscribed me Cytoxan. Now, my friend have cancer and I know that Cytoxan is a drug used in the treatment of cancer. I think that that means that I have a cancer too, only that my doctor wouldn`t tell me so. Is Cytoxan a med for treating lupus? I also have a kidney disease.

theadora · Silver Member Joined: 26 Oct 2000 Posts: 259

Hi. Yeah, Cytoxan may be used in treating lupus. I don`t think that your doctor gave you the wrong diagnosis. Meds play an important role in the care of patients with systemic lupus, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, anti-malarials, cytotoxic and research drug. The choice of the right drug is highly individualized. Cytotoxic or immunosuppressive drugs are used to suppress the immune system. Cytoxan is a type of a cytoxic drug. This is a drug reserved for patients with serious manifestations of lupus (including lupus kidney disease). Important to say that patients on cytotoxic drugs are more likely to contract viral infections.

Cytoxan and Lupus

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