Lupus Symptoms & Causes Print Medication-Induced Lupus Symptoms and Treatment Written by linkedin Written by Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH, is a medical writer and program development manager at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities. Learn about our editorial policy Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH Updated on November 08, 2019 Lupus Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping Daniel Kourey / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Drugs That Cause DIL Risk Factors Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment View All Drug-induced lupus (DIL) is a rare autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to certain drugs. It usually begins after you've taken the drug for three to six months. The symptoms mimic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). DIL can be life-threatening, but it's completely reversible once you stop taking the drug. 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 as heart disease, thyroid disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), neuropsychiatric disorders, inflammation, and epilepsy. The three drugs most often involved in drug-induced lupus are: Procainamide (brand name Pronestyl, used to treat heart arrhythmia)Hydralazine (brand name Apresoline, used to treat hypertension)Quinidine (brand name Quinaglute, used to treat heart arrhythmia) Who Will Develop DIL? 5% of people taking hydralazine for 1-2 years20% of people taking procainamide for 1-2 years<1% of people taking other drugs for 1-2 years Classes of drugs that have been implicated in DIL include: AntibioticsAnticonvulsantsAnti-inflammatoriesAntipsychoticsAnti-thyroid drugsBiologicsChemotherapy drugsCholesterol drugsDiureticsHypertension drugsProton pump inhibitors Most people who take these medications will not develop the disease. DIL is a rare adverse reaction. Risk Factors Doctors 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: Other health conditionsGeneticsEnvironmental factorsInteractions with other medications Men develop the disease more often than women because they're more likely to be prescribed the drugs that cause it. DIL is most common in people between 50 and 70 years old. It's more likely in while people than African-Americans, as well. Symptoms Drug-induced lupus can affect people who take the culprit drugs for months or years continuously without symptoms. That's a clue that it's DIL instead of typical side effects, because side effects usually come on soon after you start taking a new medication. If you're experiencing drug-induced lupus, you may have symptoms that are similar to what people with SLE experience, such as: Muscle and joint painFatigueBlurred visionFeverGeneral ill feeling (malaise)Joint swellingLoss of appetitePleuritic chest painSkin rash across the bridge of nose and cheeks that gets worse with sunlight (butterfly rash)Weight lossPurple spots on the skin, which is called purpuraRed or purple lumps under the skin that are tender, called erythema-nodosum These symptoms can appear gradually or quickly. While SLE can impact major organs, DIL usually doesn't. Could It Be Lupus? Signs and Symptoms Diagnosis Doctors 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 doctor about all of the medications 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 not a single, specific test for DIL. When considering this diagnosis, your doctor may perform a range of tests, including: A physical examBlood testsChest x-rayElectrocardiogram The three types of blood tests used to diagnose DIL are: Antihistone antibodyAntinuclear antibody (ANA) panelComplete blood count (CBC) People with DIL caused by quinidine or hydralazine may have negative ANA results. Treatment The good news is that once you stop taking the offending medication, your symptoms should clear up within a matter of days or weeks. In some cases, it might take up to a year for symptoms to go completely away. To help you get through that time, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your symptoms. These medications may include: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)Corticosteroid creamsAntimalarial drugs Staying on the medication is dangerous, so you and your doctor will need to discuss alternative treatments. A Word From Verywell While DIL can be a severe and debilitating illness that's hard to diagnose, the good news is that it can be cured by going off the drug that triggered it. Work with your doctor 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 excellent. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus. MedlinePlus. Drug-Induced Lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America. Continue Reading