The Different Types of Treatment Options for an Autoimmune Disorder

For as long as you can remember, you’ve had a scaly rash on your leg. No matter what creams you try to get rid of it, nothing seems to work. This condition is known as psoriasis.

It’s a common autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system kicks your skin cell growth into high gear. Most of your treatment options involve calming inflammation.

Depending on how severe your condition is, you may be able to ease your symptoms with over-the-counter medications. If that doesn’t work, your doctor will try other methods.

Check out this guide to learn more about what options are available to you.

Over-the-Counter Medications

The first thing that your doctor will try to solve your disorder is over-the-counter medications. They’re inexpensive and easily available. You can buy aspirin or Advil to treat common autoimmune disease symptoms such as swelling, inflammation, pain, fever, and stiffness.

Which medication you use depends on what condition you’re dealing with. Your doctor will use your medical record to give you a list of options that will work for you.

Prescriptions

If over-the-counter options don’t work, your doctor will move on to trying prescription medications. These drugs can help with the same symptoms that the over-the-counter options can help with along with, depression, sleep, fatigue, digestive problems, rashes, and anxiety.

We’ll warn you that most prescription drugs are more expensive than the over-the-counter options. You may be able to save money by asking for generic brands. Some pharmacies have discount programs that you can take advantage of.

Since a lot of your prescriptions are going to be routine medications, you might be able to save money by getting a 90-day supply. Your three-month supply of medicine will also last a lot longer than your 30-day one.

There may be coupons available, and if all else fails, you can apply for prescription assistance.

Immunosuppressant Therapy

Immunosuppressant therapy can treat many of the different types of autoimmune diseases. Your doctor will prescribe medications that target parts of your immune system and control its function.

These medicines will work to kick inflammation to the curb, but they do come with side effects. One of the major ones is making infections worse.

They can also cause an upset stomach, vomiting, constipation, headaches, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and stomach aches and pains.

Change up Your Diet

Medications aren’t the only treatment that the healthcare industry has for autoimmune disorders. Your doctor may also suggest a change of diet.

You need to eat a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, and delicious whole grains. Trans fats, sugar, salt, and saturated fats are a no-go. Switch out the fast food for lean proteins and fats that are good for you.

You can still have caffeine and alcohol, but you need to keep it to a minimum. If you have a deficiency in any essential nutrient, it can make your autoimmune condition worse. Your doctor can run a few tests to make sure that you don’t require a supplement of some kind.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is important for your overall health and wellness. It gives your body the chance to recover from the day. Stress can make your autoimmune disease symptoms worse.

The less sleep you get, the harder it will be for you to cope with your everyday stressors. If you’re finding it hard to get the rest that you need, we recommend laying off the afternoon coffee. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to ten hours or more.

Your electronics produce sleep-disrupting blue light. To stop it from putting a halt to your rest cycle, put your phone down an hour before bed and trade it up for a good book.

Nicotine acts as a stimulant. Don’t smoke before you lay down for the night. Try to get your body in a good rhythm by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.

Try to make your room as dark as possible. We recommend purchasing blackout curtains.

Stress Relief

Again, everyday stressors can make the symptoms of your autoimmune disorders worse. Getting enough sleep isn’t the only way to reduce your anxiety.

You should also try deep breathing exercises or see a therapist. You could also join a support group or take up cognitive behavioral therapy.

Mind-Body Therapy

Instead of treating the body and mind separately, this type of therapy tackles them both at once. Most of the treatment involves deep relaxation techniques that implement some physical activity.

Some of the things that you’ll be doing are tai-chi, yoga, and meditation. You can go to this page to weigh your options. No matter what treatment program you choose, you shouldn’t experience any negative side effects.

Go In for Physical Therapy

Many autoimmune disorders come with numbness in the limbs, muscle spasms, and joint stiffness. To handle these symptoms, your doctor may point you in the direction of a physical therapist.

On top of teaching you exercises that will help you deal with pain, they can also help you learn how to use a cane or walker if you need one.

Treatment Options for Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders can be difficult to live with. You may need to make a variety of lifestyle changes to deal with the symptoms. Other than eating a new diet and getting enough sleep, your doctor may suggest that you take over-the-counter medications.

If the over-the-counter treatment options don’t work, there are prescription drugs that you can take. You can also go to physical therapy to take your life back from your autoimmune condition.

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