The most common type of drugs (and the cheapest) are the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories, commonly called NSAIDS. This family of drugs includes aspirin, naproxyn sodium (brand name--Aleve), and ibuprofen (brand names--Motrin or Advil). These work by producing anti-inflammatory effects, thereby reducing fever and pain, both symptoms of lupus. They are readily available over-the-counter and can be bought fairly cheaply in bulk. These seem to work better for lupus the longer that one takes them, with the anti-inflammatory effects being cumulative. However, there are side effects with these medications, one of the most common being stomach distress leading to peptic ulcers. Other side effects can be increased blood pressure, headache (believe it or not!), itching and anemia. They can also interact with presciption medications, so care must be taken when self-medicating with these OTC drugs. It must also be noted that NSAIDS are NOT recommended for use during pregnancy, due to potential fetal liver damage! That being said, I should also say that you should talk to your doctor about possible side effects of OTC drugs when dealing with any chronic illness, whether you are on prescriptions drugs or not. You might be doing more harm than good!
The next common family of drugs used to treat SLE are the corticosteroids. These drugs are also anti-inflammatory, but are much more efficacious because they actually work on the body's immune system, decreasing its action. Yes, that's right! With lupus, you want to keep the body's immune system DOWN because the immune system in a lupus patient is like a riding lawnmower--it just takes out whatever is in its way, whether its a virus cell (a weed)or a kidney cell (a flower). What's needed is a small hand-rake, to take out the "weeds" without mowing down the "flowers". Until a cure for lupus (a handrake) is found, we need to disable the lawnmower to save the garden!
An unfortunate number of side effects commonly accompany corticosteroids. The suppression of the immune system, while great for a lupus flare, leaves the body vulnerable to infections by common bacteria and viruses, so you are supposed to avoid people with contagious illnesses while on these medications. Other physical side effects are usually dose- or duration-dependent, meaning that if you are taking high doses, or taking these drugs for long periods of time, side effects are more likely. The most common of these side effects can include insomnia, hypertension, GI irritation, peptic ulcers, osteoporosis, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), and metabolic disturbances. Other, non-medical side effects are a redistribution of body fat, making the arms and legs leaner, and causing fat to be stored in the abdomen, back, and face. This effect is often called "moon face" because the increased fat in the face causes it to take on a round, full appearance.
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