Biological Treatments in a Pill World

Biologic Treatments in a Pill World 

Biologic Medicines have become a daily norm for TV advertising.  At any large sporting televised event, we witness a variety of commercials offering different biological treatment options for many serious illnesses.  They can range from a vaccine to gene therapies, allergenics, targeted immune therapies, etc. These can come in the form of proteins, particles, nucleic acids and sugars.  This class of drug is typically derived from substances found in living things.  This is why they are called biologics.  Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s/Colitis and most immune diseases have previously been very hard to find relief from.  Biologic drugs interfere with the cascade of events that lead to the autoimmune symptoms.  By interfering with those events, it allows the patients tissues to become less inflamed and can make life manageable once again.   

Biologics have also revolutionized cancer treatments and will likely change the landscape of how cancer is initially treated. These therapies range from treatments within outpatient infusion centers, hospitals or self-injections given at home.  They also come in oral pill forms now that can be taken once a day, month and even longer.  The ability to be approved for this variety of drug can be difficult and confusing even for the medical professional.  There are typically a cascade of other treatments that must be taken and failed before your biologic is approved.  After approval you must know your insurance coverage, your deductible, your yearly out of pocket maximum and make sure you understand the cost. Many patients will need help from a patient assistance program to even consider biologics.  Each pharmaceutical company typically has a copay assistance program which may bring your price down to under $10.  If they pay the rest on your medication, you will typically reach your out-of-pocket max with one biologic treatment if your prescription cost goes towards your deductible.  Biologics can be billed from $10,000 to $25,000 to your insurance so don’t be surprised to see this charge.  It is important to do everything you can before ordering to make sure you are going to be covered. 

Throughout the years I have had more experience in the biologics than I would ever want.  Having an auto-immune disease going on 30 years I have been involved in studies and had experience taking most of the biologics offered for the auto-immune diseases.  I have been through many of the various patient assistance programs, taken and failed many of the biologics and currently take 2 biologics at the same time.  The risk to reward for me makes this a viable option.  Biologics can provide consistency to your life when other regular oral medications do not.  As therapies improve throughout the years most patients hope the newer drugs work long enough to get them to the next best thing that comes along. 

 This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

Have you been in a car accident? If you or somebody you know has been in a car accident, be sure that you seek medical attention from a car accident doctor or car accident chiropractor to treat your injuries. Visit Chambers Medical Group  to receive world-class medical treatment for your injuries.

Chambers Medical Group has car accident medical clinics in the following locations:

• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Tampa
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Plant City
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Brandon
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lakeland
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Sarasota
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Louisville
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lexington
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Florence