What are the precautions for taking biologics for ankylosing spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis is a common physical disease in the human body. Suffering from ankylosing spondylitis not only causes symptoms of pain in the body, but also causes redness and swelling in the joints, affecting normal activities. Biological agents are a common method of treating ankylosing spondylitis. Some matters need to be paid attention to during the use of biological agents. The choice of biological agents is very critical. You can choose some anti-inflammatory drugs and take biological agents according to the severity of the disease.

Precautions for taking biologics for ankylosing spondylitis

The first thing to consider is the safety of the drug!

The main concerns about drugs are safety and effectiveness, and safety always comes first.

An issue that cannot be ignored with biological agents: relapse after drug discontinuation

The second thing to consider is the effectiveness of the drug!

These biological agents are effective when used, but can the condition be relieved long-term after stopping the drug? Some drugs have data in this regard, most of which are foreign data, but domestic data is basically blank at present. According to clinical statistics, the disease will basically recur after stopping the medication. The safety and efficacy of biologics still need to be systematically re-evaluated.

The problem of biological agents that cannot be ignored is high cost

Then there are economic issues to consider.

Currently, these drugs are covered by medical insurance in only a few cities in China, and most patients will consider the cost before using these drugs. Among the patients I have seen, less than 10% can tolerate the use of biological agents for more than one year. About 40% of patients can tolerate short-term use (three months to six months), and the rest cannot tolerate it at all.

Therefore, patients with better economic conditions can make their own choices under the guidance of a doctor; patients with severe clinical symptoms and unobvious general treatment effects can try it. Most patients do not need to use this more expensive ankylosing spondylitis treatment method.

Be rational about the "efficacy" of biological agents!

"Biologics are effective" is a common but vague perception. Many people simply believe that "biologics are good, imported ones are better than domestic ones, and expensive ones are better than cheap ones", but the problem is by no means that simple.

Biological agents have strict usage standards and are not suitable for every patient. Before use, you need to check whether you are able to use biological agents or other treatment options. Clinically, one of the main reasons why many patients with ankylosing spondylitis "suffer recurring symptoms and cannot be cured for a long time" is that they do not receive targeted treatment.

Before treatment, patients must thoroughly find out the root cause of their "pain, back stiffness, and joint and spinal restriction" and conduct targeted treatment. Do not use it blindly, so as not to waste money and make the disease worse.