Precision Medicine for Asthma

 

 ** Cross posting from My Life as an Asthma Mom Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages **

 Asthma treatment has changed over the decades. My kids and I were diagnosed 25 years ago, and things are very different now. 

 

Doctors and researchers know that there are different kinds of asthma. Instead of prescribing the same inhaler for each patient, they can now tailor treatment. 

Your doctor can help you find the right inhaler for your body - and your type of asthma.

 

Who knew, right?!

 

For some of us with severe asthma, we need more than inhalers to keep our cranky lungs happy.  

My son is an adult now, but when he was young, he was in and out of the hospital for asthma (usually made worse by pneumonia, RSV or wildfire smoke.) 

Our asthma doctor tried everything - even discussing my son's case with other clinicians at a national asthma conference (with my permission of course.)

 

That was back before specialists were using biologics for those with severe asthma 

 

Using an injectible medicine for your asthma  

There are 6 biologics on the market to treat severe asthma. Most biologics are usually given by injection, but one is given in an IV. 

 

Biologics are that are injected or given by an IV are created from plants, animals or bacteria. They work at the cellular level to stop the cascade of reactions that take place when someone has allergies or asthma. 

Your doctor can run a blood test to see what type of biologic is right for your body (and see if that particular level in your blood is elevated enough to qualify)

 

There was only one biologic on the market in the early 2000's, when my son needed extra help controlling his asthma (and keeping him out of the hospital.)

 

The biologic was pricey - and so was our co-pay. 

 

We were able to find a foundation that covered our expensive co-pay for the 7 years my son was on his biologic.  

By the time he started college, he felt stable enough to stop the biologic. He said he was tired of going to the clinic to get his injection, so he wanted to stop. 

 

As an adult, I let my son make decisions concerning his health. 

 

How biologics changed during the pandemic 

 

During the pandemic, biologics production changed and the medication became available in a pre-filled auto injection syringe. 

 

Your insurance may cover the medicine differently - depending on if you use the pre-filled syringe and auto injector at home, or go to the office for your injection. 

 

Talk to your insurance company and doctor and decide which option is right for you. 

 

Some don't mind using an autoinjector, but for others, needle phobia is a big problem for them and they can't self inject. 

 

Just remember that doctors can tailor your treatment plan for you and your type of asthma. 

 

Good luck and keep those lungs happy!