Biological Treatment for Asthma
In Australia 3-5% of the population with severe Asthma may benefit from a class of drug known as “biological” treatments.
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Biological treatment is add-an on treatment option for reducing severe flare-ups and improving symptom control in patients with severe allergic or eosinophilic asthma whose asthma is uncontrolled despite treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2 agonists
Clinical benefits of biological treatments
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Reduced Flare Ups
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Reduced Maintenance Dose Oral Corticosteroids
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Improved Symptoms
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Improved Lung Function
Key Points while prescribed biological treatments
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Your first few injections will be administered by your specialist, ongoing maintenance doses will either be administered by your GP or you may be taught how to self administer.
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You must keep taking your inhales corticosteroids or “preventers”
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You will need to have been managed by a Respiratory Specialist for 6 months before biologics can be funded on the PBS
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You will need a written asthma action plan
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Treatment is usually well tolerated with injection site reactions being the most common adverse effects