Biologic treatment for asthma

They act on particular immune pathways involved in airway inflammation. They do not replace a reliever during an attack, and prescribed inhalers usually continue unless the specialist changes the plan.

Assessment usually confirms the asthma diagnosis, reviews inhaler technique and adherence, and looks for triggers or related problems such as allergic rhinitis. Blood tests and the person’s pattern of flare-ups can help identify the type of inflammation.

Different biologics target different signals or cells, so a medicine suitable for one asthma pattern may not suit another. Treatment is commonly given by injection in a clinic or, for some patients, at home after training.

Bring an up-to-date medicine list and details of recent attacks, oral steroid courses, hospital visits and ongoing symptoms. Tell the specialist about pregnancy plans, vaccinations, parasitic infections, other immune treatments and any previous serious allergic reaction.

Attend monitoring visits so the team can compare asthma control, flare-ups, lung function and medicine use with the starting point. Do not stop inhaled corticosteroids or reduce oral steroids suddenly; dose changes require a supervised plan.

Get emergency help for throat or tongue swelling, widespread hives with breathing difficulty, faintness or collapse after an injection. Follow the treatment centre’s observation and reaction instructions.

Use the written asthma action plan for increasing wheeze, cough, breathlessness or chest tightness. Severe difficulty breathing, inability to speak normally, blue or grey lips, confusion, or poor response to reliever medicine requires urgent emergency care.

Ask which asthma pattern the medicine targets, how it is given, what monitoring is planned, how benefit will be judged, and what happens if it does not help enough. Clarify missed-dose instructions and whom to contact about side effects.