In today’s world, everything is customized, from the food we order to the clothes we wear to the way we listen to music. The medications we take for allergies shouldn’t be any different. Personalized medicine, or biological drugs, is the newest—and most cutting-edge—way to treat asthma, eczema and hives.
As the name suggests, providers of personalized medicine look at a patient and create a treatment plan specific to him or her. It takes into account many factors and prescribes treatment based on the patients’ predicted response or risk of disease. Ultimately, biological drugs can have immense and positive impacts on a patient.
The allergists at Allergy & Asthma Specialists, which has eight locations throughout the region, are experiencing great success with biologicals for patients that suffer from asthma, hives and eczema that do not respond to traditional treatment regimes.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 25 million Americans suffer from asthma. Allergists can employ biological drugs like Xolair, Nucala and Cinqair to help treat asthma symptoms, which includes coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and anxiety.
These treatments use antibodies to decrease allergic reactions and are most appropriate for patients who don’t respond to inhalers and traditional medicines. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system when it recognizes a foreign—and potentially dangerous—substance. Antibodies recognize these foreign substances, or antigens, and work to safely remove it from the body.
Biological drugs can decrease asthma flares for sufferers and can improve lung function and decrease the need for prednisone, making them a great option for those who aren’t responsive to traditional treatments.
Atopic Dermatitis Treatment
Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, affects 31.6 million Americans, according to the National Eczema Association. A blanket term, there are eight different types of eczema—atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, hand eczema, lichen simplex chronicus, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. Each have different causes and symptoms, but are generally characterized by dry, scaly skin, which causes intense itching. Scratching, as a result of itching, may cause skin to thicken.
As with asthma, there is a personalized treatment option available for those who suffer. Dupixent is generally used to treat adults patients with moderate to severe eczema who didn’t respond to typical topical treatments. It works by blocking allergic inflammation—which causes the symptoms of eczema—by blocking immunological receptors. Patients often see a dramatic response, which results in the near clearing or complete clearing of the skin, an often elusive result for those with eczema.
Chronic Urticaria Treatment
There’s nothing fun about chronic urticarial, or hives. These itchy red welts can last more than six weeks, leaving sufferers extremely uncomfortable both physically and emotionally. It can wreak havoc on daily activities and even sleep. Triggers vary and include certain foods such as peanuts, eggs and shellfish, pet dander, pollen, bacterial infections and even physical stimuli like changes in pressure or temperature.
Luckily, biological drugs can be used as treatment. As with asthma, Xolair is effective for adults and children ages 12 and up, who haven’t responded to antihistamines. Xolair has been shown to decrease the intensity of itchiness and reduce the number of flare ups.
Those suffering from asthma, hives and eczema who’ve found little relief may benefit from customized treatments. The experts at Allergy & Asthma Specialists can help determine if biological drugs are the right option for you.
Fellowship trained, board certified allergists/immunologists comprise the entire physician staff of Allergy & Asthma SpecialistsSM. Allergy doctors at this premier medical practice provide comprehensive allergy and asthma diagnostics and state of the art treatment, including three types of immunotherapy, at offices located in center city Philadelphia, Blue Bell, King of Prussia, Jenkintown, Doylestown, Lansdale, Pottstown, and Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
Schedule an appointment today online at www.AllergyandAsthmaWellness.com or by calling 1-800-86COUGH, ext 2.