Biosimilars: What’s the buzz?
I’ve been hearing a lot about biosimilars lately. On Twitter, at the ACR conference, from pharmaceutical companies and physicians, they’re popping up more and more. In the United States, they’re just starting to get approval and reach patients, while in Europe, they’re gaining ground and making biologic medications more affordable. But what does it mean if something is a biosimilar? Are they safe and effective, and how available are they? What are biosimilars? Many drugs today have both brand-name and generic versions available for use (Advil and Motrin vs. generic ibuprofen, for example). This is because when a drug is first developed, the developer applies for a patent protecting their…
Biologics: Autoinjector or syringe?
When I started Humira, my doctor automatically put it in as an autoinjector prescription. That was a mistake. The first time I did the injection, it was okay. No big deal. Sure, it hurt, and it took awhile to get myself to press the button, but I could deal with it. The second time, though, it took a little longer, and definitely felt more painful. The third time took a little longer to do, and the fourth time… Well, I couldn’t do it. Each shot was like injecting burning venom into my body. It was so painful, I just couldn’t bring myself to press the button. It led to a breakdown… or…
