Managing anxiety around starting a biologic
Hi, I am 29 years old and was diagnosed 5 years ago with Axial spondyloarthritis and was managing quite well on an NSAID (Etoricoxib). Unfortunately over the last year my flare ups have been severe and I was advised to start a biologic. Yesterday I had my first injection of adalimumab. I am more worried about the scary side effects which are causing me lots of anxiety it’s hard to see what the positives are at the moment. Did any one else go through anything similar?
Hi there,
!Thank you so much for opening up and sharing a part of your journey with us. It’s completely understandable to feel anxious about side effects and uncertain about how your body will respond. Starting a biologic like adalimumab can feel overwhelming in the beginning, and many members here have gone through the same worries, so please know you’re not alone. Like with any new treatment, it may take a little time to adjust, but many people do start to notice real improvements. Once the body settles into a routine, most actually respond quite well to biologics. While you wait for others to share their personal experiences, I wanted to pass along an article that highlights someone’s journey, which may give you some additional perspective. You may find it reassuring- https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/living/switching-biologic-biosimilar. In the meantime, be gentle with yourself during this adjustment period, and don’t hesitate to share with your doctor how you’re feeling about things. Wishing you all the best, Latoya (Team Member)
