Tag: Disease management

Medication adherence is a critical factor in successful treatment, yet up to 50% of medications are not used as intended, often leading to worsened health outcomes. Understanding what are the benefits of taking drugs, and adhering to prescribed regimens, can profoundly improve health, manage chronic conditions, and enhance overall quality of life.

Since its introduction, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for HIV has led to a dramatic 60% to 80% decline in the rates of AIDS, hospitalization, and death, according to early studies. This monumental medical achievement is a prime example of combination therapy, where multiple medications work together to combat a complex disease more effectively than a single drug alone.

In a study on rheumatoid arthritis patients in remission, nearly 58% of those who stopped their biologics experienced a relapse within a year, highlighting the complexities surrounding the question: can you ever get off biologics?. The answer is nuanced, depending heavily on the specific condition, its activity level, and the individual patient's health status.

Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms reported by patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. But **can biologics help with fatigue?** Emerging evidence suggests that for many, the answer is a cautious yes, though the effect is often indirect and varies significantly depending on the underlying condition.

Prednisone has been used for decades to treat a wide array of conditions, but a crucial point of patient education is that it **does not cure diseases**, but rather suppresses inflammation and immune responses to manage symptoms. It is one of the most commonly prescribed immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications.

Unlike simple pain relievers, prednisone is a powerful corticosteroid medication that works by suppressing the body's immune system to reduce inflammation. So, **does prednisone heal or just relieve pain?** The answer is that it does both, but the healing is a direct result of managing the underlying inflammation that causes the pain in the first place.