Disease State Overview

Acromegaly is a rare condition caused by too much growth hormone (GH) in the blood, most often due to a noncancerous tumor on the pituitary gland called an adenoma. This excess GH causes the liver to produce too much of another hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is responsible for many of the changes seen in acromegaly.

Acromegaly typically develops slowly over many years and is most often diagnosed in adults. Because the changes happen gradually, it’s common for the condition to go unnoticed for a long time before diagnosis. Sometimes patients, family, or friends only notice the changes when looking back at old photos.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

Acromegaly can affect many parts of the body. Common symptoms and changes include:

• Enlargement of the hands and feet – noticeably a change in ring or shoe size, especially width
• Changes in facial features, such as a more prominent brow or jaw, wider spacing of teeth, or a larger nose
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Thickened, oily, or sweaty skin
• Feeling tired and weak
• Headaches
• Deeper voice
• Enlarged organs which can affect organ function over time
• Skin tags may get larger or darker
• Vision problems

If left untreated, acromegaly can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, joint damage, and certain cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce these risks.

Treatment

Treatment for acromegaly aims to lower GH and IGF-1 levels back to a normal range, relieve symptoms, and reduce the risk of long-term complications. Depending on your specific situation, treatment may include:

• Surgery – to remove the pituitary tumor causing excess GH
• Somatostatin analogs (SSAs) – medications that help reduce GH production
• Growth hormone receptor antagonists – medications that block the effects of GH, helping to lower IGF-1
• Dopamine agonists – stop GH production and tumor growth
• Radiation therapy – may be used if surgery and/or medication don’t fully control GH/IGF-1 levels

Many patients need long-term medication therapy either alone or alongside surgery to keep GH and IGF-1 levels controlled.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treatment are things your care team will check in on and that you can notice for yourself. too:

• Symptoms that are improving, staying stable, or worsening – your pharmacy will ask how you’re doing and how your symptoms are trending at each check-in
• GH and/or IGF-1 levels moving toward or staying within a normal range – this is confirmed through lab testing ordered by your physician, and is one of the most important measures of whether your treatment is working
• Staying on track with your treatment plan – taking your medication consistently as prescribed helps keep GH and IGF-1 levels controlled and reduces the risk of long-term complications

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or administer your specific medication and any device-specific instructions.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start even if it seems unrelated to your acromegaly treatment. Some acromegaly medications can affect blood sugar levels, so this is especially important if you also take medication for diabetes. Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status as part of your overall care. Acromegaly treatment does not typically require changes to a routine vaccination schedule, but it’s still a good idea to keep vaccinations up to date.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Adhere to your prescribed therapy.
• Keep your scheduled labs and follow-up appointments with your care team.
• Report new or worsening symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your pharmacist and healthcare team right away.
• Monitor for and report symptoms of high or low blood sugar if you also have diabetes.
• Discuss your vaccination status with your care team.

Resources

• Pituitary Network Association. https://pituitary.org/
• National Organization for Rare Disorders – Acromegaly. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/acromegaly/

Sources

• • Endocrine Society. Accessed 7/20/2026. https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/acromegaly
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Accessed 7/20/2026. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/acromegaly#what
  • Melmed S, et al. A Consensus Statement on acromegaly therapeutic outcomes. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2018.

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Chronic inflammatory diseases cause ongoing inflammation in the body, hurting healthy cells of the digestive system, joints, skin, respiratory system, and other organs. Researchers believe that an overactive immune response may play a role in these conditions. More research is needed to find what triggers this disruption of the immune system.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and plaque psoriasis are inflammatory diagnoses that mainly affect the skin. Symptoms may include red, dry patches of skin, burning, itching, swelling, blistering, pain, and/or increased sensitivity. In most cases, there are times when symptoms are improved called remission, and times when the disease is worse, called flares. Chronic inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis are not contagious.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

When they are not treated, chronic inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis can affect quality of life. Some symptoms/experiences include:

• Rashes on the body may break open, have fluid, and bleed when scratched, making skin exposed to infection
• Skin may become dry and discolored, and constant scratching may cause it to become thick and hard
• Constant itching or pain may make it hard t to concentrate, creating problems with overall quality of life
• Symptoms that aren’t managed may result in poor sleep, causing daytime lethargy, mental status changes, and irritation

Treatment

Most chronic inflammatory diseases have no cure. Lifestyle changes and early treatment can help manage and prevent symptoms and flares.

Treatment largely depends on how severe the symptoms are  and other diseases present. Mild cases of skin inflammation may be treated with topical creams or ointments. In many cases, a gentle daily moisturizer is a key step in having good skin health.

If symptoms are widespread or joint pain is present along with skin irritation, more effective treatment may be needed. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment options may include immunosuppressive therapies. These are therapies like steroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, or immunomodulators. Immunomodulators help lower the body’s overactive immune response in the skin and other organs. These are used for moderate to severe diseases.

Suppressing inflammation can help relieve  common symptoms. It also allows the skin to heal. Specialty medications used to treat chronic inflammatory dermatologic conditions include both medicines taken by mouth and injectable medicines. The decision as to what choice is right for you will be based upon your diagnosis, history and physical exam, past therapies, and how severe your disease is.

Treatment Goals

A few main goals of treating atopic dermatitis or psoriasis are:

• Skin that’s improving or staying the same and not getting worse over time.
• Fewer flare-ups and shorter flares when they happen.
• Fewer unplanned visits to your doctor, urgent care, or the ER for skin symptoms.
• Staying on track with your treatment plan as your care team explained it to you.. Taking or using your medicine on a regular basis helps it work as it is supposed to.

Managing Side Effects

Because many therapies for these conditions work by adjusting the immune system, it’s important to understand how to lessen and manage potential side effects and to know what to watch for:

• Ask your pharmacist or care team about the specific side effects of your medicine. These depend on the drug and by how it’s taken (topical, oral, or injectable), and the medicine guide that comes with your package will list what to expect for your specific prescription.
• Reduce infection risk by keeping skin clean and moisturized. Also don’t scratch broken skin and treat any cuts or open areas right away.
• Follow injection or application technique instructions carefully. The right technique can reduce site reactions, bruising, or irritation.
• Watch for signs that need attention, such as fever, unusual fatigue, signs of infection, or any new or worsening symptoms. Don’t wait for a scheduled visit to report these.
• Don’t stop or adjust therapy on your own if you have a side effect. Contact your pharmacist or care team first because many side effects can be managed while you stay on treatment.

Missed Dose and Ongoing Therapy

If you miss a dose, go to the medicine guide given to you your prescription for specific instructions or contact your pharmacist. Because many treatments for these conditions need consistent use to stay effective, always  report missed or delayed doses   to your care team rather than double up or skip without guidance.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement that you start even if it doesn’t seem related to your skin condition. Some medicines and therapies used for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis can interact with other treatments or increase certain risks (such as infection), so keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps keep your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

If you are taking or about to start a therapy that affects your immune system, ask your pharmacist or prescriber about your vaccination status before starting treatment. Some immunosuppressive and immunomodulator therapies may affect which vaccines are appropriate or safe to get while on treatment, including whether live vaccines should be avoided. Your care team can help you review and update your vaccinations as part of your treatment plan.

How You Can  Meet Treatment Goals

• • Stay on prescribed therapy
  • Keep appointments and follow up with physician
  • Report side effects or unmanaged symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away
  • Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your care team
  • Avoid known triggers or irritants, such as harsh soaps/detergents, perfumes, cosmetics, cigarette smoke, heavy alcohol consumption, and food allergies
  • Use appropriate skin care, such as regular use of hypoallergenic moisturizers for dry skin
  • Practice stress management and relaxation techniques
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Discuss your vaccination status with your care team, especially before starting or changing immune-modifying therapy.

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a rare health condition caused when the pituitary gland doesn’t make enough growth hormone. Growth hormone is essential for healthy growth in children and also plays an important role in metabolism, bone strength, and overall well-being. GHD can occur in both children and adults. Childhood-onset GHD is often present at birth and may be due to genetic mutations that affect the development or function of the pituitary gland. Adult-onset GHD typically develops later in life and may result from brain tumors, autoimmune conditions, or head injuries.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

In children, symptoms often relate to height and physical maturity. Common signs include:

• Slow growth or shorter height than expected.
• Delayed or absent puberty.
• Poor nail or hair growth.
• Higher-pitched voice.
• Low blood sugar.
• Fatigue or low energy.
• Increased body fat.

If left untreated, children may not reach their expected adult height and may experience delayed development or bone weakness. Adults with GHD usually do not experience height-related symptoms. More common symptoms in adults include:

• Fatigue and reduced stamina.
• Increased body fat, especially around the waist.
• Decreased muscle mass and strength.
• Higher risk of bone fractures due to low bone density.
• Reduced exercise capacity.
• Changes in cholesterol or blood sugar levels.
• Emotional changes, such as low mood or irritability.
• Poor concentration or memory concerns.

If left untreated, GHD can affect heart health, metabolic balance, and overall quality of life.

Treatment

Children with GHD may receive injectable synthetic human growth hormone through a specialty pharmacy. These injectable medications are administered just under the skin and are done at home. Formulations may require the patient to inject daily. However, newer options allow for once-weekly injections to improve adherence and convenience. Children are usually able to stop treatment once they finish growing. It may take three to six  months to see noticeable improvement in growth after starting therapy.

Adults with GHD may also receive growth hormone therapy to improve energy, metabolism, bone density, and overall quality of life.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treating GHD are things your care team will check in on and that you (or your child’s caregiver) can notice, too:

• Condition that’s improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time.
• Fewer or milder associated symptoms — such as fatigue, low energy, or other symptoms described above.
• For children, steady growth over time – tracking height and growth progress with your care team.
• Staying on track with your treatment plan as prescribed — taking your growth hormone therapy consistently as directed helps it work as intended.

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to prepare and give your injection and for how long treatment is expected to continue.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Storage, handling, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement started — even if it seems unrelated to your (or your child’s) growth hormone treatment. Keeping the full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Growth hormone therapy does not typically require changes to a routine vaccination schedule, but it’s still a good idea to keep vaccinations up to date and to ask your pharmacist or care team if you have any questions about timing — especially around visits with specialists where routine vaccines can sometimes be missed.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Adhere to prescribed therapy.
• Keep appointments and follow up with physician.Report side effects or unmanaged symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your care team.
• Avoid cigarette smoke, heavy alcohol consumption, and recreational drug use.
• Exercise regularly to promote healthy lifestyle.
• Eat a balanced, nutritional diet.
• Keep routine vaccinations up to date.

Resources

• • Download our Growth Hormone Deficiency guide.
  • Boston Children’s Hospital – Growth Hormone Deficiency
    
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine – Growth Hormone Deficiency
    
  • Endocrine Society – Growth Hormone Deficiency
    
  • National Organization for Rare Disorders – GHD
    
  • Barrow Neurological Institute – Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder that prevents blood from clotting appropriately. The most common forms of hemophilia are inherited through the X chromosome, and as a result affects mostly males. Hemophilia occurs in approximately one in 5,000 male births in the U.S. and approximately 400 babies are born with hemophilia A each year. About 400,000 people worldwide are living with hemophilia and about 30,000 are living with it in the United States alone. All races and economic groups are affected equally. People with hemophilia who have access to factor replacement therapy have a more normal life expectancy.

Hemophilia is treated differently depending on what protein is missing in the blood. There are four types that are classified as follows:

• Hemophilia A – Also called classic hemophilia, it is four times more common than hemophilia B, and it occurs when factor VIII levels are deficient.
• Hemophilia B – Also called Christmas disease, it occurs when factor IX levels are deficient.
• Hemophilia C – occurs when factor XI levels are deficient.
• Acquired hemophilia – A person can develop hemophilia as a result of their body’s immune system attacking clotting factors. An underlying cause can be identified in approximately 50% of patients.

von Willebrand Disease (VWD)

VWD is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affecting up to 1% of the U.S. population. It occurs when the body has low levels or defective von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein essential for blood clotting. VWF helps platelets stick together and helps your body form a stable clot. People with VWD have difficulty forming clots and tend to take longer to stop bleeding.

There are three inherited types and one acquired form:

• Type 1 VWD: Reduced levels of VWF (20%-50% of normal), causing mild symptoms. A subtype, Type 1C, leads to faster clearance of VWF, prolonging bleeding.
• Type 2 VWD: Normal VWF levels, but the factor does not function properly. This type has four subtypes (2A, 2B, 2M, 2N) with mild to moderate symptoms.
• Type 3 VWD: Very low or no VWF, sometimes with low FVIII, leading to severe bleeding, including spontaneous bleeds into joints and muscles.
• Acquired VWD: Develops in adults due to immune diseases (e.g., lupus), heart disease, cancer, or certain medications.

Other Rare Bleeding Disorders

Beyond hemophilia and VWD, there are several other rare bleeding disorders caused by a deficiency in other blood components.  These are much less common than hemophilia or VWD and are usually inherited in a way that requires a gene from both parents rather than being linked to the X chromosome.  They include but are not limited to:

• Factor I (fibrinogen) deficiency – a lack of fibrinogen, the protein that forms the final structure of a blood clot.
• Factor II (prothrombin) deficiency – a lack of prothrombin, a protein needed early in the clotting process.
• Factor VII deficiency – a lack of factor VII, needed to start the clotting process.
• Factor X deficiency – a lack of factor X, a protein where multiple clotting pathways converge.
• Factor XIII deficiency – a lack of factor XIII, which helps stabilize a blood clot after it forms; this deficiency can cause delayed bleeding, sometimes hours or days after an injury.

Symptoms of these rare factor deficiencies are generally similar to those of hemophilia, though severity varies widely depending on the specific factor and how deficient it is.  Treatment typically involves replacing the missing factor, either with a specific factor concentrate (where available) or with plasma-based products and is managed through a hemophilia treatment center or similar specialty care team.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

In general, people with hemophilia or VWD bleed longer than those without. A person with hemophilia can bleed inside or outside of the body. The most common types of internal bleeds are in the joints and muscles.

Other symptoms include:

• Nose bleeds.
• Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts.
• Bleeding that stops and resumes after stopping for only a short time.
• Blood in the urine.
• Blood in the stool.
• Large bruises.
• Easy bruising (unexplained bruising).
• Excessive bleeding with dental work or tooth extraction.
• Heavy periods and/or periods lasting more than seven days.

Treatment

While there’s no cure for hemophilia or VWD, most people with these diseases can lead normal lives. Treatment will depend on the type and severity of the conditions. Factor replacement products are common disease treatments for patients with bleeding disorders. Each case is treated uniquely with a product and strategy to best meet the patient’s needs. For example, some patients only use a factor product when they are experiencing bleeding, while other patients may take them proactively to help prevent a bleed. A few non-factor therapies used in bleeding conditions include the following: 

• Desmopressin: used for mild bleeding in the joints, muscle, nose, mouth, or proactively before and after a planned surgery,
• Aminocaproic acid: helps to treat mouth and mucosal bleeds,
• Tranexamic acid: approved for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding,
• Hormone therapies: can be effective in reducing and treating heavy menstrual bleeding,
• Gene therapy: used to treat the underlying genetic condition that causes hemophilia. The provider at the hemophilia treatment center will help determine eligibility and discuss the risk and benefits of therapy.

For minor wounds, if you or your loved one experiences a small cut or scrape, using pressure and a bandage will generally take care of the bleeding. For small areas of bleeding beneath the skin, use an ice pack. Ice pops can be used to slow down minor bleeding in the mouth.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treatment are things your care team will check in on and that you can notice for yourself, too:

• Condition that’s improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time
• Fewer or less severe bleeds — tracking your bleed rate over time
• Fewer unplanned hospitalizations and emergency visits related to bleeding events
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — for patients on maintenance (prophylactic) therapy, taking your factor or non-factor therapy consistently as directed helps prevent bleeds before they start

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to prepare and give your treatment and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Storage, handling, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement started — even if it seems unrelated to your bleeding disorder. Some common OTC medications (such as aspirin or NSAIDs like ibuprofen) can increase bleeding risk, so keeping your full medication list current with your care team is especially important.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status, including hepatitis A and B vaccination — this is a standard part of care for many patients with bleeding disorders. Be sure to work with your provider to ensure safe injection technique for any vaccine given by injection to reduce bruising or bleeding at the injection site.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Adhere to drug therapy.
• Monitor and follow up with care team.
• Prevent, minimize, and manage side effects.

Resources

• Hemophilia Federation of America
• Rare Diseases – Acquired Hemophilia

Sources:

• National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) 2024 guidelines in Document 290 – MASAC Recommendations Concerning Products Licensed for the Treatment of Hemophilia and Selected Disorders of the Coagulation System: https://www.bleeding.org/healthcare-professionals/guidelines-on-care/masac-documents/masac-document-290-masac-recommendations-concerning-products-licensed-for-the-treatment-of-hemophilia-and-selected-disorders-of-the-coagulation-system
• World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) 2020 Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia: https://www1.wfh.org/publications/files/pdf-1863.pdf 
• NBDF MASAC Document 290 – MASAC Recommendations Concerning Products Licensed for the Treatment of Hemophilia and Selected Disorders of the Coagulation System: https://www.bleeding.org/healthcare-professionals/guidelines-on-care/masac-documents/masac-document-290-masac-recommendations-concerning-products-licensed-for-the-treatment-of-hemophilia-and-selected-disorders-of-the-coagulation-system
• NBDF MASAC Document 266 – MASAC Recommendations Regarding the Treatment of von Willebrand Disease: https://www.bleeding.org/healthcare-professionals/guidelines-on-care/masac-documents/masac-document-266-masac-recommendations-regarding-the-treatment-of-von-willebrand-disease 

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. Many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms and don’t know they are infected. The CDC estimates that around 2.4 million people had chronic hepatitis C in the U.S.  between 2017 and 2020. If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is spread through direct contact with infected blood. This transmission could occur through needle sharing, drug injection, healthcare needle sticks, sexual contact, or during childbirth to name a few. Hepatitis C has two distinct phases, acute and chronic.

• Acute hepatitis C occurs when a person is first infected with the virus. Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some may experience things like fatigue, dark urine, nausea, or abdominal pain while others have no symptoms at all. Less than half of those infected clear the virus on their own in the first six months without treatment.
• Chronic hepatitis C is the long-term liver infection phase of hepatitis C. In this stage, the disease is often silent causing no symptoms. Over time, however, liver damage can occur as described previously.

Testing and Treatment

Hepatitis C is easily tested for using an initial antibody test. This test detects the past exposure to the hepatitis C virus. All adults 18 years of age and older are recommended to have this test done at least once. In addition, anyone with a past history of injection drug use, known exposure to hepatitis C, hemodialysis, or abnormal liver test results should also have this initial antibody test conducted. If positive, a follow-up test to detect hepatitis C virus RNA is conducted to confirm positivity. Thankfully, hepatitis C infection can be treated and cured in nearly 95% of cases. There are several different options for treatment using various direct-acting-antiviral therapies. Treatments usually range from eight to 12 weeks often resulting in cure.

 Treatment Goals

Hepatitis C can be cured. Your care team will be checking in on:

Cure — confirmed by a one-time lab test called SVR12 (sustained virologic response), done 12 weeks after you finish treatment, which shows no detectable virus in your blood.

Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your direct-acting antiviral medication exactly as prescribed every day for the full course is the most important thing you can do to be cured.

A note on how you’ll feel: unlike some other conditions, you likely won’t notice a change in symptoms during treatment. Many people with hepatitis C don’t have symptoms to begin with. That’s normal, and it doesn’t mean your treatment isn’t working. Your SVR12 result, not how you feel day to day, is what confirms whether treatment was successful — so completing the full course as prescribed matters even if you feel fine the whole time.

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take your specific medication and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

This is especially important with hepatitis C treatment. Direct-acting antiviral medications can interact with a number of other common medications — including certain heartburn/acid-reducing medications, cholesterol medications, seizure medications, and some herbal supplements — which can make your treatment less effective or increase side effects. Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start before you start it if possible.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination if you haven’t already been vaccinated — this is a standard recommendation for people with hepatitis C because getting a different type of viral hepatitis on top of hepatitis C can cause more serious liver problems.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Take your direct-acting antiviral therapy exactly as prescribed every day for the full course — even if you feel fine.
• Keep your scheduled lab tests and follow-up appointments with your care team, including your SVR12 test after finishing treatment.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products, vitamins, and supplements, to your care team before starting them.
• Report side effects or concerns to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Discuss your hepatitis A/B vaccination status with your care team.

Resources

American Liver Foundation Support for Patients with Hepatitis C. https://liverfoundation.org/liver-diseases/viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-c/support-for-patients-with-hepatitis-c/

HepC.com. https://www.hepc.com/how-hep-c-transmitted

Sources

Hepatitis C treatment guidelines. Accessed 12/15/2025. https://www.hcvguidelines.org

Clinical Overview of Hepatitis C. Accessed 12/15/2025. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks parts of the body’s immune system. It is spread by coming in contact with HIV-contaminated body fluids like blood, semen, rectal fluids, or vaginal fluids. Without effective treatment, the virus can deplete the immune system, causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS makes the body’s immune system much weaker, making it easier to get infections even from the body’s natural bacteria. At this time, there is no cure for HIV.

Prevention

HIV infection can be prevented in many ways. A few include:

• Practicing safe sex (using a condom).
• Never sharing needles.
• HIV testing to know if positive, effective treatment prevents transmission.
• Pre-Exposure-Prophylaxis (PrEP).

PrEP is a highly effective prevention method where people at high-risk of getting HIV infection take medication to prevent the virus from infecting them if they are exposed. PrEP has been shown to lower the risk of infection from exposure by up to 99%. PrEP is available as both a once daily medication or injections every one to six months. Protection begins within the first 21 days of therapy.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

Symptoms of HIV vary from person to person and are based upon if the person is in the acute phase or chronic phase of infection. Typically, the acute phase symptoms first begin within two to four  weeks of virus exposure. During this time, a flu-like illness can appear with symptoms including:

• Fever and chills.
• Skin rash.
• Stomach issues like diarrhea and nausea.
• Swollen lymph nodes.

Chronic phase of the infection can lead to more serious and noticeable side effects as the immune system is depleted. As this phase progresses, it can eventually lead to AIDS. A few serious effects include:

• Chronic diarrhea.
• Frequent and sometimes serious infections.
• Night sweats.
• Persistent fatigue.
• Skin issues.
• Unexplained weight loss.

Treatment

The treatment of HIV is known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART combines multiple medications that work in different ways to treat HIV and stop its growth. When undergoing treatment, the amount of virus in your blood will be checked. This is known as “viral load.” Both injectable and oral medication options are available for treatment.

Treatment Goals

There’s currently no cure for HIV, so treatment is lifelong. Your care team will be checking in on:

• Viral load — Getting the amount of HIV in your blood too low for a lab test to detect is the main goal of treatment. This is checked periodically, typically by your prescriber. An undetectable viral load helps protect your immune system and overall health, reduces the risk of HIV-related complications, and also means you cannot transmit HIV to others (Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U).
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — Taking your ART exactly as prescribed, without missed doses, is the single most important thing you can do to reach and maintain an undetectable viral load. Missed or inconsistent doses can allow the virus to become detectable again and increase the risk of drug resistance.

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or receive your specific medication.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

This is especially important with HIV treatment. Antiretroviral medications can interact with a number of other common medications, supplements, and even some over-the-counter (OTC)  products, which can make your treatment less effective or increase side effects. Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, OTC medication, vitamin, or supplement you start before you start it if possible.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status as part of your regular HIV care. Depending on your immune status, your care team may recommend certain vaccines or advise caution with live vaccines — this is typically reviewed as part of your ongoing care.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Take your ART exactly as prescribed without missing doses.
• Keep your scheduled viral load tests and follow-up appointments with your care team.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, before starting them.
• Report side effects or concerns to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Discuss your vaccination status with your care team.

Resources

• AIDS Healthcare Foundation. https://www.aidshealth.org/
• National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors PrEP and PEP Assistance Programs: https://nastad.org/prepcost-resources/prep-assistance-programs

Sources

• • Accessed 7/16/2026. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
  • HIV treatment guidelines. Accessed 7/16/26. https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Living with HIV or being on antiretroviral therapy (ART) over the long term, can sometimes lead to additional health conditions besides HIV. These are separate from how well HIV is controlled and are managed as their own conditions, often with their own dedicated treatment.

HIV-associated non-infectious diarrhea is ongoing diarrhea that isn’t caused by an infection. It can happen due to the effects of HIV on the digestive tract, from ART itself, or for unknown reasons.

HIV-associated wasting involves significant, unintentional weight loss and loss of muscle mass associated with HIV. It is less common than it used to be because of modern ART. However, it can still happen especially for those who have more severe disease.

HIV-associated lipodystrophy is a change in how and where the body stores fat, associated with HIV and/or its treatment. It can happen together with other issues such as higher cholesterol or blood sugar.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

• Non-infectious diarrhea: frequent, loose, or watery stools; abdominal cramping; risk of dehydration; unintentional weight loss; significant impact on daily activities and quality of life
• Wasting: unintentional weight loss, loss of muscle mass and strength, fatigue, and weakness
• Lipodystrophy: increased abdominal girth, a fat pad at the back of the neck/upper back (“buffalo hump”), loss of fat in the face or limbs, and metabolic changes like elevated cholesterol or blood sugar

If these conditions are not managed, they can affect physical health, self-image, and overall quality of life. Contact your care team if you notice new or worsening symptoms in any of these areas.

Treatment

• Non-infectious diarrhea: treatment may include a medicine specifically approved for HIV-associated diarrhea along with changes to your diet.
• Wasting: treatment may include appetite stimulants, medicines to support muscle mass, or growth hormone therapy specifically approved for HIV-associated wasting. This depends on your specific situation.
• Lipodystrophy: treatment may include a growth-hormone-releasing factor medicine specifically approved to lessen excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, along with diet and exercise. Your prescriber may also review whether adjusting your ART regimen could help.

Treatment Goals

A few main goals of treatment are things your care team will check in on.  You can notice them for yourself, too:

• Symptoms that are improving, staying stable, or getting worse — your care team will ask how you’re doing and how your specific symptoms (diarrhea, weight/muscle changes, or body fat changes) are doing
• Quality of life — your pharmacist will check in on how this condition is affecting your life on a daily basis when you speak with them
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your medicine on a consistent basis as prescribed gives it the best chance to work as it should

Your Medicine Guide

Your prescription comes with a medicine guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Read it for:

• How to take or administer your specific medication and any instructions that are specific for a device.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medicine and how to help stop or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medicine.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medicines

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start. This is especially important because medicines used for these conditions can interact with other treatments, including ART. Keeping your full medicine list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or HIV care team about your vaccination status as part of your ongoing HIV care. Your care team can talk to you about timing and whether any vaccines should be prioritized or avoided based on your individual immune status.

Ways to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Stay on to your prescribed therapy for this condition and your ART therapy.
• Keep your scheduled appointments and follow up with your care team.
• Report new symptoms or symptoms that get worse to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away. This includes changes in stool frequency, weight, muscle strength, or body shape.
• Tell your pharmacist and healthcare team about any new or changed medicines, including OTC products and supplements.
• Talk to your care team about how this condition affects your quality of life, so your treatment plan can be adjusted if needed.
• Talk about your vaccination status with your care team.

Resources

• HIV.gov. https://www.hiv.gov/
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation. https://www.aidshealth.org/

Sources

• • • HIV treatment guidelines. Accessed 2026. https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines
    • HIV. CDC. Accessed 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Chronic inflammatory diseases cause inflammation in the body. This may damage healthy cells of the digestive and respiratory system, joints, skin, and other organs. Researchers believe that a hyperactive immune response may play a role. More research is needed to find what triggers this disruption of the immune system.

Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory diagnoses that mainly affect the intestines and bowels. Symptoms include poor absorption of nutrients, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and cramps, urgency, and/or constipation. Diet and stress may make these symptoms worse, but do not cause the disease. In most cases, there are periods of time when the disease is worse, called flares, and there are periods when symptoms get better, called remissions.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

If left untreated:

• Constipation may lead to bowel blockage.
• Severe diarrhea may lead to dehydration.
• Fissures may develop, which cause pain and bleeding.
• Body wide issues may develop, including malnutrition, swollen and painful joints, swelling in the extremities, sores and rashes on the skin, osteoporosis, and kidney stones.
• Unmanaged symptoms could cause loss of appetite, weight loss, delayed growth and development, and poor sleep, causing daytime lethargy, mental status changes, and irritation.

Treatment

Most chronic inflammatory diseases have no cure. Lifestyle changes and early treatment may help manage and prevent issues. Treatment often depends on how severe the symptoms are.  

Mild cases of inflammatory GI disease are treated with anti-inflammatory medications. These medicines include corticosteroids and amino salicylates. If symptoms are widespread, stronger, more direct medications are used.

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment options may also include immunosuppressive therapies or immunomodulators. Immunomodulators are therapies that help target key processes that change the immune response and are used to treat moderate to severe disease. This can help lower specific parts of a hyperactive immune system and greatly improve disease control and lower inflammation. Reducing inflammation provides relief from common symptoms and allows intestinal tissues to heal.

Treatment Goals

A few main goals of treating inflammatory GI conditions are things your care team will check in on, and that you can notice for yourself, too:

• Symptoms that are improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time
• Fewer or milder symptoms — such as less frequent bleeding, urgency, pain, or diarrhea
• Staying on track with your treatment plan as prescribed — taking your medicine on a consistent basis helps it work as it is supposed to, lowers inflammation, and helps with remission

 Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide geared to your prescribed therapy. Look at it for:

• How to take or receive your specific medicine and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose or scheduled infusion.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Storage, handling, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start — even if it doesn’t seem related to your condition. Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status before starting or during treatment. This is very important if you are taking an immunosuppressive or immunomodulator therapy — your care team can advise on timing and whether any vaccines, including live vaccines, should be avoided or prioritized before or during treatment.

How You Can Reach Your Treatment Goals

• Stay on your prescribed therapy.
• Keep appointments and follow up with physician.
• Report side effects or unmanaged symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your care team.
• Avoid known disease triggers.
• Eat a healthy diet and stay away from certain foods and drinks that may make your symptoms worse.
• Talk about your vaccination status with your care team, especially before starting or changing therapy.

Resources

• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-crohns-disease
• Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Clinical Disease Overview

Lysosomal storage diseases are genetic conditions that can cause a buildup of harmful materials in your body. These conditions cause people to lack certain important proteins called enzymes. Others lack certain substances that help these enzymes work well. This lack of functional enzymes prevents the body from breaking down things like sugars, fats, and other substances. When these build up in the body, they can cause harmful effects.

At present, there are more than four dozen different identified lysosomal storage diseases. In general, these diseases fall into one of three categories based on the type of enzyme that is missing or not working. These groups are:

• Lipidoses
  • These occur when your body doesn’t have the enzymes to break down fats. An example of a condition in this group is Wolman disease.
• Mucopolysaccharidoses
  • These types occur when your body doesn’t have the enzyme needed to break down large sugar molecules known as glycosaminoglycans. An example of a condition in this group is Hunter syndrome.
• Sphingolipidoses
  • This type of lysosomal storage disease comes from your body lacking the enzymes needed to break down a unique fatty substance called a sphingolipid. A few conditions that fall into this category include:
    • Fabry disease.
    • Gaucher disease.
    • Krabbe disease.

Symptoms of Lysosomal Storage Disease

Symptoms vary greatly based on the type of disease present and the specific cells and organs affected. There are, however, several common symptoms across these disease types with a few including:

• Changes in your muscle.
• Delayed development.
• Unique facial features like a flat nose, a protruding forehead, or even very large lips.
• Visceromegaly (large organs in your abdomen).

Treatment

Due to the rare nature of lysosomal storage disorders, treatment typically occurs in unique centers that specialize in this type of disease. A few types of treatment for these diseases include:

• Stem cell transplant
  • Used to help provide stem cells from donors to help produce the missing enzyme
• Substrate reduction therapies
  • These therapies help reduce the buildup of substances that aren’t being broken down by enzymes
• Enzyme replacement
  • This involves intravenous (IV) infusion of direct enzymes to replace the missing or dysfunctional ones
• Gene therapy
  • These treatments can correct the underlying genetic cause of various lysosomal storage diseases by providing a functional gene copy of the defective one(s) present. Many are still in development.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treating lysosomal storage diseases are things your care team will check in on and that you can notice for yourself, too:

• Quality of life that’s improving or staying stable – not getting worse over time
• Staying on track with your treatment plan as prescribed — taking or receiving your therapy consistently (including scheduled infusions where applicable) helps it work as intended

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or receive your specific medication and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose or scheduled infusion.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Storage, handling, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter medication, vitamin, or supplement you start — even if it seems unrelated to your condition. Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status before starting or during treatment. This is especially important if you are undergoing stem cell transplant or gene therapy or if your treatment plan involves any period of immune suppression — your care team can advise on timing and whether any vaccines should be avoided or prioritized before treatment begins.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Adhere to your prescribed treatment plan and scheduled infusions/doses.
• Maintain regular follow-up with your healthcare team.
• Report unmanaged or new symptoms, side effects, or missed doses/infusions to your healthcare team right away.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your care team.
• Discuss your vaccination status with your care team, especially before starting or changing therapy.

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks   the protective covering around the nerves in your brain and spinal cord (myelin sheath). When this covering is damaged, signals slow down or get disrupted, which leads to MS symptoms.

People with MS may experience one of four main types of the disease.  Each type can range from mild to severe and affects people differently. Here are the types:

1. Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). CIS is the first episode of MS-like symptoms, caused by inflammation and loss of myelin and lasting at least 24 hours.  A person may have one symptom or several, and symptoms may fully or partially go away.  Not everyone who has CIS will develop MS.  An MRI can help predict the chance of developing MS.  If lesions are present, there is a 60% to 80% chance of having a second episode and being diagnosed with MS.  If no lesions are seen, the chance of developing MS drops to about 20%.
2. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). RRMS is the most common form with about 85% of people diagnosed with this type.  RRMS is characterized by clearly defined relapses (also called flare-ups or exacerbations) when symptoms suddenly worsen and periods of remission, when symptoms improve or disappear and the disease does not get worse.
3. Secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Some people who start with RRMS will eventually transition to SPMS.  In this phase, symptoms and disability gradually worsen over time with or without occasional flare-ups or periods of stability.  Before modern treatments were available, about 50% of people with RRMS developed SPMS within 10 years.  Today, medications may help delay or reduce progression.
4. Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS). About 15% of people are diagnosed with PPMS. This type involves steady worsening of symptoms from the start without early relapses.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

MS can cause many symptoms, and every person’s experience is different.  Symptoms may vary in intensity and can change over time.

Common symptoms are:

• Fatigue.
•  Numbness or tingling.
• Balance or walking problems.
• Bladder or bowel changes.
• Vision problems.
• Dizziness or vertigo.
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Emotional changes.
• Pain and itching.
• Depression.
• Muscle stiffness or spasms (spasticity).
• Weakness.
• Memory or cognitive problems.
•  “MS hug” (tight chest/torso sensation).

Less common symptoms include speech problems, swallowing issues, tremors, hearing loss, seizures, and breathing difficulties.

If you experience new or worsening symptoms, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider for guidance.

Treatment

There is no cure, but many treatments can help you live well with MS.  Care is usually led by a neurologist and may include:

•  Modifying the disease course through disease-modifying medications.
• Treating relapses (or exacerbations).
• Managing symptoms with medication and/or rehabilitation strategies.
• Improving or maintaining function through rehabilitation.
• Providing emotional support with mental health professionals.

Treatment Goals

There’s currently no cure for MS, so treatment focuses on managing the disease over the long term. Your care team will be checking in on.

• Condition that’s improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time.
• Fewer relapses and shorter or milder relapses when they happen.
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your disease-modifying therapy consistently as prescribed is one of the most important things you can do to help reduce relapses and delay progression.

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or receive your specific medication.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
•  Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start — even if it seems unrelated to your MS treatment. Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status before starting or during treatment. Some MS disease-modifying therapies affect the immune system and may require certain vaccines to be completed beforehand or may require avoiding live vaccines during treatment.  Your care team can advise on timing specific to your therapy.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Adhere to your prescribed disease-modifying therapy.
• Keep your scheduled monitoring and follow-up appointments with your care team.
• Report any new or worsening symptoms or a possible relapse to your care team right away.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your care team.
• Discuss your vaccination status with your care team, especially before starting or changing therapy.
• Minimize disruption to daily life due to progression of MS by working with your rehabilitation and care team as needed.
• Report side effects to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.

Resources and References:

• National MS Society https://www.nationalmssociety.org/ 
• https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/multiple-sclerosis

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Background:

Cancer is a disease where some cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably and even spread to other parts of the body. It can start nearly anywhere, and the risk of development tends to increase with age. At present, there are an estimated 18 million people living with cancer in the United States. Cancer is a general term given to more than 100 different types of disease. It is often grouped into what is known as solid tumor, blood cancers, or mixed type.

There are several different classifications of cancer, each describing the starting location or cell type where the disease begins:

• Carcinomas: These types of cancer start in the skin or tissues that line organs. A few examples of cancers that follow this classification are breast, colon, and lung.
• Leukemias: This type of cancer involves the blood-forming components of the body. These cancers can grow large numbers of abnormal cells quickly.
• Lymphomas: These cancer types begin in the immune system cells and lymphatic system.
• Myelomas: Begin in a white blood cell known as a plasma cell. 
• Sarcomas: These cancer types begin in the bone, connective tissues, fat, and muscle.

In addition to this classification, it’s also important to be familiar with a few general terms used to describe terms in cancer care. This is not a comprehensive list. However, a few key terms to understand include:

• Benign: noncancerous
• Biopsy: to take a tissue sample
• Malignant: cancerous
• Metastasis: spread of cancer from the starting site to other parts of the body
• Neoplasm: abnormal growth/tumor
• Partial remission: significant improvement in disease, but still detectable
• Prognosis: the disease outlook or likely outcome
• Remission: minimal to no cancer symptoms/no detectable disease
• Recurrence: cancer has returned

How does cancer start?

Cancer is a disease of genetics. That means that it is caused by changes to genes that control the way cells function, grow, and divide. Each cell in the body has a process for how it should grow and divide correctly. When cancer starts, it is usually because of a mistake during the cell division process, of damage to DNA from exposures in the environment (chemicals, UV rays, etc.), or from inherited genetic changes from parents that cause a breakdown in the correct process. Most of the time, the body finds and eliminates cells with damaged DNA before a cancerous process can even begin. However, the body’s ability to do this lessens as we get older. 

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of cancer are vastly different from person to person and dependent on the location and type of cancer. A few symptoms possible with cancer include things like:

• Changes in bowel or bladder patterns.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Fatigue.
• Lump or area of hardness felt under the skin.
• Trouble breathing.
• Unexplainable fevers, bruising, or weight change.

Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose weight for no known reason, it’s called unexplained weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer.

Fever is common with cancer, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system.

Along with skin cancers, some other cancers can cause skin changes that can be seen. These signs and symptoms include:

• Darker looking skin. 
• Excessive hair growth.
• Itching.
• Reddened skin.
• Yellowish skin and eyes.

Treatment

Cancer treatment is highly specific to the needs of every patient. The decisions regarding treatment take into account the cancer type, staging, and patient-specific needs and health. Depending on your treatment plan, you may be treated with:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Targeted Therapy – drugs that target specific changes or mutations in cancer cells; many cancer medications taken by mouth fall into this category
• Immunotherapy
• Stem Cell Transplant 
• Hormone therapy

Goals of cancer treatment

Every cancer treatment plan is different, and goals can shift over time based on how your cancer responds. Your oncologist sets specific goals with you based on your cancer type, stage, and overall health. Your care team will discuss and adjust these goals with you as your situation requires. As your specialty pharmacy, we’ll be checking in on two things in particular:

• How you’re doing overall – we will ask how you are feeling and how things are trending for you.
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your medication as prescribed helps it do what it’s intended to do for your specific goals.

Your care team is with you at every stage.

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Because many oncology medications require special handling and have important interaction risks, be sure to review it for:

• How to take your specific medication, including any special instructions (such as taking with or without food or not crushing/splitting tablets or capsules).
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions — many oral oncology medications require specific precautions for handling and disposal to protect you, your caregivers, and household members.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

This is especially important with oncology treatment. Many of these medications interact with other prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) products, herbal supplements, and even certain foods (such as grapefruit). These interactions can make your treatment less effective or increase side effects. Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, OTC medications, vitamins, or supplements you start before you start it if possible.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status before starting or during treatment. Some cancer treatments can weaken the immune system, which may affect which vaccines are recommended and whether live vaccines should be avoided during treatment.  Your care team can advise on timing specific to your treatment plan.

Supportive care

Appropriate support during the cancer journey is vital to long-term success and well-being. Cancer care can be an overwhelming and long journey, leaving many in poor health due to side effects and cancer symptoms. It can also make people depressed. During treatment, it is likely that you will require some assistance for:

• Physical symptoms.
• Emotional support.
• Social support.

Key supportive care services include things like pain management, nutrition support, advanced care planning, and exercise programs. The overarching goals of supportive care are to enhance your quality of life, improve treatment tolerance, and provide holistic care during your journey.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Take your oral oncology medication exactly as prescribed — right dose, right time, right way.
• Keep your scheduled appointments, labs, and imaging with your oncology care team.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products, herbal supplements, and dietary changes (like grapefruit), to your care team before starting them.
• Report side effects or new/worsening symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Discuss your vaccination status with your care team.
• Ask for supportive care resources if you’re struggling physically, emotionally, or socially during treatment.

Additional Resources

• Patient Resources. NCCN | https://www.nccn.org/patientresources/patient-resources
• Online Support Groups | https://www.dailystrength.org/

Sources

1. 1. Clinical Care Guidelines. NCCN. Accessed 12/09/25. https://www.nccn.org/
   2. Guidelines. ASCO. https://www.asco.org/practice-patients/guidelines

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Chronic inflammatory diseases cause long-lasting inflammation in the body. This inflammation can hurt healthy cells and tissues over time and can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, eyes, mouth, and blood vessels. Researchers believe that these conditions may be related to an overactive immune system, but they need more research to understand what triggers this disruption of the immune system. Like other chronic inflammatory conditions, these diseases can cycle between flares when symptoms are worse, and remission, when symptoms let up or go away.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) mainly affects the skin. HS causes painful lumps, boils, or abscesses, most often in places where skin rubs together, like the armpits, groin, and under the breasts.

Behçet’s syndrome is rare and causes inflammation in blood vessels in the body. It can affect many different areas, most commonly causing recurring mouth sores and genital sores, along with skin lesions, eye inflammation, and joint pain. Less commonly, it can affect the digestive system, brain, or larger blood vessels.

Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. It can happen on its own or as part of another inflammatory condition (including some of the conditions covered elsewhere). Uveitis can affect one or both eyes and, if left untreated, can affect vision.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

Symptoms vary depending on the specific condition and which part of the body is affected:

• HS: painful lumps, boils, or abscesses in skin folds; drainage; if left unmanaged, flares can lead to scarring, tunnels under the skin (sinus tracts), and infections happening frequently
• Behçet’s syndrome: recurring mouth and genital sores, skin lesions or rashes, joint pain and swelling, eye redness or pain, and in some cases digestive symptoms or headaches
• Uveitis: eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, blurry or decreased vision, and floaters (small spots or shapes drifting in the field of vision)

If left untreated, these conditions can lead to permanent tissue damage in the affected area — including scarring (HS), vision loss (uveitis and Behçet’s-related eye inflammation), and, less commonly, damage to larger blood vessels or organs (Behçet’s syndrome). They share an underlying inflammatory/immune mechanism. That means that these conditions can also have negative effects on mental and social well-being and may happen along with other inflammatory conditions.

Treatment

Most chronic inflammatory diseases don’t have a cure. Lifestyle changes and early treatment may help manage and prevent complications. Treatment mainly depends on how severe the symptoms are and where the symptoms are.

Topical treatments, NSAIDs, or corticosteroids (including corticosteroid eye drops for uveitis) may help with milder or localized symptoms. If symptoms are widespread or more severe, more aggressive treatment may be needed. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment options may include immunosuppressive therapies, like steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or immunomodulator medications. These help decrease the body’s overactive immune system (biologics). Suppressing inflammation not only offers relief from common symptoms but also allows affected tissues to heal.

Specialty medications used to treat these conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Oral immunomodulators.
• Injectable immunomodulator therapies.

Treatment Goals

Therapy goals depend on your condition and your overall needs. A few common goals that your team will watch:

• Disease-specific symptoms that are improving or better managed — your pharmacist will check in on symptoms specific to your condition when you speak with them to make sure they are getting better over time.
• Overall condition that’s improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time.
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your medication on a consistent basis as prescribed helps reduce flares and prevent long-term complications.

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medicine guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or get your specific medicine and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medicine and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medicine.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medicine guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medicines

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start even if it doesn’t seem related to your condition. Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status before starting or during treatment. This is especially important if you are taking an immunosuppressive or immunomodulator therapy — your care team can advise on timing and whether any vaccines, including live vaccines, should be avoided or prioritized before or during treatment.

Strategies to Reach Treatment Goals

• Stay on therapy.
• Keep appointments and follow up with your physician, including any specialist visits (such as an ophthalmologist for uveitis).
• Report side effects or unmanaged symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Report any new or changed medicines, including OTC products and supplements, to your pharmacist and healthcare team.
• Avoid known triggers, such as cigarette smoke, heavy alcohol drinking, and food sensitivities.
• Practice stress management and relaxation techniques.
• Eat a healthy diet and stay at a healthy weight.
• Talk about your vaccination status with your care team, especially before starting or changing therapy.

Sources

• • https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/hidradenitis-suppurativa
  • https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/behcets-disease
  • https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/uveitis

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Precocious puberty is a condition where a child’s body begins the physical changes of puberty earlier than typically expected. This is generally before age 8 in girls or before age 9 in boys. It happens when the body’s hormone system that controls puberty activates too early.

The most common form is called central precocious puberty (CPP), where the brain signals the body to start puberty ahead of schedule. Less commonly, precocious puberty can be caused by a source outside this normal signaling pathway (sometimes called peripheral precocious puberty). Your child’s care team will determine the specific cause and the most appropriate treatment approach.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

Signs of precocious puberty can include:

• Breast development or the start of menstrual periods in girls.
• Genital changes in boys.
• Growth of pubic or underarm hair.
• Unexpected growth spurt.
• Adult body odor.
• Acne.
• Voice changes.
• Mood or behavior changes.

If left untreated, precocious puberty can cause the growth plates in the bones to close earlier than they should, which can result in a shorter adult height than expected. Early puberty can also be emotionally and socially difficult for a child because they may look older than their peers while being the same age developmentally.

Treatment

Central precocious puberty is most often treated with a type of medication called a GnRH agonist. These medications work by calming down the hormone signal that’s triggering early puberty, which pauses it from continuing. GnRH agonists may be given as:

• A periodic injection (given monthly or every few months).
• An implant placed under the skin, typically replaced yearly.

Treatment is usually continued until an appropriate age at which point it’s stopped to allow puberty to proceed normally. Your child’s endocrinologist will track growth and development over time to help guide when treatment should be started, adjusted, or stopped.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treatment are things your care team will check in on:

• Condition that’s improving, staying stable, or showing signs of progression — your care team will check in on whether pubertal signs are pausing/stabilizing as expected or continuing to progress
• Staying on track with your child’s treatment schedule — GnRH agonist therapy only works to pause puberty if given on time, every time. A late or missed dose can allow the pubertal process to restart, so consistent, on-schedule dosing is one of the most important things you can do to help this treatment work.

Your Medication Guide

Your child’s prescription comes with a medication guide specific to the prescribed therapy. Because GnRH agonists are given as scheduled injections or implants, you may refer to it for:

• How the medication is administered and the exact schedule to follow.
• What to do if a dose is late or missed.
• Side effects specific to the medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to the medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about the medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement your child starts even if it seems unrelated to this treatment. Keeping the full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

GnRH agonist therapy does not typically require changes to your child’s routine vaccination schedule. It’s still a good idea to keep vaccinations up to date.  Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Keep up with scheduled doses — mark your calendar or set reminders if that helps
• Keep scheduled follow-up appointments with your child’s endocrinologist, including growth and development checks
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your pharmacist and healthcare team
• Report any new or worsening signs of pubertal progression or side effects to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away
• Offer emotional support to your child because early physical changes can be confusing or difficult to navigate socially

Resources

• MAGIC Foundation. https://www.magicfoundation.org/
• Pediatric Endocrine Society. https://pedsendo.org/patient-resource/

Sources

• • • Precocious Puberty. Endocrine Society. Accessed 7/22/2026. https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/precocious-puberty
    • Latronico AC, et al. Causes, diagnosis, and treatment of central precocious puberty. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016.

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Disease State Overview

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. In PAH, the small blood vessels in the lungs become narrowed, stiff, or blocked, which makes it harder for blood to flow through them. This forces the right side of the heart to work harder to pump blood through the lungs, which can eventually cause the heart to weaken.

PAH can occur on its own (idiopathic), run in families (heritable), develop as a result of another condition, or occur due to certain medication or drug exposures. It can happen at all ages, but risk increases as you age.  It’s more common in women, non-Hispanic Black people, and people age 75 or older.  PAH can worsen over time, but treatment can help slow the progression, ease symptoms, and improve overall quality of life.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

Symptoms of PAH often develop gradually and can be easy to mistake for being out of shape or other common conditions at first. Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity or exercise.
• Feeling unusually tired.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Rapid or pounding heartbeats.
• Swelling in the ankles, legs, or abdomen.
• In more advanced cases, bluish color to the lips or skin.

If left untreated, PAH can lead to right heart failure, decreased ability to be active, and other complications. Contact your care team if you notice new or worsening shortness of breath, swelling, chest pain, or fainting.

Treatment

There is no cure for PAH, but there are several types of medication that can help widen the blood vessels in the lungs, reduce strain on the heart, and improve symptoms. Treatment is often tailored to your condition and may include one medication or a combination of therapies working together. Treatments may be taken orally, inhaled, through an infusion, or an injection. Common treatment approaches include:

• Endothelin receptor antagonists — help relax and widen blood vessels in the lungs
• PDE5 inhibitors and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators — also help relax and widen blood vessels in the lungs through a different pathway
• Prostacyclin pathway therapies — available as oral, inhaled, subcutaneous (under the skin), or intravenous (IV) medications depending on the specific product and severity of disease
• Supportive treatments — such as medications to manage fluid retention, oxygen therapy, or blood thinners.  All of this depends on your needs.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treatment are things your care team will check in on and that you can notice for yourself, too:

• Condition that’s improving, staying stable, or showing no changes — your pharmacy care team will ask how you’re doing overall at each check-in
• Shortness of breath that’s improving or staying manageable — including how it affects your ability to do daily activities and exercise
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your PAH medication(s) exactly as prescribed is essential to slowing disease progression and preventing symptoms from worsening

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. In addition to the support from your pharmacy team, refer to it for:

• How to take or administer your specific medication and any device-specific instructions.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

This is especially important with PAH treatment. Some PAH medications (such as PDE5 inhibitors and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators) can cause a drop in blood pressure if combined with nitrate medications or certain recreational drugs. Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter(OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start before you start it if possible.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about getting your annual flu vaccine and staying up to date on pneumonia vaccination. Respiratory infections can put extra strain on the heart and lungs in PAH, so staying current on these vaccines is generally recommended.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Take your PAH medication(s) exactly as prescribed, including any infusion, injection, or inhaled therapy on schedule
• Keep your scheduled appointments and monitoring tests with your care team
• Report new or worsening shortness of breath, swelling, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting to your healthcare team right away
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your pharmacy and provider right away
• Avoid nitrate medications and recreational drugs that can interact with certain PAH therapies
• Discuss your vaccination status with your care team
• Avoid pregnancy while on PAH therapy and discuss family planning with your care team
• Avoid high altitudes and other conditions that reduce oxygen levels unless cleared by your care team

Resources

• Pulmonary Hypertension Association. https://phassociation.org/
• American Lung Association – Pulmonary Hypertension. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-hypertension

Sources

• • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Accessed 7/20/2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482152/
  • 2022 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Eur Heart J. 2022. Accessed 7/20/2026. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/43/38/3618/6673929
  • CDC. About Pulmonary Hypertension. Accessed 7/20/2026.  https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/pulmonary-hypertension.html

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.

Rheumatology – Chronic Inflammatory Disease 

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS),  Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA)

Disease State Overview

Chronic inflammatory diseases cause long-lasting inflammation in the body. This inflammation can hurt healthy cells and tissues over time.  Many areas of the body can be affected including, but not limited to, the digestive system, joints, skin, and respiratory system. Researchers believe that these conditions may be related to an overactive immune system, but they need more research to understand what triggers this disruption of the immune system. 

The term rheumatism describes many conditions that cause inflammation in the joints, muscles, and connective tissues.  It includes a wide range of diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The most common symptom of joint-related rheumatologic conditions is joint pain. Joints may also feel warm, tender, stiff, or swollen. Other symptoms may include feeling unusually tired, having low energy, occasional fevers, loss of appetite, skin rashes, and vision changes. In most cases, these conditions happen in cycles. There are times when symptoms are worse. These are called flares. When symptoms let up and feel better, it is called remission.

Related Symptoms and Health Concerns

If left untreated:

• Inflammation can lead to permanent joint damage or deformity.
• Physical disability, making everyday activities and work harder.
• Negative effect on mental and social well-being.
• Increased risk of heart, lung, and kidney problems.
• Increased risk of uveitis, which can cause eye pain, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision.

Treatment

Most chronic inflammatory diseases have no cure. Lifestyle changes and early treatment may help manage and prevent complications. Treatment largely depends on how severe the symptoms are. Research shows that people with RA who are diagnosed early and treated aggressively do better over the long term.

Topical creams or ointments as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help with pain and reduce inflammation. If symptoms are widespread, more aggressive treatment may be needed. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment options may include immunosuppressive therapies, like steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or immunomodulators.  Immunomodulators may help decrease the body’s hyperactive immune response in the skin, joints, and other organs. Suppressing inflammation not only offers relief from common symptoms, but it also allows tissues to heal.

Specialty medications used to treat chronic inflammatory rheumatologic conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Oral immunomodulators.
• Injectable immunomodulator therapies.

Treatment Goals

A few main treatment goals are things your care team will check in on and that you can notice for yourself, too:

• Disease-specific symptoms that are improving or better managed — your pharmacist will check in on and monitor symptoms specific to your condition (such as joint pain and stiffness)
• Overall condition that’s improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your medicine on a consistent basis as prescribed helps reduce flares and prevent long-term complications

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or get your specific medication and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medicine.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start — even if it doesn’t seem related to your condition. . Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about your vaccination status before starting or during treatment. This is especially important if you are taking an immunosuppressive or immunomodulator therapy — your care team can advise on timing and whether any vaccines, including live vaccines, should be avoided or prioritized before or during treatment.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Stay on your therapy.
• Keep appointments and follow up with your physician.
• Report side effects or unmanaged symptoms to your pharmacist or healthcare team right away.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your pharmacist and healthcare team.
• Avoid known triggers, such as cigarette smoke, drinking lots of alcohol, and food sensitivities.
• Practice stress management and relaxation techniques.
• Exercise on a regular basis and engage in physical activity programs.
• Eat a healthy diet and stay at a healthy weight.
• Talk about your vaccination status with your care team, especially before starting or changing therapy.

Sources

• • https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis/
  • https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis
  • https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/ankylosing-spondylitis
  • https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/ankylosing-spondylitis
  • https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriatic-arthritis
  • https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/juvenile-arthritis
  • https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/about/index.html

Disease State Overview

Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways in your lungs.  These airways can become inflamed and narrowed.  This makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs.  It can affect people of all ages, although it often begins in childhood.  Certain things – called triggers – can worsen asthma symptoms.  When symptoms suddenly get worse, you may have an asthma attack.

There are several types of asthma, and each may require different treatment or management strategies.  These include:

• Allergic asthma.
• Aspirin-induced asthma.
• Cough-variant asthma.
• Exercise-induced asthma.
• Nighttime (or nocturnal) asthma.
• Steroid-resistant asthma.
• Occupational asthma (related to workplace exposure).

Experts have started to recognize the impact of inflammation in asthma.  Four biological pathways of inflammation have been identified: eosinophilic, neutrophilic, mixed eosinophilic and neutrophilic, and non-inflammatory.  

When asthma does not improve with long-term controller medications, it may be a sign of severe asthma.  There are two main types of severe asthma: Type-2 inflammation and Non-Type-2 inflammation.  

Eosinophilic asthma is the most common form of Type-2 severe asthma. It occurs when a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil builds up in the airways, driving inflammation. Patients with eosinophilic and other Type-2 severe asthma tend to respond well to biologic medications. These treatments target specific parts of the immune system driving the inflammation and may be obtained through your specialty pharmacy.

Related Health Symptoms and Health Concerns

Asthma can cause a variety of breathing problems.  Common symptoms include:

• Wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe).
• Coughing.
• Shortness of breath.
• A feeling of tightness in your chest.

For some people, an asthma attack may begin with a cough that doesn’t go away.  Your chest may start to feel tight — some people describe it as having the air “sucked out” of them.  You may also begin to wheeze or feel lightheaded. 

Having and following your asthma action plan is very important.  It helps to know what steps to take when symptoms start, when to use your rescue medication, and when to seek emergency care. 

Call 9-1-1 right away if you are struggling to breathe, your symptoms are getting worse quickly, or your rescue inhaler is not helping.  

Treatment

While there is no cure for asthma, there are many treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and live a healthy, active life.  Treatment usually includes monitoring your breathing, avoiding triggers, and using medications to both prevent and treat symptoms.

Most people use a combination of medications to keep their asthma under control. You may have a quick relief (rescue) medication to help stop symptoms and a long-term control medication to help prevent symptoms from happening in the first place.

The types of medications include:

• Bronchodilators.
• Corticosteroids (steroids).
• Anticholinergics.
• Biologics.
• Antibiotics.

Treatment Goals

A few primary goals of treating severe asthma, including eosinophilic asthma, are things your pharmacist will check in on:

• Condition that’s improving or staying stable — not getting worse over time
• Fewer asthma attacks or exacerbations and less need for your rescue inhaler
• Staying on track with your treatment plan — taking your controller and/or biologic therapy consistently as prescribed helps reduce airway inflammation and prevent attacks before they start

Your Medication Guide

Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it for:

• How to take or receive your specific medication and for how long.
• What to do if you miss a dose.
• Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
• Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
• Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.

Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.

Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications

Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start — even if it seems unrelated to your asthma. Some medications can worsen asthma symptoms, so keeping your full medication list current with your care team is important.

Vaccinations

Ask your pharmacist or care team about getting your annual flu vaccine and staying up to date on pneumonia vaccination — these are specifically recommended for people with asthma because respiratory infections can trigger or worsen asthma attacks. If you’re on a biologic therapy, your care team can also advise on any additional vaccination timing considerations specific to your treatment.

Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals

• Have an asthma action plan and follow it.
• Adhere to your therapy.
• Monitor and follow up with your physician.
• Know and reduce asthma triggers.
• Report attacks, exacerbations, or increased rescue inhaler use to your pharmacist and healthcare team right away.
• Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements, to your pharmacist and healthcare team.
• Reduce the risk of additional lung damage through smoking cessation.
• Stay current on flu and pneumonia vaccines.
• Appropriately manage other underlying diseases such as allergies, high blood pressure, or anxiety.

Additional resources

• https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/types/severe-asthma
• https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/asthma

Disclaimers

• The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
• VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.