Questions to Ask Your Doctor

What should you ask your doctor or healthcare provider when considering a biologic medication?

  • Is this medication used alone, or in combination with other therapies?
  • Is it an infusion or can I administer it at home with an auto-injector or needle/syringe?
  • Would you demonstrate the correct usage of an auto-injector so that I understand how to use it correctly?
  • Where should the medicine be injected? (arm? leg?)
  • How often is this medication used?
  • What are the side effects, if any, I might have?
  • How is it determined if the treatment is effective?
  • How much improvement might I expect to see?
  • Is this medication intended for short-term or long-term use?
  • Are there other medications or vaccines I should avoid while taking this biologic?
  • Should I keep taking my regular medications when I start the biologic medication?
  • How often will I need follow-up care?
South Asian woman with Black doctor