TY - JOUR

T1 - Non-pharmacological Effects in Switching Medication

T2 - The Nocebo Effect in Switching from Originator to Biosimilar Agent

AU - Kristensen, Lars Erik

AU - Alten, Rieke

AU - Puig, Luis

AU - Philipp, Sandra

AU - Kvien, Tore K

AU - Mangues, Maria Antonia

AU - van den Hoogen, Frank

AU - Pavelka, Karel

AU - Vulto, Arnold G

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - The nocebo effect is defined as the incitement or the worsening of symptoms induced by any negative attitude from non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention, sham, or active therapies. When a patient anticipates a negative effect associated with an intervention, medication or change in medication, they may then experience either an increase in this effect or experience it de novo. Although less is known about the nocebo effect compared with the placebo effect, widespread interest in the nocebo effect observed with statin therapy and a literature review highlighting the nocebo effect across at least ten different disease areas strongly suggests this is a common phenomenon. This effect has also recently been shown to play a role when introducing a medication or changing an established medication, for example, when switching patients from a reference biologic to a biosimilar. Given the important role biosimilars play in providing cost-effective alternatives to reference biologics, increasing physician treatment options and patient access to effective biologic treatment, it is important that we understand this phenomenon and aim to reduce this effect when possible. In this paper, we propose three key strategies to help mitigate the nocebo effect in clinical practice when switching patients from reference biologic to biosimilar: positive framing, increasing patient and healthcare professionals' understanding of biosimilars and utilising a managed switching programme.

AB - The nocebo effect is defined as the incitement or the worsening of symptoms induced by any negative attitude from non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention, sham, or active therapies. When a patient anticipates a negative effect associated with an intervention, medication or change in medication, they may then experience either an increase in this effect or experience it de novo. Although less is known about the nocebo effect compared with the placebo effect, widespread interest in the nocebo effect observed with statin therapy and a literature review highlighting the nocebo effect across at least ten different disease areas strongly suggests this is a common phenomenon. This effect has also recently been shown to play a role when introducing a medication or changing an established medication, for example, when switching patients from a reference biologic to a biosimilar. Given the important role biosimilars play in providing cost-effective alternatives to reference biologics, increasing physician treatment options and patient access to effective biologic treatment, it is important that we understand this phenomenon and aim to reduce this effect when possible. In this paper, we propose three key strategies to help mitigate the nocebo effect in clinical practice when switching patients from reference biologic to biosimilar: positive framing, increasing patient and healthcare professionals' understanding of biosimilars and utilising a managed switching programme.

KW - Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals/adverse effects

KW - Humans

KW - Nocebo Effect

KW - Patient Medication Knowledge

KW - Physician-Patient Relations

KW - Treatment Outcome

U2 - 10.1007/s40259-018-0306-1

DO - 10.1007/s40259-018-0306-1

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30269270

VL - 32

SP - 397

EP - 404

JO - BioDrugs

JF - BioDrugs

SN - 1173-8804

IS - 5

ER -