Do you live with an autoimmune condition? This means your body's natural defense system attacks your own healthy cells by mistake.
If you have a condition like this, you likely take daily medicine to keep your symptoms under control. With the COVID-19 pandemic, you may feel worried that these medicines weaken your defense system and put you at higher risk.
You might have also heard that taking immunosuppressants and having an autoimmune disease can raise your chances of severe complications if you catch the virus. While these concerns are completely understandable, there is no reason to panic. Let us look at what the medical evidence actually says so you can protect your health.
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know
- Never stop your medicine without talking to your doctor first. Stopping suddenly can cause a severe disease flare-up.
- Autoimmune medicines help calm your overactive defense system so your tissues stay healthy and safe from chronic inflammation.
- Most autoimmune drugs stay in your system for weeks or months, meaning stopping today does not clear your body right away.
- Protect yourself by following strict hygiene, wearing a face mask, practicing social distancing, and staying up to date on vaccines.
- Know the warning signs of COVID-19 and when to seek emergency medical care at your local hospital or by calling 911 or 999.
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What Do Autoimmune Medicines Actually Do?
To understand your treatment, you first need to understand how your body works. Normally, your immune system acts like a protective army that fights off dangerous germs, bacteria, and viruses.
When you have an autoimmune disease, that army gets confused. It mistakenly attacks your own healthy cells, organs, and tissues instead of protecting them. It is similar to an army turning its weapons against the citizens of its own country.
Medicines prescribed for autoimmune conditions help calm down this overactive immune system. However, not all medicines work in the exact same way. Some medicines gently slow down your entire immune system so it stops attacking your body.
Other modern treatments target specific cells or chemical signals to control the inflammation without shutting down your whole defense system. Your doctor chooses the specific medicine that matches your unique health needs.
| Medicine Class | How It Works in Simple Terms |
|---|---|
| Corticosteroids Example: Prednisone, prednisolone |
These powerful drugs reduce overall inflammation and lower the activity of your entire immune system. |
| Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) | These make it harder for overactive immune cells to attack your joints and tissues over time. |
| Immunomodulators Example: Cyclosporine |
These target specific white blood cells, such as T lymphocytes, to stop them from causing tissue damage. |
| Biologics and Biosimilars Example: Anti-TNF drugs |
These block specific proteins in your body that trigger painful swelling and tissue inflammation. |
Which Conditions Are Treated with These Medicines?
Doctors use these powerful treatment options for many different chronic autoimmune disorders. Each condition involves the immune system attacking a different part of the body.
Here are some of the most common conditions treated with these medicines:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: A painful condition where your immune system attacks the lining of your joints, causing severe swelling and stiffness.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): A group of digestive conditions that includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, causing chronic gut inflammation.
- Multiple sclerosis: A neurological condition where the immune system attacks the protective covering of your nerves.
- Psoriasis: A chronic skin condition that causes red, scaly patches due to rapid skin cell growth driven by immune activity.
- Lupus: A complex disease that can cause inflammation in your skin, joints, kidneys, and other vital organs.
- Thyroid diseases: Conditions like Hashimoto's or Graves' disease where your immune system targets your thyroid gland.
- Type 1 diabetes: A condition where immune cells destroy insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
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Check Availability →Should You Stop Taking Your Medicine?
No. You must continue taking your prescribed medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. This includes daily pills, weekly injections, and clinic-given intravenous (IV) infusions.
However, you should always talk to your doctor about your concerns. Your healthcare team will review your specific case to decide if any adjustments are necessary.
Consider this important fact: the risk of letting your autoimmune disease flare up is often much higher than the risk of continuing your treatment. If you stop your medicine on your own, your underlying condition can quickly roar back to life.
A severe disease flare-up can land you in the hospital. Being in a hospital environment can actually increase your exposure to COVID-19 and other dangerous hospital-acquired infections.
Medical Fact: Many autoimmune drugs stay active in your body for weeks or even months after your last dose. Stopping your pills today does not clear the drug from your system right away, meaning you do not gain instant protection by quitting.
There are rare situations where your doctor may temporarily pause or delay your treatment. Your doctor might suggest pausing your medicine if:
- You develop active symptoms of COVID-19 or another viral infection.
- You have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Before making any changes to your medicine schedule, your doctor carefully evaluates several personal health factors:
- The current rate of COVID-19 spread in your local community.
- The specific type and dose of the immunosuppressant drug you take.
- How severe and active your underlying autoimmune condition currently is.
- Your age, especially if you are 60 years or older.
- Whether you have other underlying health conditions like heart disease or chronic lung disease.
How Can You Protect Yourself from COVID-19?
Just like everyone else, you must practice excellent hygiene every single day. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing your palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Because you take medicine that affects your immune system, you need to take extra precautions to stay safe.
- Avoid non-essential travel: Stay home as much as possible and limit unnecessary trips into public places.
- Practice social distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people outside your household to reduce your exposure risk.
- Delegate errands: Ask trusted family members or friends to pick up your groceries and medicines so you do not have to go out.
- Wear a face mask: Always wear a well-fitted mask whenever you must go out in public indoor spaces.
- Avoid touching your face: Keep your unwashed hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Maintain a medicine buffer: Keep a 2- to 4-week supply of your essential prescription drugs at home so you never run out.
- Stay vaccinated: Talk to your doctor about getting recommended vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, pertussis, and shingles.
When Should You Contact Your Doctor?
Knowing the early signs of COVID-19 is essential for your health and safety. If you notice any unusual symptoms, contact your doctor right away.
Important Warning Regarding Fever:
If you take steroids or other immunosuppressant drugs, your body might not produce a high fever, even if you have a serious infection. Pay close attention to all other body and respiratory symptoms, even if your temperature feels normal.
Watch out for these common signs of infection:
- Fever, chills, or body aches .
- Dry cough or persistent sore throat .
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing .
- Loss of taste or smell .
- Digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea .
🚨 Emergency Red Flags: When to Go to the ER
Some symptoms require immediate emergency medical attention. Call 911 (US/Canada), 999 (UK), or go to your nearest Emergency Department (ER) right away if you experience:
- Severe shortness of breath or inability to catch your breath.
- Constant, severe chest pain or pressure in your chest.
- New confusion, drowsiness, or trouble waking up.
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored lips, skin, or nail beds.
💡 Take-Home Message
Managing an autoimmune condition during a health crisis can feel overwhelming, but staying informed keeps you safe. Keep these core principles in mind:
- Never stop taking your prescribed autoimmune medicine without direct guidance from your personal doctor.
- Balancing infection prevention with proper disease control is essential for avoiding severe health complications.
- Discuss vaccination schedules with your doctor to build strong protection against COVID-19 and other preventable illnesses.
- Strictly follow everyday hygiene habits, including hand washing, mask wearing, and physical distancing.
- Monitor your health closely, know the warning signs, and reach out to your medical team right away if something feels wrong.
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