Biologics are added when everything else has failed. You have jump through so many pharmaceutical hoops before you can qualify for biologics. There are several different kinds that all have specific markers in them. Like TNF Blockers and IL6 Inhibitors and so on you may have to try several before you find out which marker your RA needs to have "blocked".

I'm going to try to answer....???
Mtx, arava, plaquenil, meloxicam, etc.... Are medications to help treat RA.. That's kinda the starting point of Tttmnt.
The biologics are added in if \ when the medications either wont do enough or just doesnt work. It can take several trials to find meds that work & your body can handle.
I started out - first ever appointment on mtx & plaquenil, it was not doing enough 10 months later so Humira was added.
I've been through several bios -( because I start reacting to them usually).
Now I take arava (medication) & xeljanz as a bio.

I'm not sure I can give you what you're looking for, and I can only speak for myself, but I have had no side effects of taking my Humira. Side effects are scary when you read whats listed on the sheets but I always look at that as a worst case scenario and a CYA thing. Everyone is different as to what works and what side effects they experience, we along with our Rheumy doctors have to try and re-evaluate all the time. I'm reasonably certain Methotrexate and Meloxicam alone would not work for me, thus I believe Humira is making a major difference for me. I guess my way of looking at it is I am less afraid of the side effects, than I am of the damage RA can do to my body if let uncontrolled which would be unreversible. Hope this helps, if you need more let me know.

From research I have done, adding a bilogic although scary is a big help for future prognosis.

I had been on Methotrexate and Hydrochloroquin (Plaquinil) for about 3 years it worked ok, but it was still erratic in how it took care of my pain, swelling and stiffness. I had to go off of the Hydrochloroquin due to an eye issue (which is always a possibility with it) so they put me on the Humira and the results for me were awesome! The added benefit as far as I am concerned is I only take Methotrexate weekly and Humira every two weeks so I am not taking either on a daily basis as I was with Hydrochloroquin.