starting embrel | Arthritis Information

I finally got my embrel script in the post friday. I contacted my local chemist so that they could order it in. I will be on the 50mg pre filled. Picking them up tomorrow. The worse part is that I will have to look at them in the fridge for the next two weeks as I havent had the second tb test yet. I am in so much pain today . the sky has been so black with light rain showers every now and then and very humid. my body hates this weatherI haven't done Enbrel but I have done Humira. It stings too...the needle didn't actually hurt because it is so fine but the liquid going in stings like hell. I found doing it as quickly as you can works better than slowly as the slower you go the longer it stings. It is weird self injecting at first and kind of traumatising somehow but hang in there. I used to think well, at least I am not a diabetic and don't have to do this everyday. Just be sure to ice the shot site to numb it before your shot. And this (I can't stress enough, it makes a HUGE difference) let the alcohol dry completely before the injection. It's the only injectable I've taken so I've nothing to compare it to, but I dn't think enbrel is very bad at all. I mean, sure, I wouldn't do it just for the pleasure of it, but it's nothing I dread either. Rather take that then nik my leg with the razor.

Good luck with the Enbrel it really is not that bad I did it for almost a year and I am so afraid of needles that I gave birth to all four of my children with no pain meds because they would use a needle LOL. Make sure you leave the needle out of the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before you use it so it reaches room temperature than you use an ice pack I like the little blue gel ones they work great to numb the injection area use it for about 5 to 10 minutes. I always injected it slowly and I found it did not burn hardly at all, I always did them in my stomach and I hardly felt them. Make sure you rotate the site though left than right you get it. Good luck I hope it works for you it was like a miracle for me until I became allergic to it I am now on Remicade but boy to I miss my Enbrel my pain and stiffness was almost gone I felt almost human when I was taking it I hope it works as well for you.

Linda from NJ

PS I have family in

Allycat--

Good luck with the Enbrel!! I hope it works well for you! It's been working great for me for a year now--keeping my fingers crossed that it keeps working!

I follow everyone's advice here...inject in my tummy, leave it out of the fridge for awhile (usually 20-30 mins), etc. I used to inject in my thighs--and believe me, the stomach is the way to go!! Much less painful--at least for me!

Good luck!
dordale :)
hi everyone, I was wondering if there is anyone here living in australia and giving own embrel shots. I picked up my embrel yesterday,and i am sure my rheumy said i would be doing my own shots once i had training by a nurse. well on the box the label says for injection by your doctor. I asked the chemist if i could get a sharps container and where to take it once full. they looked at me as if i was stupid and said what ,you are giving them to yourself. I dont want to have to go to doctors every week to have it done. does anyone in aus do their own embrel or maybe humira?I did my own Humira, Ally. Have stopped now but I did it for four months. With Humira you get a whole kit at the beginning from the drug company which includes much information including a sharps kit. They should supply you with one and you should be able to drop it into the chemist when it is full. they told me at the chemist that they dont have sharps containers and that i should use a coffee tin or something and then take it to hospital. that they cant take the used syringes there. i fealt reall stupid. i dont like the idea of using a coffee tin. not real safe.Now I might sound really stupid and I have never given myself a shot of anything. Maddi has had stacks of needles, blood tests...and she (being 7yo) puts a cream called "Emla" on for an hour prior and it numbs the area and stops the needle 'pain' for her. I don't know wether it would stop the sting for you, perhaps it only numbs the surface of the skin. Might be worth a try. just trying to help instead of harping on about our own probs.i was so embarrassed .other people were in the shop and the girl went to get the pharmacist and she came up and said quite loud what sort of syringes are you talking about. I cant call my rheumy either as she is off on maternity leave. she just posted me the script for 3 months supply. i am not worried about giving myself the shots as i would get it out the fridge 15-30 mins before and ice the area then swab and let to dry. but if i take it to my doctors clinic a nurse will just do how she wants.plus sometimes i have waited an hour for a nurse to do a blood test. it wouldnt be good to have it out of fridge that long i dont think.Geez, Ally, that's absolutely ridiculous. Maybe you need to take this problem to your GP and rheumy. Maybe they can give you a sharps container and they can tell you where you can exchange it. Local drug centres might be helpful also as they often give out sharps containers and accept full ones with exchange for empty ones.

i live in a small country town and we dont have any drug centres here but i will have to sort it out somehow before my first shot next weekmy rheumy is out of touch for 3 months while she has a baby.but i will call my local gp tomorrow to find out what can be done. if i have to have it done at the doctors i will. but i would rather do it at home. sorry about my whingeing. only i got myself psyched up to do this and now i dont know whats happening.I live in a small country town too, darl, I was taking a shot that you may be in a big city so I get the problem as I live in a similar environment but my chemist does sharps containers.

Yeah, I think your gp should be able to sort it out.

Ally, of course, you have psyched yourself for this, it's natural and now you don't know what the process is, sweetie, it's okay. I get why you would prefer to do it yourself too, especially if it would mean extra trips to the doctor. Who needs more of them? i will call my doctor in the morning. he is good friends with my rheumy so he could call her if he needs to. just would be nice if things went smoothly sometimes.

Hi Allycat,

I am 'doing' enbrel too! On my 7th one tomorrow. I can't help with the sharps issue as in the UK the drug company delivers your injections and swaps bins if necessary at the same time, hope you managed to get some guidance from your Dr.

My technique now is to take the syringe out of the fridge about 15 mins before and for the last few mins hold it in my fist so my hand warms the liquid to body temp - apparently this takes some of the sting away! Make sure you get a 45 degree angle of needle to flesh, hold the syringe like a pen and firmly 'jab' it in to flesh that is pinched between the thumb and finger of your other hand. Once you've got the needle in there you can firmly push in the plunger. Mistakes I've made so you can avoid them... forgetting to let liquid warm up to body temp, getting the needle in then accidentally pulling it out again (you have to do it all again), getting a bad angle (big bruise!), pushing the plunger too softly (takes ages and prolongs the owie bit).

I hope this helps - let us know how you get on!

Hi KT, I sorted out the problem today. The chemist in the larger town near us has the sharps containers and at the hospital there they have a disposal bin for the needles. I feel a lot better now. My first jab next week I will get done by the nurse so she can show me how to do it. After reading so many possitive posts I am sure the embrel will work. All the helpful hints have been great. without them it would be so much more scary. Do you ice the area also KT. some people say that helps. I will let you all know next week how things go.

Hi,

I've never tried icing it, but it doesn't hurt too much without... Just a little unsure of putting anything on it that might cause a site infection, although I probably could apply the ice before wiping with alcohol I suppose... Glad you sorted the sharps issue out too! The enbrel itself is not working too well for me as yet but I'm persevering (mainly because there's not much else to try as I switched from remicade as that didn't work either). I'm seeing the Rheumatologist on the 18th for a review so hoping they'll have some idea's. Forgot to say - I do my injections in my tummy because I have more flabby flesh to pinch there and I am prone to bruises on my legs at the slightest bump. Most people I spoke to said tummy is easiest... Although the nurse said if someone els is doing it for you the back of your upper arm is easiest (my partner came with me to training just in case!).

Good Luck next week!

Thanks KT,

Well its after midnight here and my eyes are finding it hard to stay open so goodnight all. See you all in the morning,or should I say tonight . Oh well bedtime, starting to dribble nonsense now.