A question for Enbrel Users | Arthritis Information

Hi Everyone,

I recently had my 5th shot of Enbrel, and I am waiting for it to kick in. I have a question about which type of shot you use.

I was prescribed the pre-filled syringe. When I was giving myself the 4th shot I pulled back and got blood, so I had to discard that shot. I didn't have a back up, so I delayed my 4th injection from a Monday to Friday when I got the replacement.

It was suggested I try the auto click. I wanted to get feedback on what you have experienced and which type you prefer. For example:

1. How much pain is inovolved?

2. Does one leave a bigger needle hole/mark?

3. Have any of you had problems with blood in the prefilled syringe?

Also, I would be really curious as to when this drug kicked in for you. Thank you for your help!

Take care,

Nori

It worked for me overnight. Literally.

The shot hurts a bit, but not so bad that I dread doing it every week, ya know? If you ice the area beforehand it's doable. Oh, and I use the sure click.

My doctor said not to worry about about pulling back on the syringe. I have been on enbrel now for 6 months and have never pulled it back. It works just fine this way and I would freak if I had to throw one out. Oh I use the 50mg pre filled syringe.I never pull back either, so I never discard one. I would *freak* if I had to throw one away.

I use prefilled 25mg syringes. I inject twice a week.

the first time I was on Enbrel, I saw results immediately, like the next day. I have been on and off it several times d/t infections. this time, I'm not seeing the results I did the first time. I have heard that is common if you have to stop the Enbrel and start again.

Good luck!

PhatsI use the sure click. I think it is the best option. I haven't seen any big improvement so my doc is trying to swithch me to remicade imfusions. We will se what my insurance says.ive used both. i prefer sureclick. it hurts a little bit more but its much easier to use. sometimes the button doesnt work first try but i just prefer doing it at a 90 degrees verses 45. ive started doing it on my stomach now instead of my leg and i think it hurts less although it seems scarier.

wow! not pulling back on the syringe. That would change everything. that's the part that's so difficult for me. I know I much prefer 45 degrees to 90. The reason is the first time I did it in the doctor's office I did the 90 degrees (they told me to) and that needle mark was much bigger. In other words, it left a big hole in my leg compared to the 45 degree angle.

I would love to get some reassurance from others who were told not to pull back on the syringe. Not that I don't believe those that have said it, it's just that i'm big on following directions and it would go against that. If I don't have to pull back, I think I would prefer the syringe.

Enbrel told me studies have not been done on injecting enbrel inteveniously, and that's why you must discard the needle if you pull back and there is blood. And there was quite a bit of blood! So I wonder if anyone has hit a vein and not known it b/c they didn't pull back. Does it not matter?

Thanks again for your help.

I'm also a bit discouraged that I'm helped as much as I'm going to be by enbrel. I hope not.

Nori

PS - I did freak out when I saw blood. I called enbrel sobbing. I could hardly get in a word! Nori,
It had a big effect on me within about 7 days... I could feel it working. but my symptoms got bad again at one point and then improved again. I've been on it now for about 10 months and overall it is working for me though I'm not 100% in remission (only about 98%).
I personally wouldn't do the sure click thing. I do 2 x 25mg shots a week and have no problem with that at all.
Anna
anna_uk2008-03-25 09:23:34In the beginning I did the pull back. One time I saw blood and removed the needle. I couldn't bring myself to throw it out though and just injected it again. I have been on Enbel 2 years and have since stopped pulling back. Has never been a problem.I don't usually pull back either. I use the 50 mm pre-filled syringes. I got results after 3 days post first injection. my miracle!I use the Sureclick. It was painful giving the shot in my thigh. After two shots, I switched to injecting in my stomach and I can hardly feel a thing now. I'm not sure I could give myself a shot with the prefilled syringes; I'd be too nervous.

I had wonderful results after the 2nd shot.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your feedback. It has given me a lot to think about. I guess the main thing will be not pulling back on the syringe.

I've thought of another question: For those doing the pre-filled syringes, do you prefer stomach or thighs? If on the stomach, how do you angle the needle?

Nori

OH GOOODNESS! I am waiting on the insurance to ok me going on something like this! I am So SO SOSOSOSOSOSO SO! Scared to inject myself...[/QUOTE]

Me too, ShaDucky! I only have needle-phobia when the needle is in my hands. I do fine when someone else is giving me the shot. I'm glad my RD prescribed the Sureclick! You just press it against your skin and click a button.

My hubby said he would do it for me...but still!Hi! I use the prefilled syringes. I don't do the pullback thing to see whether I got it right. Wit the prefilled syringe, it takes you three shots to get experienced. My problem with the sureclick is that I don't have enough fat to inject in my abdomen. With the prefilled syringe I have more control on how fast I am injecting. Hi Again,

I am really surprised at the many who don't pull back!!! I had been told by enbrel we are supposed to do this b/c it has not been studied about injecting the drug intraveniously, and the blood in the syringe would let us know if we possibly hit a vein.

I had also asked why we can't reinject a 'bloodied syringe' if it's going into our body, and the answer was the iron in our blood mixing w/ the medicine changes the chemistry. It doesn't exactly make sense, but that's the answer I got. I hated throwing away the shot, especially b/c I didn't have another one and had to wait from Monday to Friday for the shipment.

Do any of you think you might of hit a vein? I see my doctor tomorrow, so I guess I'll ask her opinion. But frankly, she is not very nice. So I hate asking any quuestions.

Nori

I used to use the syringes , i thought it would hurt less. But ended up getting a script for the Sureclick and I love it. To me it hurts much less than the syringes. Good Luck!I was also told to pull back when being instructed on how to inject MTX. It was for the same reason, to make sure I hadn't hit a vein. But I also found that most, if not all of the people I heard from who inject MTX, don't pull back either, so I haven't been doing it. BTW, I was told I could just insert the needle again, and not have to throw it away if I did pull back and saw blood. Wouldn't the same blood/chemistry mix problem apply to MTX or any other drug? Call me a cynic, but I think the Enbrel people are only too happy to have patients throw out the syringe and start over. I wonder how many additional syringes they sell that way.