Enbrel & Seizures | Arthritis Information

 

Hi Group

My wife started on Enbrel for P late Sep 2008 and with in 3 weeks she had a seizure. She was on Enbrel for abour 1.5 months and she had 3 seizure during this time. She stopped Enbrel in the middle of Oct 2008 but she continues to have seizures though her neurologist put her on a anti epileptic drug.

I would really appreciate if any of you can respond. I am realy desperaate to help my wife get rid of these seizures.

Thanks for any help

I am so sorry to read this.  I just started enbrel this summer but I have not had a seizure (thankfully).Thanks for your response MJ. I hope it works out for you. I am still waiting desparattely to contact some one who has had the same side effects as my wife. Hi,

I have been on Enbrel for about two years. I had a grand mal seizure in the car while my husband was driving us to Indiana for Christmas. I have never had a seizure before. Looks like I will be switching over to Humira. I wish I had some advice for you. All I was told was that I should keep my blood sugar up and get plenty of rest. I've been eating chocolate pudding for breakfast. I am scared it will happen again. I think I am more scared for my husband, than for myself. I have no recall of it. He had to see me go through it. Much like yourself, I would imagine. I hope that your wife can get the seizures under control.   

Take Care,
VictoriaOh my this is quite frightening...... All I can share with you about enbrel is that I had only 3 injections of it and then I suddenly developed a heart arrythmia---which I now continue to have 5 years later. so my experience with this drug was NOT GOOD at all. I feel for you and your wife. I know some people have had great results with it so I'm not knocking it for them but in my case this was a side effect that really wasn't in the paperwork but I have spoken to other people that had heart problems start right after and their hearts were perfectly fine beforehand just like myself.

So my advice to you is to get your wife off of it and never go back on---she just must be one of those (like myself) that had a strange reaction to it. I personally think they haven't done enough research or studies of this med and there will be more serious things coming out eventually. I think it will come off the market like others have.

I wish you and your wife the best.Hi group

my wife continues to have seizures through she stopped enbrel 2 months ago and it has gotten worse. The neurologist has put her on 2 seizure medications and it is still not controlled. Our life is slowly slipping away from us. I will try keeping her sugar levels up. Pls pray for my wife.

Thanks
rsk
_popupControl(); I had the same experience only it was with medication for high blood pressure called Sectral.  I took Tegretol (anti-seizure drug) for several years and slowly reduced my dosage.  After stopping the Tegretol, I've found I only experienced mild siezures occasionally and it's always as a result of taking a drug that is known to lower the seizure threshhold. [QUOTE=victoria]Hi,

I have been on Enbrel for about two years. I had a grand mal seizure in the car while my husband was driving us to Indiana for Christmas. I have never had a seizure before. Looks like I will be switching over to Humira. I wish I had some advice for you. All I was told was that I should keep my blood sugar up and get plenty of rest. I've been eating chocolate pudding for breakfast. I am scared it will happen again. I think I am more scared for my husband, than for myself. I have no recall of it. He had to see me go through it. Much like yourself, I would imagine. I hope that your wife can get the seizures under control.   

Take Care,
Victoria[/QUOTE]

Hi Victoria

Very sorry to hear abt your seizure. If you dont mind, can I ask you a few questions;
After you got the first seizure

1) Did you consult a neurologist.
2) did you go for any MRI, CT Scan or EEG or any such tests
3) What were the results of these tests
4) Apart from the high sugar diet, are you taking any medication.
5) Are you continuing ENBREL

My wife's neurologist did all the above mentioned test and the EEG confirmed that the seizures are not of epileptic in nature. So now we do not know what is causing these seizures.
I spoke the company that makes ENBREL and they siad that they have heard frmo few people abt these side effects  but they did not have any recommendations. my wife has a neuro appointment today , I will post again after we see the neuro.

Thanks for all your help


Very sorry to hear about
_popupControl(); [QUOTE=kweenb]I had the same experience only it was with medication for high blood pressure called Sectral.  I took Tegretol (anti-seizure drug) for several years and slowly reduced my dosage.  After stopping the Tegretol, I've found I only experienced mild siezures occasionally and it's always as a result of taking a drug that is known to lower the seizure threshhold.[/QUOTE]

Hi Kweenb

Thanks for responding to my post. can you pls tell me what was the tegretol dosage you were taking.
have you come off of tegretol completely
is there any way to improve the seizure threshhold aftef stopping the medication that caused the seizure.


Thanks for your help
_popupControl(); rskuv,

It's been a while, but I believe I took 200 mg twice a day.  Yes, I was able to come off the Tegretol completely.  My neurologist said that sometimes after a couple years of anti-seizure meds, people can come off the drug with no problems.  So, after 2 years, he slowly reduced my dosage.  I've been able to stay off the Tegretol with no problems as long as I stay away from drugs that cause them for me.

I've not discovered a way to increase the threshhold at all.  If I know I'm starting a new drug I've never had before, I don't leave the house for a day - just to make sure.  I've been happy doing that. 

I hope they are able to find the right medication to control your wife's seizures.  I know it used to scare my husband when I had them.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife.


Wht type of arrythmia did you develop?
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