Well, they both sting unless you get the 25 Enbrel, but then you have to give yourself a shot 2x a week. The 50 Enbrel is once a week, but stings like a 'muther', and the Humira is once every other week, but also stings.
Some say that the Humira is worse than the Enbrel, in my experience, it was less, much much less.
So, I would suggest the Humira as it is only 2x a month. And to follow the hints on these boards on it (like, to let it sit out for 20 minutes before you inject to help lessen the sting).
Kathy's handy injection tips to eliminate stinging
It is such a non issue now. I used to faint at finger tip blood tests..Here is what works for me.
First thing give yourself time, this isn't a facial, but it is something you are doing for you. treat it like a gift. fix a cup of coffee, go someplace quiet, play calming music.
Make sure the syringe is WARM. your body is 98.6... room temp will be a shock. Make sure you have it out of the fridge for about a half hour. I rest the syringe across the top of my coffee mug. Then just before I inject I roll it between my palms until I can't feel it because it is the same temp as my palms.
Ice the area of your tummy you will inject. Get it REALLY cold. I have an ice pack in a light tshirt, and leave it there for a good long time. You want that area numb. Wipe your tummy with the alcohol pad and let it dry.. Completely. If you inject when its wet, you are pushing alcohol in and alcohol STINGS.
Pinch up a roll of flab about the size of your thumb and finger together, check the syringe, and gently push the plunger in a little to get the air out of the syringe..
Hold the syringe like you are throwing a dart, and slide the point into the skin you have pinched up. The ice will have numbed it so much you won't feel the needle slide in.
Release the flab, and shift your fingers on the needle holding it between the index and middle finger, with the thumb on the plunger.
SLOWLY depress the plunger..I depress to a chant..."My toes won't hurt, my ankles won't hurt, my knees won't hurt, my hips won't hurt, my fingers won't hurt, my wrists won't hurt, my thumbs won't hurt, my elbows won't hurt, my shoulders won't hurt, my jaw won't hurt...this shot stings but far less than my body hurts."
You should be finished then, remove the syringe, place the ice pack back on for maybe 30 seconds, and dispose of the needle...now finish your coffee.
You can do it
forget the worry
i couldnot have blood taken without trouble, (fainting, pulling away)
get on the drug. take the needle. after it takes effect and you feel better the issue of the needle goes away and it becomes routine.
this is nothing, what if you were diabetic?, or worse needed dyalisis.
I had issues the same as you, and i think some of the problem is that it simbolises the disease. accept the disease and accept sticking a needle in your belly once a week.
i do not want to sound too harsh but if your doc is RXing this med then you have to accept that you will be doing this for the rest of your life.
sorry if this did not help, but i think sometime we try to hide our acknolegement of the problem behind small issues regarding medication. (and i know i will have a rainfall of contradicting emails), but i found that facing the RX requirement head on is the best. save your gripes for bad days, crappy RD's, effect on your life. a simple prick is nothing in the big picture....
I have been on both. As a matter of fact I was on Humira once a week instead of every other week. I was on Enbrel for 2 yrs awhile ago. The humira did nothing for ME so I wasnt on it very long just long enough to know my doc said it should have worked by now. I am back on Enbrel again and had a great year. As for the injections, thats a pain but honestly if one of them works for you ,you will do it no matter how much it stings! The weekly humira also stung alot. Had it worked it would have been worth it though. I dont think the Enbrel stings at all. Its just the needle but I do the twice a week one so the needle is smaller i think. I LOVE my Enbrel and hope it keeps working for me!!!!!!