Skiping Enbrel doses | Arthritis Information

Hi, I am fortunate that I don't have a lot of daily pain, but do have some. For some reason I just can not seem to make myself take my Enbrel once a week like I am supposed to. Sometime I will go three weeks. I know I need to take it to stop the progression of the disease. Other than that does anyone know of a reason that this could be harmful for me?

I also worry about the side effects like lymphoma.

Any help or comments would appreciated, this my first post.

Hi Pinkie004,

I can't see why taking the enbrel every three weeks would be harmful as long as you are feeling "good" with taking the enbrel every three weeks. Of course, I am not a professional healthcare provider so my advise and opinion is about the same worth as a pound of great northern white beans is in Alaska. Probably best to discuss this with your rheumatologist. Good luck.

LEV

for me, it had an accumulative affect in that the longer I took it consistently, the better i felt. And those times when I have to stop it... I gradually get "worse" .... then the rebound affect is harder to achieve with each subsequent stoppage.

I would advise your RD that you are medicating yourself in that manner.

Pinkie, please talk to your RD. If you are not comfortable with taking the Enbrel, discuss this with him/her. Your RD needs to know how your are taking your drugs. Self medicating can be hazardous to your health in many ways.

I understand your worries about the Enbrel and the choice to take it or not is yours alone, but you may be taking it at no benefit at all to you thereby exposing yourself unnecessarily. (I hope that makes sense!)

Good luck!

waddie2010-01-12 15:17:43

Thanks so much for the replies. It really makes me feel like I am not alone.

pinkie, i'm on embrel, it can be really dangerous, to start and stop w/ this med.

You're hurting yourself.. in the long run, by not helping to stop the progress of this illness.

I sound harsh, i don't mean to be.. its more out of concern and yeah talk to your dr. :)

I hate, HATE needles, I take this once a wk, i've started getting a big red welt, at the site, of the injection, that lasts longer then 8 days.. but my dr saw it and said it wasn't that bad... to make sure i take it every wk.. so i do.. at the end, of the day , before sleep and w/ sleep meds/ valium.. tonight is a shot night, i know it takes 20 seconds, but i hate it..

What i hate worse, and this is what you have to concentrate on.. is how bad you COULD get w/o this med or i don't know how bad, you have been.. if you've been like i was.. where

the pain was soo bad and daily life, just was awful and you could barely walk.... type, function.. have any kind of life.. then you sit there and say darn it.. ok i'll take it..

I now don't have 3 hrs or all day muscle / joint stiffness.. i still have fatigue (need to check out sleep lab).. but its a vast improvement, from before.

so do yourself a favor, and take the meds, on time ').. just a hard lesson.. i've learnt the hard way.. (bipolar)

good luck! and Welcome to the board.. i'm infrequent here,.. when i have some energy.. i come..