Enbrel Injections | Arthritis Information

 

I'm starting this post so I have a good place to track my Enbrel 'experience'.  Maybe it will be of some help to others who have to take the same journey. 

I was on enbrel for a few years along with mtx.  It worked quite well for while.  I have since switched to Humira.  In my experience you can not get enbrel at a local pharmacy.  I had/have to order my injectables through a specialty drug company and they are delivered by UPS.  I wish you all the best with this new drug.  It has successfully helped many people. Best wishes to you. Enbrel was my Wonder Drug for years.  And even after it lost effectiveness it was still working - I sure knew it when stopping completely that it was working, just at a lower percentage rate.

Did you get the self mix or the sure click pens?  I share your same concerns about Rituxan. 

Keep us posted.  It took around a month to kick in for me that first time.
I recently started the Enbrel Sureclick 50 mg and it has really helped. I'm now off of the Prednisone because of it. I still have stiffness in my ankles after sitting for extended periods of time and a little in my wrists, but at least I can do things for myself again. With this last shipment, I started getting red welts around the injection site that itch a little. That didn't happen during the first five injections. Don't know if it has something to do with this lot or will just happen from time to time. Overall, I've had a pretty good experience with it.

I hope it works well for you. Good luck!Bonita-

The same thing happened to me with the red welts. For the first month I had no injection reaction. Now I do although they have gotten better (I have been on Enbrel for about 8 years). Also I was able to discontinue both plaquenil and MTX. Enbrel works so well that I have spoken to my rheumy about cutting down the dosage to 25 mg a week. Has anyone done that?Hessalina don't do it! ... are the first words that pop to my mind.  My rheumie tried that, and that's when the Enbrel lost efficacy for me even though I went back on the regular dose.  I fixed what wasn't broken and the whole wagon came unhitched. Had my first injection yesterday - 50 mg.  My husband went along to learn how to also do injections.  For whatever reason, I wasn't able to "click" the button.  I thought I was pressing hard enough.  The nurse kept telling me to push harder.  My husband ended up "clicking" the button.  The nurse and my husband both said I wasn't pushing hard enough, that it was easy, but it apparently wasn't for me.  Either I wasn't holding the "pen" right or my fingers were too stiff and weak.  My first response was that I was guilty of some crime, but I decided I wasn't going to feel that way.  Next week I'll try it again, but later in the day when my fingers aren't as stiff. Flamingo, before you tried to click, did you press fully against the injection site so that the little plastic ring that keeps the needle from pricking you was no longer visible?

You want to press hard, be sure the ring is depressed, then click.  Good luck, I hope you feel better soon and that it works for you.  Don't be surprised if it takes a few weeks.
I thought I was pressing the "pen" hard into the injection site, but maybe not hard enough.  Hopefully I'll get the hang of it next week. I hope I can discontinue MTX eventually. My hair has really gotten thin as a result even with Folic acid and Biotin. I've started getting a lot of stiffness again as before I started the Enbrel. The good thing is that I'm off the Prednisone though. I wonder if I have a bad lot. First the reaction with the red welts and then the stiffness restarting. I called the support line and they took a report with the lot number. I see my Rheumy on Monday and I'll discuss it with her then.Flaningo, i Hope you are feeling a lot better today,  I hate to wait for meds to work  and I hate shots of any kind, the ones that someone else gives aren't  that  bad, but when you have to do it,  it's  the idea  and it's not a that bad after a while.  I give myself a shot of vit b12 once a month  and I used the pen everyday for 2 years to try and get my bones stronger, I forget now what it was called, been a while,  It is well worth it, if it makes the pain better and you feel better.I didn't have any immediate reactions to Enbrel.  After a week, I had a couple of weeks of feeling some low grade fatigue but it's hard to say if that was the med or my RA fatigue. GreenTara-

Thanks for your advise about your problem cutting back on Enbrel. It is something that I have thought about myself and will take to heart.

Flamingo-

Although everyone is different, I never had any reactions to Enbrel you mention. I actually felt relief when I got into my car after the injection training at the doctor's office. I feel pretty lucky as I know not everyone responds as well.

GreenTara's suggestion that I was possibly already getting sick at the time of injection seems to be correct.  I've been coughing my head off every day - I think it is just allergy/sinus problems unrelated to Enbrel. 

Took my second Enbrel injection on Monday.  Gave it to myself this time without any problems.  I'm still on Prednisone, Methotrexate, and Plaquenil.  My morning finger stiffness seems to be improved.  Toes still stiff, but slight improvement (able to get to sleep due to less stiffness/swelling).  Hip pain also slightly improved - able to walk a greater distance. Just continuing this post as I continue my Enbrel injections.  I'll be taking my 5th one today.  I'm now at a point where I feel a lot better. It's been about 2 1/2 months (12 injections)and while I still feel some stiffness in the morning, I don't have to stand in one place waiting for the right moment to take that first step. I'm still a little stiff after sitting for a while but not like at first. I think it has taken this long for the Enbrel to fully kick in.44ronbn562011-03-09 20:41:23We lived fulltime and traveled for 5 years and I was able to get my RXs thru the mail order pharmacy.  Sometimes it wasn't convenient because we weren't sure if we'd be in Tucson, Mexico or Washington but it usually worked out.  I hope that Enbrel works for you.  You may not feel the full benefits for another month or so.  Take care and keep us updated.  LindyI've had 7 injections thus far and have been off Prednisone for about 10 days.  Seemed to be doing OK but still had hip pain, some morning finger stiffness and weakness, etc., but able to walk a fair distance...until yesterday.  Flamingo, I gave myself my second injection this am. So far, I've seen no improvement, but I have high hopes
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com