Enbrel Injections | Arthritis Information

Hi all,

I started Enbrel injections about 2 months ago. I started with the 50 mg. injections, and wow, that is one painful injection. I discussed this with my Rheumy and he suggested trying the 25 mg. My question is this folks...am I getting a huge red, swollen, hot, sore area at the injection site. It takes it over a full week to completely fade out. It is about the size of 3 half dollar coins, very large. Ummm, I am thinking this should not be happening. Has anyone else experienced this? And if so, what can I try, or should I simply let my doc know what is happening, which I figure I will do that anyway. I don't want to have to give them up, but goodness. Please give me your opinions!

Lisa

Try the 25's I don't have that problem with dosage. No red spot etc.Here's a question where do you inject the medicine, stomach, arm, or thigh? Several people have told me that if they inject anywhere but their stomach they get a rash at the injection site. Yet when they inject in their stomach no problem. meme

Barb

Cris

Lisa,
My reaction (for both the 25mg and the 50mg) was similar to yours. It's a site reaction. As long as you don't get hives anywhere else, it isn't anything you have to worry about. You may find that when you inject the next time, the previous site even swells up a bit. That's normal too (annoying, but normal).

Some advice:
Ice the site before you inject and again after.
Be sure to use different sites (I can't do the stomach, so I go back and forth from one leg to the other).
Try the stomach if you can.

Hang in there! It took about 6 months for my reactions to really subside, but now I just get a small hive and some itching at the site.

I was recently at a friend's house when she was giving her son a shot of insulin. She first rubbed the area with Lidocain, waited a minute then give the shot. My friend said children that are diabetic use this cream.

I'm going to ask my RD about this Lidocaine cream on my next visit. I'm doing 50mg of Embrel. I ice down my area, but it still has quite a sting. Willing to tolerate it for a few seconds ,once a week, but less pain would be better.

Kieye