Enbrel stopped working? | Arthritis Information

 

Hey, I was doing great on Enbrel.  Then, i got an URI and had to be off it for 5 weeks.  I started last week again and haven't had the response I did the first time around.  Has anyone had any experience with that?  it seems like it isn't even working anymore.  i'm in a really bad flare and had to increase my pred just to get thru the day.
thanks
Phatgirl

I think that this does happen particulary with Enbrel. Be sure to discuss it early with your doctor. It also seems to make the situation worse if you keep taking Enbrel and it is not working.

It is an interesting question. My experience was that it didn't work well for me, seemed worse after having to go off of it for infections, and then now I can't seem to take any biologics. But that might all be because of poor med management. Definitely read up on it and try to get others to post some better answers.

Phatgirl,  I have had to go off Enbrel several times.  Almost each time I went off it was less effective.  Now I do not think it is helping at all.  Makes me sad as I felt "safe" on Enbrel.  I guess we cannot exclude ourselves for all the other RAers that had to move on and try different drugs.  Scary process.  Stay in touch and we will support each other - RoxanneThis makes a lot of sense to me as I had to go off it once with some strange results. I know I have mentioned this several times but my injections got DIFFERENT when I went back on it. My body seems to be rejecting it. I have huge injection site reaction (whereas I had none before) and the medicine pools under the skin(some even comes out). Before, I would inject with absolutely no problems.

Your theory about it becoming less effective is quite interesting and I never thought of that before. In fact I do not feel as great as I had initially but never chalked it up to that period I stopped injecting for 2 weeks. I actually thought it was just a flare.

Maybe you got soemthing there.

I was hoping it was a flare and that I was going to get past it.  I felt immediate relief from Enbrel.  After the first injection, I felt better.  I thought it was all in my mind.  Unfortunately, I got sick within 2 weeks of starting Enbrel.  I know it is not as effective this time around.  I'm giving it another week and then go to something else.  I'm scared to try new meds.  But, I'm more scared to feel like this everyday.

Thanks for everyone and their thoughts.

Phatgirl

I also ad to go off enbrel several times for surgeries..easch time I went back it became less effective.

 

Great

I have only been on it for about 4 weeks total, including time before and after illness.  It seems to have stopped working all together.  What do you think causes that?

Phatgirl

 

    I would definitely give it a longer chance uninterrupted.  I think yesterday was the beginning of it starting to help me--after 3 1/2 weeks. It can take three months to know the full effect.  Lou

I guess I'm just comparing it to last time~I got immediate results.  I guess that isn't typical and I need to be patient.  Very hard to do when you are in pain~!

I'll give it a while longer.

Thanks,

Phatgirl

I've been on Enbrel for about 2 years. When I have to go off it, it takes a while to kick in. It also took several months before I felt much improvement when I first started it. The injection site reactions are always there but vary. For the first year they were huge. Now they are not as bad, but every once in a while I get a really big one.
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