Anyone on Enbrel?

mixednuts
mixednuts Member Posts: 20
edited 10. Mar 2013, 13:34 in Living with Arthritis archive
I've just had my mtx increased to 20mg and my rhem wants to start me on Enbrel. I've had the chest x-ray and bloods done so now just waiting for approval from the PCT to start the weekly injections.
Is anyone else on Enbrel? I've seen a lot of comments about Humira but not Enbrel. I know everyone is different but I wondered how people do on it.

Comments

  • toady
    toady Member Posts: 2,432
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi mixednuts, i wrote a reply but my phone declined to post it, will be on pc shortly so will give it another go.
  • toady
    toady Member Posts: 2,432
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again, better luck posting this time hopefully.

    I've been on Enbrel 50mg a week since December 2011. Haven't had any problems with it so far touch wood. No side effects that I know of, only one injection site reaction early on, none since except occasional veeeery minor swelling, nothing to speak of. Injections are no worse than MTX (i'm presuming you inject that now), little sting-y that's all.

    Since being on it my CRP has come down to 1 and my ESR down to 20ish from over 100 which says it all really, is working for me. Improved joints swelling/stiffness, no flares as such. Have been able to do some physio on my knees since starting so I can stand a lot better as they were getting fixed at a dog's hind leg angle lol, and my elbows, both now improving. Has helped the tiredness a bit but mainly through me feeling less ill, not much energy but I think that's as much me as anything. So it's a big thumbs up for me, Enbrel was the anti-TNF I chose out of the possibles, liked the sound of it over the other options so I'm happy to have responded. It might not have got me up & wildly active but probably wouldn't be overstating it as lifesaver, as MTX was doing nothing for me & I was having to cobble on with steroid injections which is not an answer ongoing-wise.

    Happy to answer anything in particular.

    Best of luck, toady. :)
  • Milly8
    Milly8 Member Posts: 114
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I just wanted to wish you good luck when starting enbrel .i was given the option of humira or enbrel , think I only choose humira as its every two weeks.best of luck again hope it helps as humira has done for me
    Bye for now
    Milly
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Quite a few do well on enbrel but you won't know if it's for you until you try it. I had the twice-weekly injections, it all went wrong for me but I felt fine while things were going wrong which was very odd! I wish you well with it and I hope it proves to be the one for you. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • mixednuts
    mixednuts Member Posts: 20
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks guys. I was given the option of weekly, bi weekly or monthly injections but chose the weekly ones. I realise that may sound odd but my memory is appalling and as I take my mtx weekly it made sense to do the same with this drug so I don't forget to take it!
  • kathe
    kathe Member Posts: 183
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Congratulation..
    I was on enbrel four a year , took injetions 25mg 2 days in The week..
    When I started on it it was great. My artritt got mutch better but not good. And after about 6 months it was not helping My at all..but The doctor had My on it four a year..
    Did not have any side effect from The enbrel , I youst got a bit red where I took The injetions four some days ..
    I took it along whit metex injetion..

    After enbrel I tried cimzia, that did not help. So The doctor tried My back at enbrel four 3 months but that dosent work at all .. Now I have youst started orencia by infusion...

    Best wisches and hope enbrel helps you..
    Kathe
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I've been on Enbrel for about 9 months. I started on a full dose but got very bad site reaction and infections so have dropped down to half dose which I inject twice a week. Worked really well for first 6 months but seems to be tailing off as I am getting swollen and painful joints more frequently.

    Side effects for me, apart from site reaction, are stuffy/runny nose, headaches, occasional nausea but all manageable. I don't use the pen injection (which I found painful) but syringe which I draw up myself. Much less painful to administer.
  • mixednuts
    mixednuts Member Posts: 20
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well it's good to hear it does work for some but I'm not liking the sound of more headaches! The ones I get from mtx are bad enough - those that inject mtx do you still get headaches from it?