enbrel

debram

I have PSA and failed Humira, placed on Enbrel 7 wks ago.I take folic acid 6 out of 7 days and 20mg methotrexate. Trampoline & paracetamol for pain. Ametrypteline to sleep and citalopram.

Started to feel less tired but last 4 injections had left massive bruising. My left leg then had a patch the size of a tangerine the all red warm and painful.
I contacted the rheumi line at hospital who said it can be an allergic reaction. I've been told to stop them until I see my rheumatologist.
I had a blood test last week but had a call to repeat it as there was something wrong with the liver function test.
Now awaiting result of that.
Anyone had similar issues?

Deb xx

dreamdaisy

I didn't have any site reactions but it did try to explode my liver, my ALT went from 18 to 350-ish to 680-ish in the space of three weeks. Not fun. I hope you are able to see the rheumatologist sooner rather than later; don't be too surprised if they take you off it.

These meds are a matter of trial and error - many trials for us and a few errors along the way. It serves to make life tougher rather than easier until the magic combination is found. DD

trepolpen

Hi Deb , Enbrel has a preservative which is causing your injection site reaction , not all the biologics will cause this problem & some people get a lot of pain from the injection site

how long you been on methotrexate ? I had problems with my ALT results but after increasing folic acid to 6 days a week the results went back to normal , dont know if enbrel can cause the raised blood results

lynnoot

I had liver probs while on MTX, Now only on Enbrel, and I think there might be another prob with liver, but consultant & GP have not said much to me about it. Will ask next time I see them.

jabster

Hi
I had awful site reactions when I started the enbrel pen
It's the preservative in the drug in the pen.

I took a strong prescribed anti histimine before doing injection and later that day again. After about a month the welts and bruising calmed down.

Hope they let you stick with it awhile longer to see

debram

Thanx for replies guys - haven't been on here a while!
Interesting comments. Well I've been back to rheumatology who said it's probably an allergic reaction.
I've concluded that compared to the Humira pen, the Enbrel pen shoots far harder & quicker. I feel like I've been hit with a bullet.
My rheumi said try the syringe instead for the bruising and see if that helps, if I still have an allergic reaction we will try number 3 anti TNF! !

Only trouble is-6 weeks on I'm still waiting for health care at home to get a nurse out to show me how to inject!!

I'm still bruising on the legs for no reason and despite not having any injections for 8 weeks now - the patch that went red still itches and is sore.
I've been on methotrexate 2 years and 6 out of 7 days folic acid for about a year and half.
I've noticed a difference in both my arthritis and energy levels so I hope I get re started again soon!!

debram

Have just read my initial post! Trampoline for pain!!!??? Lol predictive text is a wonderful thing - must proof read before I post! Lol I wish I could get on a trampoline - in the meantime I'll stick with tramadol!!! Lol

barbara12

Hello debs
I love the trampoline for pain , thats if I could get on one... aww so sorry you have had a reaction ,I cant offer any advice but I do wish you well with the rheumy appointment, let us know how you get on x

debram

Thanks Barbara! Yes I agree trampoline for pain would be lovely!! Lol
I'm in bed now on a beautiful day - went down this afternoon-pain, fatigue! The unpredictable nature of this disease! Thought it as only the wet and cold that affects people!!!

dreamdaisy

The damp and cold affects my OA, the heat and humidity triggers my PsA. It's a year-round-win-win. :roll: I have been in bed since Monday thanks to the 'fine' weather.

Self-injecting via syringe is straightforward, I was taught at my hospital but only when I began humira was the HaH nurse brought into play. DD

debram

You learn something new every day! I am affected by cold weather with my OA in knees and spine but didnt think hot weather could affect me!.
I was told to go away to a hot country when my psoriasis was bad-no wonder I still felt awful! It didn't help my psoriasis either!

Thanks dream daisy - I thought it was a bit of a coincidence that it was hot and I was ill so now I realise that the Heat WAS affecting my PSA!
We can't win sometimes!
Deb xx

debram

Well back on Enbrel but now in syringe form. Have to say - after being terrified at the thought of injecting with a syringe - it was far easier than the pen! No pain or bruising! ☺

dreamdaisy

That was the form I had but I hope it goes better for you than me. I see that my metoject is changing to a pen; I intensely dislike the lack of control with the humira pen so gawd knows how this will work out. I speak about control when I have an auto-immune arthritis? What a nerve!

Good luck, I hope it's better for you. DD

toady

debram wrote:

Well back on Enbrel but now in syringe form. Have to say - after being terrified at the thought of injecting with a syringe - it was far easier than the pen! No pain or bruising! ☺

Exactly why I don't want to change to the pen.. I like the syringe!

I've had the notification of changing over to metoject pen too.. apparently, because there was pressure to supply them from a majority, & they can't afford to keep both forms, so the rest of us can lump it. Thanks. :roll:

Very good luck with the enbrel debram and I hope you can persist with it and get past the site reactions.

debram

Thanks Toady - I'm injecting into just 2 sites at the moment. 1 leg and tummy. I showed the nurse where its thought I had an allergic reaction on my left leg and it's still red, itchy & raised. She's advised avoiding that leg for 3 months.
I started to bruise on the pen after 4 injections so fingers crossed this time it will be plain sailing!

debram

Good luck to you too Dream daisy! They've talked about switching my methotrexate from pills to injection as I get very bad ulcers fedl sick and have a very very dry mouth. But I'm holding off- let's get Enbrel up & running 1st I think!!

XxDebxx

dreamdaisy

I alternate between two thighs and two sides of the stomach, I don't repeatedly use the same sites. Everything is carefully noted on the kitchen calendar otherwise I forget what's been stuck when and where.

With the meth I was switched from a pre-filled syringe to which I attached a slender needle to the metoject syringe with affixed needle and it's unpleasant: a short, stubby needle that needs a good shove to break the skin but at least I can control the flow. With the pen I won't but no matter. My life sucks, end of, there's no reason why it shouldn't suck more; I can take it. DD

debram

I'm sorry your having a tough time Dream daisy. I've had a rough few years but following help from my consultant, GP, arthritis care forum and helpline plus C BT from a psychologist - I finally feel I'm on the right track.
I was very depressed - suicidal in fact as I couldn't take either the mental stress or physical pain.

I was working and couldn't cope - finally my body and mind gave up in Feb 2012. That's when I went sick from work.
2 years on 2 big ops on I think I'm coping better -that has a lot to do with finishing work and finally getting help.

Along my journey-I felt that people - family, doctors, friends didn't believe how unbearable the pain was.

I'm having help from lots of people-even a podiatrist with inserts - he even got me into the local hospital to have physio and hydrotherapy. I've now got aids at home & splints for my hands, a walking stick for when my legs refuse to go!

I still cry and have dark days where pain is unbearable but one valuable thing C BT gave me was to live in the here and now. That's hard and sometimes I don't want to be in the here and now but I don't look back and mourn the things I've lost and I don't plan my future - I can't. With our illness we have to take one day at a time don't we.
I hope you will start to feel better too -I can't speak highly enough of Arthritis care - the forum and helplines - I don't know where I'd be without them.
We both know we will never be cured but with the right med's and care we can maybe cope a little better.
I'm sending hugs Dream daisy

xx