Enbrel

[diperriam]

Hi there, I am about to inject Enbrel tomorrow morning and I wonder if there is anyone who can tell me how this drug has helped their RA. I am a little anxious after reading the possible side effects.

Thanks Di

[Deniseelk]

Hello there. I have been injecting Benepali the Enbrel biosimilar for 22 months now ( how time flies). I have not experienced any known side effects. I have a minor lung issue which is being monitored but I do not know the cause and most likely just another symptom of RA. You may like to also post your query on NRAS site as there are lots of members who take / can comment on Enbrel. For me Methotrexate wasn’t holding my RA and it wasn’t agreeing with me due to numerous side effects. I have an aggressive seropositive RA which quickly caused destruction of my right wrist but I am now in a great position, pretty much out of pain, have the use of my wrist back ( albeit limited), my inflammation is certainly under control and I rarely suffer flares. I have been able to build my muscle strength back up again and I have much more energy. I am

Hopeful I can continue to receive My Benepali injections. Be positive that Enbrel will give you your life back, you will be monitored to ensure it is agreeing with you. Try not to worry about side effects. It can take several weeks to see the benefits but some notice it fairly quickly. Best of luck.

[diperriam in reply to Deniseelk]

Thankyou so much for your help. I did not find it easy to inject this morning as I am a coward but it all went well. I do keep fit even though I have a huge left knee and my right elbow is deformed. My downward dogs dont look so great and my hour walk this morning was a struggle in the beginning but does improve the further I go,. I would love to see my CRP go down.

[Artroc56]

Took me off walking sticks and got me doing long country walks instead

[diperriam in reply to Artroc56]

Thankyou so much for the encouragement.

[Deniseelk]

A few tips ( that help me) on doing the injections.... I take mine out of the fridge early evening and inject after supper ( but I am not sure if Enbrel is more strict on keeping it cool?). I shower as I decided not to use the sterile wipes as many get skin irritations, let my veins “ cool down” then I decide to inject in my thigh. I don’t delay and overthink... just do it. I am always pleased it’s only weekly! I am from the UK so likely admin procedure different but here our medicine delivery provider ( used by NHS) requires us to undergo 6 monthly bloods and for our hospital team to confirm we still require the drug! I keep my own diary on this as if hospital appointments slip it can push this out of routine. If I don’t have a hospital appointment due, my local GP does the blood draw and hospital can access the results anyway! No delays!

[diperriam in reply to Deniseelk]

Thanks so much for your help. I feel this could be the answer to my swollen joint problem. All going well I will be up and running for my holiday to the UK in September.

[helixhelix]

I’ve been on Enbrel for around a year now (how time flies!). It’s been good - I’ve had no side effects, no infections, no reactions at injection site and it has helped my joints quite a bit. Like others I take it out of the fridge a long time before, and use an ice pack to cool down my stomach before injecting so it doesn’t sting at all.

Just one slight negative was that it took a full three months to start working for me. I was just about to give up!

[diperriam in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks so much for sharing your journey. I feel no different at all but it has only been three weeks so I will be patient and do three months!!

[diperriam]

I had to come off Embrel four weeks ago when I had my knee replacement operation. My Rheumotologist told me about a drug that helps psoriatic arthritis that apparently I have, I do not have the skin rash just high CRP that I do have trouble reducing. The drug is Secukinumab?? Has anyone out there got positive results from this? I have read some nasty reactions.