Starting Enbrel tomorrow,

[nellysgran]

Just wanted to ask if anyone who started Enbrel, stopped taking. sulfa and hydroxy the day before. I have been reading the instructions and it says that anyone taking Sulfa is not allowed to take Enbrel,?????

Any advice would be welcome,

Wendy xx

[Hidden]

Hello, my instruction leaflet says to tell the Dr if you are taking other medicines including Sulfasalazine, but NOT to take it with anakinra or abatacept. It doesn't say not to take it with Sulfasalazine. Why don't you check with your nurse tomorrow before injecting, just to put your mind at rest. I inject both enbrel and MTX, and take sulfa. Regards, Virge

[Wildschonau]

I have injected enbrel since October and was told to stop taking sulfa before I started. Hope enbrel works well for you it has been great for me.

[RayC1]

Hi Wendy,

I started taking Enbrel four weeks ago and have been told to continue taking sulfa and hydroxy. So far I have had no side effects but no improvements either though it may take six to eight weeks to start noticing the improvements.

Good luck with it.

Christine x

[Hidden]

Hi nellysgran

The information in the SPC (summary of product characteristics) for Enbrel says the following:

"Concurrent treatment with sulfasalazine

In a clinical study of adult patients who were receiving established doses of sulfasalazine, to which Enbrel was added, patients in the combination group experienced a statistically significant decrease in mean white blood cell counts in comparison to groups treated with Enbrel or sulfasalazine alone. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown. Physicians should use caution when considering combination therapy with sulfasalazine."

I would agree with what has been said already to check with whoever is administering the Enbrel for you.

Good luck with it

Regards

Beverley ( NRAS Helpline )

[nellysgran]

Hi thank you everyone for your replies, I have now had my first Enbrel (pen) and yes it did hurt but my Rheumy nurse has told me to stop taking Sulfa and Hydroxy, just to take MXT with the Enbrel.

Wendy xx

[hatshepsut]

Don't think there's any problems with hydrxy