Injecting Enbrel

[Jora]

Ever since I've been on Enbrel, I have injected myself on Saturday night, just before going to bed. It tends to make me drowsy so that seems like a good time.

Last Saturday, I went to a very special concert and dinner, getting home around 1am, which is most unusual for me. I was exhausted and in pain, so I took my codeine and Amitriptaline and crawled into bed. It was not until Sunday lunchtime that I remembered my Enbrel, so I injected then.

I really want to revert to Saturday evening, ideally without shunting it one day forward every week until I get back to Saturday. . I would prefer to jump straight back to Saturday this week ( ie this evening). This would mean that last week's dose and this one would be one week less about 13 hours apart.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

My second choice would be 1). 7 am Sunday this week. 2). Midnight next week.

Jora

[cathie]

and the clocks change too! I would just go back to the normal time because it isn't too long a difference, but maybe check with a pharmacist if you can't get the dr. I am a bit easy about changing the time, but wont advise other people to do the same!

[Jora in reply to cathie]

Thanks a lot Cathie. I quite understand that you can't make a suggestion, but I think I will do as you say, though making it as late as possible tonight. The alternative is to miss this week altogether. To be honest, the Enbrel effect has been rather disappointing. I've tolerated it OK, but it doesn't seem to have made much difference to pain or fatigue.

With Enbrel, MTX and hydroxychloroquine, I would have thought my ESR and CRP would have got a lot lower, but they are still both around 40.

[cathie in reply to Jora]

Better not to miss a week, I agree. How long have you been taking it?

[Jora]

Since last July - ie about 9 months.. I thought it was working to begin with, but as the Prednisilone was gradually reduced, it became apart that this had been doing much of the work. I got down to 2.5mg Pred. and had to get the loo riser out of the cupboard! I'm now at 6mg.

[Paula-C]

Whilst we are not suppose to advise on medication I can only tell you of my experience. I was going on holiday for a week and didn't want all the fuss keeping Enbrel cold. I inject on Fridays. The holiday was Saturday to Saturday. I missed the Friday one when I was away and injected as soon as I got home on the Saturday. The following Friday I did the injection late at night before I went to bed and the following week as normal around midday. In did tell my specialist nurse what I was going to do and she said it was OK. I myself would not want to miss a dose, I've had such good results with Enbrel and I wouldn't do anything to upset the apple cart. xx

[Jora]

Thank you so much Paula -C. That's pretty much the same time difference - I think!

Complicated by the clocks changing, as Cathie kindly reminded me! I think I will do it as late as possible tonight. It will be about 12 hours premature. I couldn't get hold of the doctor and the pharmacist didn't know as he doesn't handle Enbrel prescriptions. Silly of me not to have thought of it earlier in the week, but I didn't.

Don't worry, I don't take your experience as advice!

Many thanks

Jora

[Azabat]

Not an expert, but my rheumy told me it was okay to bump my MTX a day or two in either direction, and then back the next week. xx

Bat

[Jora]

Thanks Bat. I've decided to take it very late tonight. I am so used to doing the injection on Saturday night, with a Sunday morning lie-in, that I don't want to mess with that routine. I'm amazed I forgot last Saturday as I've never needed it more!

xx

[AuroraB]

The insert for Enbrel in the UK says

medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.22...

If you forget to inject Enbrel:

If you forget a dose, you should inject it as soon as you remember, unless the next scheduled dose is the next day; in which case you should skip the missed dose. Then continue to inject the medicine on the usual day(s). If you do not remember until the day that the next injection is due, do not take a double dose (two doses on the same day) to make up for a forgotten dose.

So you've done what the advice states. Well done.

[Jora]

Thanks, AuroraB.

Doh! Why didn't I think of reading that, or watching the DVD. If all else fails, read the instructions!

But thank you so much for reassuring me that I did the right thing!

Jora

[linbin]

Hi. As Enbrel stays in your system for around three weeks, I would imagine that a few hours here or there wont make much difference. But you can always call your clinic to check it out.

Linbin

[Jora]

Thanks everyone.

Just to let you know, I did my injection on the Saturday evening, as late as possible, because of the clock change. No noticable effect. I felt exhausted all yesterday and still do today, but there's nothing new there!

Aurora's comment was the clincher!

Jo