Enbrel

[speersy]

Starting this soon after reacting to so many RA drugs, including ritumixab. Hoping after 2 years this one will work. Would appreciate hearing from those who have taken it how they found it and how long it took to work? Thanks

[Paula-C]

I started taking it November 2012. I started to feel the benefit of it the next day. Was in remission at my first 12 week appointment and still am, no pain relief required. I did have a slight flare last May, but apart from that I am really, really well. I've had no side effects at all. Hope you get the same result!!!! Good luck xx.

[speersy in reply to Paula-C]

Thank you, hopefully I will be the same as you. Can't wait

[Hidden]

Fingers crossed for you. There is a new biologic called Xeljanz - it is different than the TNFa inhibitors & is a JAK inhibitor. The best thing is it is an oral medication!

[nomoreheels in reply to Hidden]

I don't think it's been licensed for our autoimmune problems here in the UK, concerns about it's safety.

[lainee]

Hi I am new on Embrel and I was so pleased as it was working really well. I have been off it due to infections for 4 weeks and just hoping I can get back on it soon. It took a while to get used to injection as it hurt more than mtx but now take it out of fridge and leave for an hour to warm up. Hope it works for you xxx

[speersy in reply to lainee]

Thank you for the tip. I will make sure I take it out of the fridge in plenty of time xx

[wishbone in reply to lainee]

Iainee, If you suffer with recurring infections then I'd have a serious think and a chat with your rheumatologist about going back on enbrel. I was on enbrel when I had a UTI, which according to my orthopedic consultant, led to me getting an infected hip and sepsis. I was on enbrel & mtx at the time and he (the consultant) reckoned that enbrel played a significant roll in allowing the UTI bug into my bloodstream and told me not to take it again. I was gutted having to stop taking it as it worked wonders for me.

[lainee in reply to wishbone]

Thanks Wishbone, I have only been on it a short while and just finished antibiotics so I will discuss with consultant, were you prescribed something else? X

[wishbone in reply to lainee]

My consultants seemed less concerned about stopping methotrexate, but before rheumy could suggest anything I told them that sepsis had scared the hell out of me and I was going cold turkey as far as immune suppressing meds, including steroids, were concerned and they didn't argue. I was on pain relief - naproxen, tramadol and paracetomol for 9 months, but my RA gradually worsened (it was absolute hell for the last 4 months) so I've been back on methotrexate for 5 weeks and am feeling noticeably better, though nowhere near as good as I was on enbrel. Rheumy wants me to start taking abatacept, but I'm very reluctant about going on another biologic as they appear to have a bigger impact on the immune system than other drugs. I'm seeing my rheumatologist on monday to discuss things. I would like to stay on methotrexate but don't think I can as I've developed an RA related lung condition, will also find out more about that on monday. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one but it doesn't look good to be honest.

Should mention that I've had recurring UTIs for a few years. One good thing about stopping immune suppressants was that I haven't had a UTI for an unprecedented 5 months...I would have had at least two during that period of time when I was on immune suppressants...I had three infections during the last couple of months I was on enbrel.

We are all different so you may well be fine to carry on with enbrel after your current infections have cleared, but I thought it best to let you know about my experience with enbrel and infections.

[lainee in reply to wishbone]

Sorry to hear you had such a bad time and hope all goes well Monday. It is a no win situation sometimes isn't it. I will see how things go and hope it's just a one off, take care xxx

[zipper5321 in reply to lainee]

Lainee...when you say infections, do you mean like a cold or flu? How did you feel while off of it, did symptoms return immediately?

[lainee in reply to zipper5321]

Hi no, I have had urine infection and 2 chest infections it was after 3 weeks before symptoms got bad again though. X

[magglen]

I have been on Enbrel for 12 years now. I can't remember how long it took to take effect but I think it was very quick. From being virtually bed ridden I was soon up on my feet and now able to do my 3 mile walk every day [weather permitting!]. I hope it works as well for you. For me it is a wonder drug!

xx

[Vandf]

I hope it all goes well for you. I take Enbrel and Methotrexate. The Enbrel worked very quickly, certainly before my second injection. I did have injection site reaction but it disappeared after about 6 weeks. I also make sure that I take it out of the fridge half an hour before and I use a plastic ice cube for 10 minutes before the injection. It seems to numb the area. A wonder drug for me too! Best wishes.

[Birthdaygirl]

Hi speersy

I started Enbrel in April 2014. Two years after first diagnosis and having had various dmards and with terrible side effects and no real improvement.

Once starting Enbrel, like others, I felt positive changes to mobility and pain started to be controlled quite quickly. In some ways this speedy response was not good for me as the excitement of feeling that at last a drug treatment was working made me overdo things and it set me back.

Enbrel has been easy to inject, gentle to take, no nasty side effects, and has allowed me to get off sulphasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, high doses of prednisolone and methotrexate. I just take Enbrel.

I do take vitamin d supplement and calcium too.

I do have occasional flares. Some make sense, like after having a flu jab, and some times I dont know why I flare but generally things are a lot better than the pre Enbrel days.

Hope all goes well for you.

Let us all know how it goes.

Best wishes

BG

[Beverley_F]

This was the second one of these type of drugs I tried when they first became available, whilst it did not work for me I did not suffer any side affects. I think they can take up to 3 months to start to take affect but it does vary from person to person.

[Gillian1163]

I had 10 good years on Enbrel with no side effects to talk about. Good luck

[speersy]

Thank you everyone for your advice and best wishes. I certainly feel more hopeful now than I have for a while. I will let you know how it goes xx