About etanercept

[LauraAsheighh]

Been suffering with a lot of side effects from etanercept with methotrexate, can you tell me what side effects you get and what happens with them, as experiencing some myself and are you getting help from doctors?

[Hidden]

MTX is meant to be less nauseating if taken by injection but I still take mine orally so I can't say. I was getting horrible nausea when I was taking 17.5 alongside Hydroxichloraquine but am fine now I've been moved back down to 15mg again. I just get tired the next day now but that's all. Tilda x

[Hidden]

Hi Laura,

I take both by self administered injection once weekly. The only really noticeable side effect I have now is that, like Tilda, I get tired the following day or sometimes the day after.

I also find that my urine is quite strong the next day which is presumably my body clearing out the toxins. I try to remember to drink more water to flush my system though. I can't really be sure but I think that I may have had a spell of mouth ulcers early on in the treatment and a strange metallic taste in my mouth but that has all cleared up.

You didn't say what your side effects are but I do hope they clear soon and that the combination helps to control your RA. Judy x

[magglen]

I don't know if it is the Etanercept that makes me have to PU 2 hrly through the night. I thought it was the Leflunomide so have stopped that as suggested by the consultant, but no difference. I long for an good night's sleep. I seem to be normal in the day except if I drink tea of coffee when I am again excreting more than the intake.... or so it feels to me.

[Hidden in reply to magglen]

Hi Magglen, I am on the same Etanercept (Embrel) and Leflunomide as you and I have noticed that I am visiting the loo more at night, I took it down to my taking more fluids but if you are having the same it could be the combination. Other than that have noticed no other side effects.

[Judetheobscure]

Hello Laura - On Etanacept (Enbrel) with Methotrexate (MTX) I suffered from a lot of infections which meant coming off both and the use of an antibiotic. I asked if I could try Enbrel without MTX and this has been working very well. For me the combination of drugs just seemed to lower the immune system too much. Trials have shown that Enbrel is most effective taken with MTX and I have the option of trying a lower dose of MTX should the Enbrel alone not dampen down the disease. Jude

[Hidden]

Hi Laura18

I have pasted links below to information produced by Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) on both methotrexate and etanercept which includes details of some of the most common side effects of these drugs. If you are noticing side effects yourself, it is always worth mentioning them to your rheumatology team especially if they are very persistent or getting worse.

Methotrexate patient information: arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

Etanercept patient information: arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

I hope these links will be helpful.

Kind regards

Sarah Kate

NRAS Helpline

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, Sarah, I visited the site and had confirmation of something the optician said to me earlier in the week. I have now bookmarked their site as well as your own.