Hi is anyone on etanercept how r you and do you get side affects Karen

[Neverwell]

[Hidden]

Hi Karen, I am on etanercept, the only side effects, if you like to call it, that I have had is sometimes there is swelling at the site and around it, but noticed that if I sit for 30 minutes afterwards that this does not happen, depending on which leg I use sometimes it stings when injecting, otherwise nothing else and all of these are normal. These are what your nurse will talk to you about when she comes to show you how to inject. I am taking it that you have not started treatment yet. If you have a partner I would advise them to be with you as the nurse will show them where the best place is for them to inject you, just in case your hands are not good at any time. When the nurse came to me I thought it would be just the one visit but she came a few times plus telephone calls, any queries you have she will be able to help you and answer for you. Good luck. xx

[Neverwell]

Thanks georje

Not haven't started yet just thought I would ask about side affects I will ask hubby to be here x

[MrsFitz17]

Hi Karen, I was on it for a while and it worked really well for about 9 months. I had injection site reactions but they weren't too bad and I also had a constantly runny nose which stopped as soon as I stopped enbrel.

Hope it works for you.

Mary

[parkie]

Hi Karen,I got a rash,that went after a while, it wasn't itchy or anything just there and it stings while injecting but stops once the injections finished, but as Georje has said the nurse tells you all you need to know and answers any questions you may have. I have found Healthcare very helpful, I phoned them regarding the rash and the pharmisist/doctor phoned back within 1/2hr. As I'm doing this I'm waiting for my delivery of etanercept, the only problem there is it can be delivered between 8am--6pm, Take care Ann x

[Paula-C in reply to parkie]

Ann......Here is the link to the treatment tracker. hah.co.uk/eta

You can go on it from about 7pm the evening before your delivery. Just put in your ref no and it will tell you what time your delivery slot is.

Paula

[parkie in reply to Paula-C]

Thank you very much for that,that will come in handy Ann

[magglen]

I have been on Etanercept for four years..... it is wonderful. I am back on my feet and walking miles every day. I find it best to find a nice area of fat to inject. My legs don't have enough so my tummy gets the jabs every time... can't reach round to my bottom which would be an ideal place but live alone! Yes, I do have a runny nose all the time but hey, it's worth it.

Only problem is that if I have a bacterial infection or need any surgical procedure I would have to stop the Etanercept for a while but am covered with Leflunomide. Hope it goes well for you too. x

[Neverwell]

Thank you all I'm hoping it works better than the last two rummy said

It does what it says on the tin so fingers crossed

[Paula-C]

I stated injecting Enbrel last November and I felt the difference the next day. I was taking steroids because the RA had got that bad. I wanted to start reducing my steroids straight away but was advised by RA nurse to wait for four weeks. I did as I was told and I took my last steroids two weeks ago and for the first time since being diagnosed with RA I do not need pain killers. I have no RA symptoms at all. Like many others say......Enbrel has given me my life back.

Fingers crossed (I can do that now) that it works the same for you.

I don't know if my RA would of been in the moderate or severe category prior to taking Enbrel. My first DAS score was 7.2, I don't know what the second one was, only knew it was high enough to qualify. I haven't had any side effects at all, no rash at injection site, no stinging when I inject. I already inject MTX and was advised by RA nurse to use the pre filled syringes and not the pen. She told me that I would have more control doing it that way, I do inject it very slowly and am wondering if that is why I don't get the sting that a lot of people mention.

Hope this helps.

Paula x

Paula

[Neverwell]

Thanks Paula I think I will start injections in a couple of weeks x

[Jane06]

I have been on Enbrel for 6 months. It has certainly helped, but not taken the symptoms away completely. Funnily enough, the pain and swelling in my hands and wrists is worse on days 2 & 3 after I have taken it. They are almost gone on days 4-7. It has been the same from the start - so no gradual improvement like I expected. Like everyone else, I got a rash at the site for the first few injections, but not for some time now, and no real side effects.