Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

I've been on Enbrel for one year as of this past Thursday.

It started slowly relieving my fatigue within 3 or 4 weeks.

After about 4 months I was feeling really good. My energy was back and my pain and stiffness were a non-issue yet I still struggled with varying degrees of inflammation for a number of months while I nailed down an NSAID.

Today I take Enbrel, Plaquenil, and Mobic. This combination has been working well for me although I do experience occasional stiffness, and low grade inflammation and pain. I feel the medication is a powerful floodgate that I don't want opened again.

I am thankful for the Enbrel. It has made an unbelievably huge difference in my life.

good luck,
sjb

Hi, I have been on Enbrel since 2003 - yikes! Yes, Enbrel is a miracle for me (although I would love to be off it as the side effects are scary) - BUT....

I still get fatigued but it definitely helps with joint pain - without Enbrel I would be crippled in a corner - I can go off it for about 3 weeks until I notice that I start to get alot worse and within a few days of taking an injection I am much better.

I still would do anything not to be on any of these drugs (I am on MTX, ENBREL, ELAVIL)

I am looking into trying the Eat to Live Diet...its so hard though...Fruit and veggies, no meat or dairy - like the Adam and Eve diet..but I would do anything to get off medicine...maybe its just wishful thinking...

anyways back to your original post...yes the biologics work well

Hope it works well for you!

PS I tired Simponi for 3 months but it always wore off the last week and a half (its a 1 month injection)

I have been on Enbrel for a little over two years and it took quite a while to kick in. However now I don't know what I would do without it, as it helps keep me functional. Stick with it! I still have flares and some issues with fatigue, it isnt a cure all drug, but it def. helps.
Good luck!
Kate

Unfortunately enbrel didn't work for me. With that said I have been on Orencia since July. Although my RD says it is too early to tell if it helps, I can tell you that my fatigue levels are better too. I seem to have more energy to get things done, although I still poop out very early in the evening. My RD says the percentages of relief we get from the biologics vary but the pharma companies consider the drug successful with as little as a 20% improvement. Hope you continue to feel stronger and better everyday.

I'm so glad to see people Enbrel has helped. It didn't help me but it's good to know others have been helped by it!

Lynne

I felt relief almost immediately in both the fatigue department and joint pain. I've been on enbrel for about 9 months now. I have almost no joint pain although I still have fatigue. My doctor says I am in remission and he hopes to taper off the medication in January. Fingers crossed.

I was on it for 6 weeks, off for 4 weeks, now back on for going on 7 weeks. The benefit for me seems to max out at 6 weeks. It hasn't got any better in the last week. I noticed a big diference in the fatigue in the first couple of weeks... I can almost concentrate again. No more constant brain fog.

I'm only on the Enbrel now and my morning stiffness in my ankles is back (that was gone on the Arava). I will likely need to add back the Plaquenil or Sulfazalazine to achieve full releif. But the Enbrel has done more for me that anything else so far.

I think that you should give it at least 3 months before you decide its not working well enough. I've been able now to tell the difference between pain from inflamation and pain from damage.

I have a signifigant amount of damage in my feet at this point and the Enbrel of course isn't going to help that. My feet still hurt alot but likely that will require a surgical fix.

I have also had 3 injections and I am feeling great. I still take it with Mtx and hope to get off all that too someday. I hope to get to the point like Cas where I can get to taper off, but for right now I am happy with the result. I feel a little pain in my wrist when I have used it too much, but not for long. I am off the pred and have not had any major pain yet. I keep my fingers crossed that I don't have to use it any more.
The only thing I don't like about it is that you have to watch out not to cut yourself and get an infection. I am very prone to cut and scrape myself.

Ive been on enbrel for close to 7 years(will be 7 in January) and after the first injection I thought I was cured!! It was my miracle.The pain and swelling was nearly gone after 1st shot and then after 2nd I felt no more pain.It has been so long ago that i started it but i think the fatigue was gone after a month or so.It has just been recently over the past 6 months or so that it is not working as well.I have been sick for the last 3 weeks and haven't had a shot and boy am I a mess.I guess it is working better than I thought but not like it was.This is the first time in several years I have been sick and have never had to stop the enbrel for more than a week.This has been an eye opener.Anyways I am so happy that it is working well for you too!!! I too am starting the Eat to Live Program but plan to eliminate all wheat as well.I do notice that after eating certain foods I dont feel so well and have increased swellling pain so I am hopefull this will help.

I've been on Enbrel for about 10 weeks now. I also take Plaquenil and ibuprofen. Like most others, I noticed a big improvement in fatigue after 2-3 weeks. I've also noticed an improvement in some joints- my hands have gotten much less swollen and morning stiffness in them is almost gone. Other joints aren't responding, and my shoulder pain is increasing. Overall, though, Enbrel is the only drug that I've seen really make any difference. Psychologically, it's given me some hope, and I think that is extremely valuable.