I've been on Enbrel for 6 weeks. After 2 weeks, I had a big improvement in fatigue, and my hands have steadily been getting less swollen. I'm using the pen. It does sting going in, but t's easy to use and the sting only lasts a few seconds.

I had my second injection this morning. I have the same questions about how long before I see results--especially in the fatigue. I have had no bad side effects in the first week. The injection this morning burned more than last week when the nurse was supervising. She dried the alcohol with sterile gauze before the injection. I didn't do that today. I think that might help with the stinging.

I have been on Enbrel since january 2003 and with the first injection I was 95% better in about 24 hours as far as the pain.Over the next month swelling and fatigue were gone. I felt normal with the exception of an occasiona flare for a long time.It has just been over the past 6-8 months that the enbrel has stopped working as well.I have swellling and pain again although not as severe and also the fatigue is back.I had really bad injection site reactions for some time with redness itching and swelling but dont get those anymore.Also I would get headaches initially but again that went away.One thing that I do notice usually after the injection is that I develope a dry cough for a couple of days then it goes away.Other than that this was my miralce drug.I self inject with a syringe and needle have more control that way.Also I still inject the 25mg twice weekly.Injection in my abdomen and alway let the alcohol dry before the poke and it virtually painless.

I have been on Enbrel for over two years now. I like to use the needle. I prefer it because I feel like I have more control. It also leaves less bruising. I took Enbrel quite a few months before it started working. I swear I was ready to give up, but eventually it kicked in.
Good Luck!

It only took about two weeks before I saw an improvement. Steadily I saw a big improvement in fatigue and achy painful swollen joints.

I had to go off Enbrel for a couple of months recently and I got in a horrible shape without it.

I was ok'd to start back on it and again it didn't take long before I could see a huge improvement.

Linda

I started feeling way better almost after the first shot. I think this varies between people. I use a needle. Since I have started to have scarring on my stomach I now am getting it injected into my bottom. My husband gallantly offered to help. I had no bad reaction to it just some itch and swelling where the needle went in. I found that icing the area really well before and after helps that alot. Good luck.

It has worked greatly for me. Started it in Febr. and noticed improvement after about the second inj. I use the sure click auto-injectable pen. Stings a little, but I am used to it by now. My life saver as far as I am concerned. Good luck. erica

Tanks, I am just so scared of the neeles. Also, the paper said to watch out not to get any infections or Colds and the Flu. I did have the Flu Shot, but I can't help but think about infections, I cut my fingers quite a bit working with my Roses and other Garden Plants. I never worried before, but now after reading all the must reads before you start, I am a little scared to start. What did some of you do when you got sick. I also bruise easyly, so do I rotate the shot site whaen that happens? I am sorry to ask so many Questions, but I have only been on Mtx so far, and am a little scared of the biologics. I had all my bloodtests today, but they won't get the results probably til monday, so I may want to wait until then to make sure there are no underlying infections that I don't know about. I also am going for an MRI on my Knee it is still swollen and I can't use my foot. calf, shin and foot. don't know if its muscular or Vasculitis. I just have never been so confused of what to do. I am in pain almost all the time, unless I up my Pred which the Dr. did also to 20mg and tapering down over the next 3 mos. so I am a big mess right now. I feel like a Drug ADDICT people around me just don't get what I am going through. Thanks for listening, it's nice to get things off your chest.
bigi

Bigblue, I took enbrel for 10 weeks after being on humira for 12 weeks. On both drugs I seemed to be getting worse so rheumy switched me to the big guns, infusions and I am now on Orencia. You need to give the enbrel at least 3 months to determine if it is working. If it isn't you have other drugs to try. I have taken Orencia since July and have yet to feel better, however I am not getting worse, so am cautiously optimistic. With the infusions you have to give it 6 months to see if it works. Apparently it has something to do with your cells ryclying thru your body over a period of time. When I took the enbrel and the humira I used the pen. I had no reaction, however I know people that had injection sight problems. I keep hand sanitizer in every room as well as in my purse. When I go the grocery store I use the wet wipes provided to wipe down the shopping cart. You don't have to be paranoid, just careful to stay away from people that are sick. Hope the enbrel is your miracle drug! Patience is needed...and the waiting is the hardest part. hugs, marcia

If you bruise easily then rotate where you inject as much as you can. I was advised to go from stomach to arms to thighs but thing is I swim alot and didn't want to jab marks to be visible.So I just stuck to my stomach area but now have rotated to my bum. I guess it's the biggest mass of muscle on my body (and fat) and it doesn't bruise or swell as badly. Plus noone can see. I was very worried too about the flu and getting it. I am careful to wash my hands and gargle. I also have disinfectant gel I apply to my hands ever few hours. I work in a school so as you know with kids germs spread like crazy. i am careful and so far since I started enbrel last February I haven't caught a cold or had any infections. I also commute by car and avoid crowded trains whenever I can. I'm just careful and find it's working out well. When working in your garden I would suggest heavy duty gloves to avoid getting cut. When I was coming off my pain killers that was very very hard. You'll
get there though. Hang in there. Let us know how it is going.

I have been on enbrel a long time and have been sick with the flu only one time 2 years ago.When you are sick you just dont inject the med.My husband is sick more than I am.The best thing to do is handwashing handwashing handwashing!!I also keep antibacterial wipes in my car that i use after going into the market and touch the carts. Also keep hands away from your face.I work in a hospital and have done well with not getting sick.I have had 2 infections on my hands. both times it happened after a manicure.I dont get them anymore. I just do it at home.Also I wont get pedicures, again i do it at home. I hope you have success with the enbrel and the injections really arent bad once you get past the first one you will do great!

Thanks all. Its good to have such good and caring People for a change.
bigi

I was on Enbrel for 6 weeks and it helped alot with the fatigue. I wasn't flaring at the time I was put on it so the difference it made was more subtle.

I got an infection in my back molar (I've had the same problem before) and had to go off and onto antibitoics for two weeks. It took a month to get back on the Enbrel and I just took my fourth shot.

For four weeks I was just on Arava (no Sulfa or Hydroxy) I flared up a bit so its likley going to take longer for me to see result this time around. So far its not been a miracle but I do notice a difference... more so than any of the other drugs I've been on.

I'm still waiting for the drug that gives the same releif and 30mg of prednisone without the side effects! I think I might be waiting a long time... good thing I'm not holding my breath.

My liver tests spiked a bit three weeks ago and my Rhuemy took me off the Arava and Anti-iflamatory. He swears its not the Enbrel but thinks he'll take me off the Arava permanently. I've been on it for 1.5 years so I don't see how all of a sudden it could cause issues.

I've been in for 3 blood tests in 3 weeks and the levels are not dropping quickly so he think its becuase the Arava has a long half life. I personally think it the combination of the Enbrel and Arava.

I should hear back from him today. Likely he'll prescibe cholestyramine to wash it out of my system then to the liver tests again. That's okay with me the Arava didn't realy seem to be doing very much for me anyways. I just want my anti-inflmatories back - gonin on 4 weeks without any OUCH!

Lynn
Got my Blood test back and my Liver is up again. I know it's the Prednisone, because the last time I was on it, my Rheumy took me off the pred, but left me on the Mtx and when the test came back everything was normal. So, he still had me start on Enbrel today and tapering off the Pred again. I hope I don't have to go on that anymore. 185 is too high for Liver Problems to develop. Hope yours is going to be ok too.

I have been on Ebrel for 4 months (but changing to Remicade next month). I prefer the needle, but for ease of use the "pen" is probably easiest. I learned the most important thing - it is much less uncomfortable if you let it warm before injecting. I did not have much of a reaction, a little flu-like sx. that passed within a day. My pharmacist recommended dosing with a little Tylenol before (like you would a child and their vaccinations) and that did seem to help a little. Good luck, you will get used to it in no time!

Heather