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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Enbrel injection site reactions

Caren28
Caren28
I started on Enbrel six weeks ago, using the Sureclick pen. My first five shots went perfectly- some stinging but no mark at all afterwards. Then last week, I woke up the morning after my shot with a hive where the shot had gone in. It started out raised and about the size of a quarter, then spread out to about 3 inches across. It's not raised or red now, more like a light bruise, but it's still itchy. I know this is common with Enbrel- have any of you had this happen? If so, how long does it last for you?

Caren
debRAinOC
debRAinOC
I had a similar situation with Humira pens earlier this year. I'd been taking Humira for 8 or 9 months without incident. But one day I got a huge welt (hot, red, but only very slightly itchy). The doctor said such a reaction is "not uncommon" and told me to use Benadryl cream. (I didn't actually do that since the area wasn't itchy by the time he called back.) The area was normal again in a few days.

I also got welts the next couple times I injected, but they were smaller. I haven't had any since then.
TerriH52
TerriH52
I have been taking Enbrel since Nov. 2008 and just the last 2 injections I have had no reactions. I finally learned to put an ice pack where I was going to inject for about 10 minutes. Then do the inj. and put the ice pack on it for another 10 minutes. It gets a little red but no more welts and itching. It seems I had worse reactions when I used the regular syringes than the Quick Click Pens. But I love Enbrel. I just hope it works for a long time.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes its normal! I take Cimzia injections and hit a vein, HUGE bruise. The strange little raised area is the medication absorbing into you subcutanious fat cells. (not sure I spelled that right) Your good
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, I get this redness surrounding the inj. site probably every other shot. It goes away after a couple days. I find it to be less painful when i do it in the stomache (more fat) rather than thigh. erica
LynnRivers
LynnRivers
I'd make sure the needle is going deep enough. I haven't used the sure click but with the regular syringe you need to have the needle in all the way. The first time I did it I didn't have the needle in all the way and the injection was too close to the surface and I got a welt (hive). A couple of times I've have had a slightly darker patch (2" in dia) that was a little itch for a day or so. Not every time just sometimes... not sure why.

The time I got the worse reaction was actually from the achohol swab. They sent me some from Enbrel Canada with the travel bag. I was apprently allergic to something in those swabs. Needless to say I threw those out and got another brand from the drugstore.