I've only been on Enbrel for three months now (it is working great for me). I came down with a cold on Jan 1 and asked my doc if I should skip a week. The nurse said I should skip a week until my symptoms subsided. I commented to my doc at my appointment about two weeks later that, although I had skipped a week, I didn't seem any worse off. He said that some patients opt to inject less frequently (like every other week) and that I could do that if I wanted to. But, just this past week, I noticed that my joints were starting to hurt right about the time I was due for my next (weekly) shot, so I am not likely to skip any weeks unless I get sick again.

I would definitely recommend clearing this with your doc if you decide to do it, though. Also, you wouldn't want this to possibly affect any co-pay assistance from Enbrel, if you get that. I know they like to collect data from patients who get their meds via specialty pharmacies, and I don't know if your data would be as valuable to them if you didn't take the med as recommended by the pharmaceutical company. I think they intended to have us to inject weekly.

When I started feeling better on the Enbrel my doc suggested that I go to 10 days apart for a few weeks then move that out by a day or two for a few more weeks until I finally got to 2 weeks apart.
I never got there. After 3 weeks or so, I needed to go back to the weekly schedule.
He did suggest that I continue to fill the Enbrel like I was taking it weekly so there would not be a problem with my insurance if I needed to go back to the weekly schedule.
I would clear Everything with your Doctor before you begin to rearrange your med schedule. They need to know exactly what we are doing in order to treat us correctly.
I hope that the time between injections lengthens for you.
Best of Luck,
Kim

Yes, my intention is to take the Enbrel every 10 days. My reasoning is that it's kinda a "one size fits all" prescription. So a 150lb person takes the same as a 100lb and a 250lb person.

I also had to wait three times for 9 days on three of my doses. One kiddo had the flu and I was not about to take the Enbrel to end up having the flu. (waited and took Tamiflu) Another kiddo with virus and lastly, I felt sick (never got sick) so I waited. Once I feel like it's really doing it's job I'll add a couple of days and land on 10 UNLESS it doesn't work out. I've already told my rheumatologist of my intentions. I think he's just happy I'm taking it.

I did really well with the Enbrel injecting weekly. Its effectiveness peaked at 7 months. It got so that I was in much pain the day before injection. Doc has added Imuran. I feel better with both but I am not pain free.

Bottom line, everyone is different. I would sure get my doctor in on any decisions.