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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 site reaction

medicmom5
medicmom5
Gave my first injection 8/6, second one on 8/13. On 8/18 the injection site for shot given on 8/13 became red, hot and swollen....area 3 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches. Then noticed first site became recome the same day and it is about 2 x 2 inches. Just thought such a delayed reaction was weird. Today both sites are noticeably bigger, the leg is not 5 x 3 and abdomen is 3 x 3. Called the Dr. and he said try the arm tomorrow. I don't really want to give up the Enbrel, I think I am starting to see some improvement, especially with my hand pain. I've read a lot of people had reactions at first and then they subsided. Is there still hope????
bcatz
bcatz
Yes! a lot of HOPE!
Take a Benadryl 30min prior to injection. Also, for the time being, consider taking any effective antihistamine (allegra, zyrtec, Claritin, etc)daily. It will definitely help. You could even just take Benadryl nightly and see if that's enough.
Your reactions are local, and are pretty common. (but that was smart to check with your doctor) So glad you are starting to feel it work!!

Are you injecting legs or belly?
medicmom5
medicmom5
I have taken Zyrtec daily for years! I have even been taking Benadryl at night for sleep for about a month now so the only thing I could add is to take a Benadryl 30 min prior to the injection. I have done both leg and belly. Arm is next per doctor's orders!
tootsiesmom
tootsiesmom
Medicmom,
I had strange reactions when I first started Enbrel. I would get the reaction right after the shot and then the redness and swelling would go down. When I took the one the following week, the first spot would react again with redness and swelling.
The Rheumy said to give it a few weeks to see if it continued. It stopped after about a month.
I have been on the Enbrel for about 1 1/2 years now and only get a reaction on rare occasions.
I hope it works out for you.
Kim
nomorera
nomorera
Wow, I thought I had a bad bug bite. I had a reaction 5 days after the injection. I thought there's no way it could be a reaction to the Enbrel. It was about 2x3" hot, red, hard and swollen. I tried heat and I tried ice to bring down the pain and swelling and nothing has helped. It's going away now but it's now been 10 days since the injection. I injected the other leg this week and it's sore but no swelling or pain, but I am watching it pretty closely.
Thanks so much for bringing up this topic. I see my rheumy in 2 weeks. I will make note to talk to her about it then.
bcatz
bcatz
Well, shoot! I hope the one added Benadryl helps enough.
My son's allegra quit working after 4 years so he's now on xyzal. Do you think your zyrtec is still effective?
ILoveHuskies
ILoveHuskies
I get a red bump after my injection. It goes away the next day.
medicmom5
medicmom5
Thanks for everyone's comments. I'm pretty sure the Zyrtec still works for me because if I forget to take it even one day, I end up with a drippy nose and post nasal drip something awful. I did the injection today in my arm and took a Benadryl 30 min prior and iced afterwards for about 20 minutes so we 'll see what happens now! Kim, that's what I thought was weird was that the first site didn't get red until the 2nd one showed up! They are both starting to fade now.
nomorera
nomorera
please update us as to how the benadryl and ice worked for you. My dr. agreed that I should try that. It's been 10 days since my injection and I still have a hard swollen spot on my right leg (slowly getting better) and now my left leg is sore from this weeks injection.
medicmom5
medicmom5
Two days ago, took Benadryl 30 min prior to injection in back of upper arm. Even iced for 20 minutes afterward. Quickest reaction yet, by next morning 2 x 2 red hot area, now expanded to 3 x 3. I am just going to keep plodding along and hope it reduces with each injection as I really feel like I am having less pain and stiffness already and would like to give it a good chance. I know this is not an allergic reaction so who cares!
bcatz
bcatz
Well, that is frustrating regarding the reaction but I like your attitude!
And I'm glad you are feeling better!
nerot
nerot
I take Enbrel and my experience was like yours. If I remember correctly, I had the worst injection site reaction the 3rd week and the 4th week. Then the reaction diminished. Now, you cannot tell where I inject.
The best part is that after 4 months I am so very much improved!! I experience some stiffness but very little pain and I am able to walk longer distances. I could hardly shuffle when I began the Enbrel. Is it perfect? No. The day before I am due to inject I get a bad headache and my joints begin to hurt. But I will take 5 good days and 2 bad days over everyday a bad day.