What specifically worries you?

You need to give the warnings just cursory notice. When clinical trials are done they must report any little patient-reported condition. So if someone comes in with an ear ache, it'll likely go on the warning label. Or PMS.... In short, you just need to look at the big picture. Do you have ANY idea how many patients Enbrel has helped????? IT FAR OUTWEIGHS THOSE WHO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRUGS.

So the choice is yours: live in fear of the drug.....or give it a chance, with the likelihood that it WILL work without any problems.

Remember, the vast majority of people who come to these forums are those having issues.....the ones who are successfully maintained on biologics are out enjoying life. You could be one of them.

I totally agree with CALIF! Everything has side effects including drinking water and breathing air. Certainly driving a car or crossing a street is POTENTIALLY fatal!!

When you have a disease that not only causes pain, but is PROGRESSIVE and can be permanently disfiguring and crippling, a priority is stopping the progression to the best of your ability. that is the goal of treating RA, since there is no cure.

Enbrel is among the best options we have. Any of the biologics are. When they work, they work spectacularly! I had about 2 yrs remission on Enbrel and also on Humira. I am now in the EIGHTH year of remission on Orenica!! That means 8 years pain-free - able to live my life as if I have no RA! More importantly, it put the brake son the destruction that had happened to my bod because I was diagnosed long ago when there were no biologics or anything to stop the damage and ravage this disease can cause. Loom at my avatar! That is MY REAL HAND! Both hands look like that! I am DEFORMED as a result of years of undertreated and poorly treated RA. Biologics are a BLESSING and worth any side-effect you can tolerate, IMO.

We each must make our own choices in the end. But know the risks you are taking if you don't treat this disease properly and weight that against the POSSIBLE side effects. It's not just joint damage. RA causes major organ issues. I had a pleural effusion with a partially collapsed lung that was filled with RA fluid and took a week to drain! RA can also affect your heart and untreated reduces your lifespan.

Self-injections and POSSIBLE side effects are scary, but not when you understand the risks of not.

Thank you Californialynn and WarriorGal for your answers. I know I am going to try the enbrel just first hearing it freaked me out. Now in my saner moments I know I have to put on my big girl panties and do what I have to do! I never pictured myself having to inject medicine but then again never pictured myself having RA. The pain sucks and thank god there are meds to try and fight this stupid disease! But thank you again it does help hearing from people who know what your going through!

None of us ever imagined this for ourselves. Life brings curves and bumps in the road!

I also never imagined being 73. But I will be in days!!!

Happy Birthday WarriorGal! I started the process to start the enbrel. Thank you again for your kind words of encouragement.

Many of us take biologics. I take Humira and, along with low dose MTX, have taken it for about 10 years now. It was a game changer for me.

Will your doctor's office have you come in so that they can show you how to administer the shot? It's so easy. Piece of cake.

Yes they will teach me how to use enbrel. I hope I have as much success as you have. The only thing is I can't take methorexate my liver enzymes went through the roof. Do biologics work better with methorexate?

Enbrel was my first biologic I ever took and it was great. If we read all the drug warnings we will psych ourselves out! My opinion is that if a drug can give me back my quality of life, it's worth the risk. This disease TOTALLY sucks and there are good days and bad, for sure. I have had RA since I was a kid (JRA) and what gets me through is trying to be optimistic and to always have hope. You are not alone!

Totally agree with ylimey. It's all about attitude and really understanding the warning labels, which are too often overstated.

I started Humira ten years ago. Was diagnosed in 1992. Biologics gave me my life back. I can't say enough good things about biologics and MTX.

Enbrel was one of the first medications i took (I was 13 at the time) and it worked wonderfully for years! My issue with it was that I wasn’t consistent with my doses and my body ended up building a tolerance! I, personally, didn’t experience any side effects that i can remember. My advice is give it a shot and if it works its way into remission stay consistent and active! Build your muscles and eat healthy :-)

Enbrel didn't work for me but may e for you it will, I think it's trial of different meds. Methotrexate works better with a biologic mostly,

Biologics are the ONLY way to go, if your disease is moderate to severe. If your doctor wants you on it, then give it a chance. My life was miserable until I got on a biologic in combo with mthx. I literally cannot live without a biologic.

You will be glad you took this step forward in the treatment of your disease. And yes, they should show you how to give yourself the injection. And if they do not, just make them stop and show you. You are the patient they need to help you and make you happy!

Had my first enbrel injection today. I used the prefilled syringe and it did not hurt at all. I was pleasantly surprised. I still was nervous about side effects or allergic reaction but so far nothing thank god! I just wanted to thank everyone for listening and helping me with my fear it really helped a lot! Happy Valentines Day!

I'm glad it went well and I pray you get good results from it with no side effects. Keep us posted.

Glad it went well.

Hope you remember this experience so that if you ever have to take another drug you won't get anxious about it.