Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

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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FrannieNYC 12/18/2013

I have been on Enbrel for 8 weeks now. The inflammation is down and the pain level has decreased to a minimal level. However, I have little energy, tremendous fatigue and sleep a lot. It's excessive. I can't tolerate mtx to add to it, however, when I was on it, my energy was high but I was still highly inflamed. I hate switching to a new med and waiting it out again, but am wondering if its time to try Humira because the fatigue is debilitating. Thoughts on when to make the switch? And has anyone made the switch to Humira and had reduced fatigue?

deleted_user 12/18/2013

Just to clarify, is the fatigue something new or did you have that prior to Enbrel?

FrannieNYC 12/18/2013

It was pre-Enbrel, but I was working and going to school, and pushing myself hard. But I would sleep through the weekend and have trouble walking to/from work. Now that I'm on medical leave, I spend a lot of my day sleeping and have trouble doing basic errands. I feel more fatigued, but I think its because I have finally given into my body. I don't think its gotten worse on Enbrel, but it certainly hasn't improved at all.

deleted_user 12/18/2013

If Enbrel has dramatically improved your pain I'm not sure I'd be so quick to replace it. If methotrexate worked well for your fatigue earlier, can you could try a drug similar to it like leflunomide?

bcatz 12/18/2013

If the pain and swelling is down, I'd NOT quit Enbrel. It is so hard to find relief and sometimes when you quit and realize a drug was helping so much - you never get the same good pain relief again.

I'd try to find a way to address the fatigue outside of quitting Enbrel - so that you are sure you absolutely must quit it.

Ask dr about vitamins (b12, d), are you sleeping well enough?

sammyo1 12/18/2013

Funny how we are all different. One of the first thigs the Enbrel relieved was my exhaustion.
If I missed it by one day I'd feel it.
That's how I knew it was not working as well, the exhaustion hit again & the pain followed.
Wishing you the best of luck.
Sammy

ILoveHuskies 12/18/2013

Has your doctor ever checked your thyroid? An under-active thyroid can cause much fatigue. Many people that have RA also get an under-active thyroid. Our immune system can attack the thyroid gland. I take Enbrel and I have more energy when my inflammation is under control. I also take meds for my thyroid.

FrannieNYC 12/18/2013

Thanks all for your advice. I too am very hesitant to make the switch. I just had all blood work done and my levels of B12, D, thyroid, everything looks better than it has in a long time! A lot of people have told me that once they started the biologic that it dramatically improved the fatigue, but that hasn't been the case for me which is very frustrating. My rheumy wants me to continue and check in in a week. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I kept hearing the dramatic improvement people had with the biologics once they started them.

ILoveHuskies 12/18/2013

You can also have your adrenal gland checked. That can cause excessive fatigue. Here is an article about it.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm

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