Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Update on Shug and Enbrel

Shugs now been on Enbrel for around 3 months (I think!). He's not had brilliant results but good enough. He's no longer tired and has much more energy. Not so much pain in his neck and sometimes bounces out of bed in the morning!!

There's always a down side though eh?

His liver levels are elevated. It was thought that it was the Arcoxia (NSAID) that was doing it as one of it's side effects is liver disfunction. He's now been off the Arcoxia for 3 weeks and his liver levels are still the same. The prof. is now concerned that it's the Enbrel that's causing the increased levels. They are going to allow Shug to remain on Enbrel for 2 more weeks and if his liver levels don't reduce he's to come off it He'll continue to have weekly blood tests until they find out what's causing it. Of course we'd rather it was the meds causing it than one of the other "horrible" reasons that it could be but I can't help but feel we're going to be right back at where we started before the Enbrel and I don't know if either of us has the strength at the moment to deal with it.

Never rains but it pours eh?

Im glad to hear the Enbrel is helping but I am sorry to hear his levels are elevated..

Hopefully they will find out what is causing it and he can stay on the Enbrel..

I will keep you guys in my prayers..

Take Care,

Lisa

Hiya,

Good to here that Shrugs doing better even if only for few months, least it's a hope giver and it must be nice to have the man back for a while.

Have they spoken about any of the other biologicals remicade etc as there's usually one that works. My rheummy has spoken many times of the two edge sword of biologicals. I'm impressed that the NHS came up with the cash to spend on enbrel.

I've been listening to some pod casts manily radio science shows and the approach to disease is likely to change in the next few years rather than broad acting treatment Dr.s will start to look at a persons immune response before treatment and tailor drugs accordingly.

I do hope the Dr.s find something that keeps the improvement going!

Dave

Hi Jackie,
Good to see you on the board, and glad to hear Shug is getting along on Enbrel. I hate it that it may be taken away if his liver panels don't go down. I have been on Enbrel for a couple of years and have not had any trouble like that. Is he taking Methotrexate with the Enbrel? I know when I take MTX it causes my liver panels to increase, and it is recommended that it be used with Enbrel. I take Folic Acid to combat the high liver enzymes.

Keep Kickin'AS
Chris

Hi Jackie

Good to hear things have improved. Bounces out of bed in the morning - WOW !!
I hope he's able to continue with the Enbrel.
As somebody allready mentioned - how about Remicade?

Good Luck for continuing success one way or another

Maggie

Good to hear Shrug is doing a bit better, sorry to hear about the liver levels. I battled elevated liver panels for a year... first was medication, but eating and drinking carrot juice also caused me problems (carrots high in vitamin A that the liver stores in excess and can become toxic).

Hope you find some answers. Have read a few cases here with Enbrel and liver.

Tim

Good luck, I hope Shug can stay on enbrel. I know it helped my AS a lot, I almost didn't know I had AS anymore. It set off the MS, and so they pulled me off of enbrel. I had elevated liver enzimes, and they think it was from the NSAIDs. It was two months before they said I could go back on NSAIDs, but I was afraid of them then so I am still going without. I hope things work out for Shug.

Jackie, it's so good to hear from you! I'm glad to hear that Shug has had some improvement with Enbrel ... and am wishing mightily that the elevated liver count has nothing to do with Enbrel. Although, as others have suggested, Remicade might be an option for him if he poops out on Enbrel.

Please give him my best. And get a huge hug for yourself.

Many hugs,

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I'm a little bit more positive today, I think when I wrote that I was just down in the dumps thinking Shugs brief reprieve was just that! Even if it's proved it is the Enbrel causing it, I'd hope he'd still get to try Remicade. It was the profs first choice of biologic for Shug but was taking too long to get things in place so we opted for the Enbrel.

I will stop by and keep you updated on how things go from here. Thanks again

Hey Jackie...

Seems you guys cant catch a break some times.

How are the kids doing? They must be getting huge!

I wish you would pop in more often. I miss seeing you around.