Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications Side effects of Enbrel

I am looking for some input on what, if any, side effects my fellow AS enbrel taking buddies experience. I usually take my enbrel on a Friday because I always feel like crap the next day, I just feel medicated, headachy in the morning, and usually very tired the next day. It subsides within a day or two but my weekend is usually shot as far as going out or partying if I wanted to. Of course enbrel does a lot for my inflammation and pain but I am just curious as to whether anyone else experiences similar side effects the day following taking the enbrel injection.
I am currently taking 25mg once a week but my doctor now wants to up it to 50 once a week, and I am afraid my side effects will now last longer. Can anyone relate?

I've been on the 50 mg shots a year in July. I do mine on Saturdays & for various reasons, I hadn't had one in 5 weeks. I did the injection last week on Monday nite. On Tuesday, I had the most horrendous headache. By Wednesday, it was down to a dull roar. I had forgotten how bad the headaches could be the 1st day or so since I hadn't done a shot for a few weeks.

Fatigue wise, the Enbrel actually improves my fatigue.

I do remember some weeks doing the injection when I think I actually hurt WORSE for a short period of time after the shot. Not always though. This last one I just did, I had ALOT of improvement by the next a.m. (headache aside) b/c I was having alot of pain increase in my ribs/breastbone as well as other areas, so I don't know that it could have gotten any worse.

Hi There,
Actually increasing to the 50 mg will decrease the type of side effect your having. The headache especially continues because your not taking enough weekly for your body to adjust to it. Taking 25 a week is just enough to cause the side effects triggered by an immune response to the Enbrel. Once you get to a higher amount your body will then adjust. It took me about one month before the headaches stopped.


Janet

The only real side effect I've really witnessed with mine is getting sick all of the time because of the low immune system. Other than that, it doesnt help the fatigue stuff, still need to ask my primary if there is something that will help. But I feel sooo much better. I haven't had to go to the hospital since JANUARY!! It's amazing. Although I still have bad days, some very bad, not nearly as many as I used to! BTW I am at 50 mg / week

ashlie, aloha

can i ask...what kind of 'sick all the time' ??? AND what else ya takin' ? methotrexate ?

i looked and noticed you're a pharmacy student...still in school...
are you, perchance, an 'antibiotic seeker'...working in a medical situation and all?

the worst curse of the enbrel world is that nagging, wont-go-away 'cold, flu, sinusitis, uri, sore throat'
there are divergent thoughts about treating these type events- the most conservative approach involves
halting the shots temporarily until you're ALL-BETTER before restarting the enbrel again...the, ahem-um, least
effective way is to continue with the shots but take an antibiotic and keep going in misery until you come
down with sumptin else or it kinda goes away.

you may infer as you will which i recommend.

in a medical environment you have the risk factor of SICK PEOPLE around you and, as noted, it's easy to catch something;
there are also 98,000 fatalities in US from staph (and other) infections picked up in health care facilities; they grow
super bugs in hospitals...people qho gobble antibiotics for every little thing develope a resistance to antibiotics
with frequent use.

the idea behind enbrel is not being sick all the time...it's leading a life in which you don't risk yourself to
wild bugs and nasty little things...so that you can enjoy the benefits of the enbrel...life style adjustments ?
ya just gotta stop getting sick all the time...good luck...it's about conscious preventive management.

best
keep shootin'
aB

I have been on Enbrel since July 2000. So, over 7 years.

I may have gotten an extra cold or two the first year I took it, but since then, I don't have any side effects.

I do believe it has given me allergies though- I developed hives when I go into chlorine pools since being on Enbrel.

Other than that, no headaches, no day after effects. In fact, I feel better the day after my shot and I sleep better the night that I take it.

Also, I haven't had a cold or infection in 3 years.

I think its a very individual thing, honestly.

i finally had the worse 10 seconds of my life. i did the enbrel and you guys are liars!!! it hurt!!! LOL.. it only hurt while the medicine was going in, no pain immediately following. let's hope it worth it!!

Did you let it warm up 15 mins before injecting ? That solves the problem,and also as your tissues adjusts to the serum, it will stop stinging so much.


Janet

no one lied to you

the epi-type pens sting...the 25's are pain free.
as i and others correctly tried to explain on the aTNF/biomod forum.
you even responded to to two of my notes, so i presume you may have read them.

you were forewarned about the sting with that dosage/administration mode.

if you want 'pain free' you're gonna see sharp steel and do it all yourself and change to a different packaging...
and do two shots a week.