Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives AS Pharmacy Question- which biologic to start with?

Just an update-

I had my 4th Enbrel shot on Sunday, have a bruise and a reddish ring surrounding it at the injection site- this is new. It doesn't hurt or itch, in fact I didn't even know I had it until I noticed it in the shower. LOL

The Enbrel is still helping with the fatigue- I noticed and increase in energy slowly from Monday up until today- Today I actually feel better than I have since starting the shots. I spoke with my doc on Monday and he has me taking 2 tramadol every 3 hours (limit 8 per day) because I am still having breakthrough pain and sharp focused pain in some places that I haven't had pain before. This new schedule seems to be helping- no breakthrough today. This is a temp solution- I have an appointment on Dec 8 and we will look at some other options. He stated that maybe Enbrel was not the drug for me. That does give me a couple more weeks to see how everything is going.

All in all- I still am surprised at being able to feel some benefit from the Enbrel so quickly. ( I would love to be able to have a second shot on Thursdays! Seems like that would help)
I definitely can now tell when the Enbrel kicks in and the inflamation goes down and when it wears off and the inflamation goes back up.

Join us next week- same bat time, same bat channel!

Thanks for the encouragement! You guys rock! Anna

I have been taking Enbrel since it was approved in 2003. I was diagnosed and went straight on it. A week later my life was changed.

I started with the 2x a week mixed injections, now I do the weekly SureClicks.

One thing I've found is they burn less if I leave them to warm to room temperature while I am showering and shaving and whatnot.

My sister is an insulin-dependent diabetic, so I always had a different view of needles and syringes. Hell, it's only a shot. Being crippled hurts a lot more than a weekly injection.

The only negative I've experienced is I get sick with the flu or something once a year. I still don't miss work in any case - I'm alone in a Peterbilt most of the time so I don't risk infecting others. In my life I never, ever went to the doctor unless I injured myself.

I'm either really tough, really stubborn, or really stupid (probably a combination of the three!) because I've never regularly taken anything other than the occasional OTC if I overdo it at work. I was given NSAID prescriptions in the past but I never took them after realizing they didn't work.

-p.