Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications First Enbrel injection

Hang in there! I've been on Enbrel since Sept. 2002. It is a life changer. You should start feeling the positive effects soon. I have never felt nausia or anything like that. It is probably just worry that is bothering you. Before Enbrel I used to not be able to get out of bed 3 or 4 days a week. I had to lay motionless until the pain subsided enough to get up. Once Enbrel was approved by the FDA and I started on it I very rarely feel any pain. If it burns when you inject it ask the pharmacist if they can get you the ones you mix yourself instead of the pre-filled surenge. They do not have the preservative that the pre filled have. The preservative is what stings. Not quite as convenient but less sting. This is assuming you have the pre filled.

And I forgot to say, GOOD LUCK. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.

Michael sorry I've been away, I just wanted to thank you for your comments and I am going to stick with it until March and I go back to my rheumy for my six month review. He said it could take up to six months to really notice a big difference. I do seem to be getting more better days, so I don't want to give up now...

Hi Daisy,

I just noticed your mention of eye pain and wanted to encourage you to make sure to mention that effect to your rheumatologist -- and that if your eye ever gets worse, red, blurred vision, or light sensitive, to please treat it as an emergency and have your self examined by an Ophthalmologist asap, just in case it is iritis.

Not to scare you, but 35% of us will experience iritis (inflammation of the eye) and it is not a symptom that any of us should ever ignore.

Best of luck that Enbrel helps or that your doc will switch you to another, if needed!
mig

Hi everyone, its been 6 months now that I've been on the enbrel, it seemed to be helping a little, not drastic changes and then a oouple of months ago I started getting hip pain, mid back and now my knees are painful and swelling...I can only walk short distances, standing is painful after about 10 minutes and any physical work sets me back for a few days... so I know the enbrel helps with the fatigue but the pain is back and the AS is active now in different places. So I seen the rhuemy yesterday and he wants me to try Simponi, I am a little nervous... I did see a reduction of symptoms on the BASDI so I know the enbrel has helped but I'm worried about my knees and hips...another thing is I had to add daily pain killers and back on 200 mg of celebrex a day? So maybe it didn't really help as much as I thought...any good reports about Simponi after trying Enbrel?