Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Enbrel- sureclick pen or syringe?

I was wondering if anyone thats taking Enbrel uses the sureclick
pen or syringe?
I'm currently using the pen but its so painfull i'm very
reluctant to do it and work myself up into a lather before
hand.
Does the syringe hurt as much?
Do you find the syringe easier?
I thought i'd get some feed back before mentioning
it to my specialist nurse.
Thankyou.

I use the pre-filled syringes. It doesn't hurt much at all, just the psychological barrier of jabbing yourself with a needle, which may pass with time. Its not very difficult either, just pinch the skin up, dart it in, then squeeze.
My rheumy recommends the syringes over auto-injectors. Personal preferences but also rare malfunctions with the auto injectors. I think you can control the injection more with the syringes.
Maybe try numbing the area with ice beforehand if pain is still an issue.

Thanks Rob333
The sureclick pen i'm sure hasn't worked 3 times because i always
have some kind of reaction a red area or itchyness and three times i never
had it so i just though i was gettin used to them but since then 3 more injections have given some redness which makes me think the other 3 mis fired.
I find it so difficult to hold the pen down when you just want
it out but with syringe once the needle is in i guess its easier
to keep it there.
Like you say i think gettin over the barrier of jabbin yourself with
a visible needle would be hard because you dont see it with
the pen.

hi sunny, i use the syringe. i am a nurse so i am so accustomed to needles. if you can control the needle angle and inject the med slowly i find it helps. when i was on humira this was important because it stung so much! if you can get past seeing the needle i think you'll find it much more comfortable. good luck.

Hi Jansen
Thankyou for your reply.
Can I ask when you use the syringe does the needle have to go in far?
I can watch the nurse when she takes my blood I dont have too look away its just I wonder if I had the guts to stick it in myself. But i like idea of been more in control.
Was it the needle or the stuff in it what hurt most?
Sorry for all the questions.

Back when I could take Enbrel, they sent me the sure-clicks once, and I hated them. I immediately went back to the syringe. I could slowly inject the syringe, thereby easing any pain.

--Greg

Glad to help. I've always had burning and stinging while injecting the medication. The needle doesn't bother me too much but again I've stuck thousands of folks at this point. I always warm it up by rolling it between my hands when I take it out of the fridge and it really stings less. My grandmother taught me that one.

You do not have to push the needle all the way in, the tip needs to go through the skin into the subcutaneous fat. I imagine there are videos on youtube although I haven't looked. It's the same way a diabetic injects insulin (not into a blood vessel).

Used 'sureclick' for 3-4 months, then switched to syringe because 1 shot a week wasn't getting me anywhere. I liked the syringe because I had control of the show. The auto-injector was brutal, imo. Reminded me of my migraine days, when I dreaded the Imitrex auto-injector (and the side-effects of the drug) and debated with my self pain of headache vs pain of cure. But back the topic...

Syringe was better because it hurt less. I used the syringe to dose myself 25mg/twice a week rather than 50mg/week. THAT made the first difference I could feel, treatment-wise.

(I stopped Enbrel because the only thing it was helping was with stamina and a bit better on the morning stiffness. Switched to Simponi and have had one inj. Simponi has an auto-inj, but I specifically wanted the syringe because of Enbrel's auto-inj. )

How has the med worked for you and how? Is this change strictly because of the 'sureclick?'

****Adding: I also had a misfire with a 'sureclick'. That dose went mostly on my leg. Since there was no way to know how much went in me, that was it for the week. Had to wait a week for the next one. (Almost) never happens with a syringe, unless there was an obvious problem.

From all you're replies i think i might give the syringe a try.
Like you said rumble the sureclick is brutal god what a
stinger.
To answer your question Rumble the Enbrel is up to now havin
a similar affect to what u described helpin abit with the mornin
stiffness and been able to do abit more but then suffering after.
I was taken off Humira because of bad reactions to it plus it didnt really
help which is the same as i am with Enbrel really.
Jansen thanks for the tips.