Starting Enbrel and anxious

Hi, I have RA...had it for 5 months and tried MTX first but had to quit taking it because my liver enzymes started going up. I'm currently taking 2.5mg of prednisone and still weaning down. I have just received Enbrel..and thank goodness because once the MTX wore off I've been hurting...anyway I will take my first shot Monday and I'm very nervous about side effects. Everyone tells me though that the MTX side effects are worse and I didn't have any with MTX so hoping for the best...just words of encouragement would be good..lol...thanks because I'm NOT going to let RA run my life...I may have to live with it...but I won't let it live for me!

I have been on Enbrel for a month now. Only side effects are achy muscles that i hope to get fixed by meds or something on my next visit. No nausea etc. though.

However, the medication currently still isn't working or I don't feel different. Please keep us posted on if you feel any change.

So many of our bodies are so bad that cheaper meds just won't work, so all we can do is take the expensive ones with more side effects.

I am on methotrexate as well and get nausea from that often, it really messes up my stomach.

I've been on Enbrel now for 3.5 months, foretunetly I have had no noticed side effects from the Enbrel. I have never even had pain from injection using the autopen. I hate needles, though have gotten over that in the past year as I get used to being stuck regularly for one reason or another. My first injection was in the RD office and 15 minutes later I was back at my office. As a recommendation I stick my belly, easier to get to and more fat there than my thigh. The downfall to the Enbrel is that I don't think it has done anything for me. My joints have continued to get worse and added 5mg of prednisone on top of 25mg MTX and 400mg plaquinel.

Thanks momto3. I'm using the Enbrel assistance, beats the heck out of paying $60 monthly copays. Each of those meds has helped when they reached some threshold in my body but the feeling wears off way to quickly as the RA progresses (New joints, larger synovial lumps, loss of strength and more/additional pain in joints). My onset has been slow and progressive, actually probably started at least 5 years ago, but not bad enough until about 1 years ago to be bothered to complain that I hurt when I was at the doctors.

Hi folks! I'm new to Enbrel, second injection is tomorrow, but I have felt like crap today. My MD didn't discuss if I'm to hold my injections if I'm not well, but I've heard that from others. I have had an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, headache and chills, but just started today. Oddly, my pain and swelling was decreased day 2 (probably coincidental) and felt great for 4 days, but have been achey again for 2 (also could have over done it..... Any advice?

Thanks for your reply! That is very reassuring. I'm also wondering if anyone experienced some acne when they first started? And Ravyn, does your husband tend to get sick often? We have 4 kids at home, and I feel like someone always has something..... Off topic, twice this week I have had someone mention taking fish oil to me.... Do any of you take it? Ravyn, does your hubby take his injections when he's not feeling well? Sorry I'm all over the place but it's early.... Thanks again!

Thanks and you're right. Zits is a much better description than acne. My MD has never mentioned holding my MTX when sick either though. I'll see how I feel as I start my day.

I actually had more infections while on the Enbrel.  I remember having some sort of eye infection, needing antibiotics. That type of thing.  I am most worried since I work with a population of individuals where TB can be a real possibility. I don't remember any acne, although on Pred, I had the worst facial rash! Some sort of red, scaly bumpy rash, finally cleared up after getting off of the pred.  Also, back when I started the Plaquenil, initially I broke out something awful but it did go away.

Kiki, I think if you are not feeling well and have that many symptoms you may want to wait on the injection.  You can always call the Enbrel hotline, or your rheumy.  I always held off when I started feeling crumy.

 

Hello.

I started Enbrel last Wednesday (I have to give myself an injection Wednesdays and Saturdays). Probably I am "only" anxious, but however, would like to hear if anyone had pain in the chest since started to use Enbrel?

Thanks!

No pain of any kind with my injections, during or after.

Kiki..glad to hear you were able to go ahead and inject! My Enbrel arrived today, and I stuffed them in the fridge, will think about them tomorrow! The pamphlet said can cause dizziness and I have to work tonight, all night, so I'm afraid of some kind of weird reaction!

Malko, have never heard of having chest pains, that doesn't sound good, I would keep an eye on it, especially if it *only* happens around or at injection time.

I feel great right now after 2nd shot today. Stomach is settled, sniffles have passed, pain free, and swelling is down. Quite happy! Thanks again for all the comments and support! Xoxo

Hi everyone, some answers to others questions. YES ON FISH OIL...from all the hours of research I've done FISH OIL supplements are the single most best suppliment anyone with RA should be taking. However, you can't just take any old fish oil pill. Make sure that the DHA, RHA ratio to total IU is at least 60%. Another words mine are from life extension and the total per 2 caps is 2000IU daily with RHA being 700 and DHA being 500 an that equals exactly a 60% ratio. This information came from a MD I happen to overhear talking about fish oil supplements and came home and researched it myself and he was correct. Also a way to test it...forget and leave 1 in your pocket and wash cloths....****.....a bad fish oil caplet doesn't do much...the good one, had to re-wash cloths twice...lol

I'm also on my 3rd shot of Enbrel and it does seem to help. But, I did have what I thought was weird side effects which I now think were just me getting sick with a slight cold and my chest to was heavy but I'm 90% positive that was from being anxious about the shots and any side effects I might get. I'm a spaz and a worry bee. I finally had to just say, screw this, I've heard of Enbrel being a miracle drug for people and darn it it will be for me. But, because of the few issues I had my doctor has now prescribed me the 25mg twice weekly instead of the 50mg once weekly. He also told me that when Enbrel first came out it was only 25mg twice weekly, but then Humira came out and that was 1 shot bi-weekly and Enbrel manufactures had to complete so they changed it to 50mg once weekly, which is why for some people it doesn't seem to last the entire week. I don't know about you all but I would rather take a smaller dose more often. ALSO, I have a friend who massages me, recently found out she is 70 years old and was diagnosed with RA 10 years prior. Has been using Enbrel for 8 years and says she is virtually pain free. She has also gotten her Enbrel dose down to ONLY 1 SHOT A MONTH....when she shared this with me at my last massage appt she then became my mentor and hero and I plan to be just like her. This woman can run circles around me and Im only 45. The only way I even thought she was much older is because of the all white hair otherwise I thought maybe 55 at the most!!

Good luck everyone, keep positive and let me know how it's going!