Enbrel

My experience with Enbrel was that there are certain criteria that you need to meet for them to approve it.

They want to make sure that the Doctor has tried a specific medication regime before the move to biologics due to the expense of them. Enbrel runs about 2500 a month if I remember right. I was on it for 12 years, I hope that it works well for you. :)

I forgot to add that my Doctors office handled all of that stuff with the insurance so you may just need to let them handle it.

Anytime. I too was in that boat when I was diagnosed. It can be challenging especially dealing with insurance companies but hang in there the Docs have been through this all before. I found that any questions I had related to medications and insurance the office staff have always been helpful.

Glad to hear you are making some progress. I hope that it works well for you, I was on it a long time and it really was a breakthrough medication for me. I was nervous about giving myself an injection but my family was supportive and we practiced on an orange so that I could get the feel of it.

They make an injectible pen device these days that is pretty slick and takes the guesswork out of it. I used them a few times and really liked them.

And another update -

I checked the requirements for the mail-order pharmacy and found that they won't send a prescription unless you've already been on it for 30 days. So I ended up talking to the local pharmacy and they are supposed to call the insurance company directly and get this straightened out. Wish me luck.

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but certainly familiar with AutoImmune Problems. about 7 yrs ago, I was prescribed Enbel (that was after MTX, etc. I don't mind self-injecting (try injecting an orange to get comfortable with needles, barrels, injectors). Enbrel lowers the powers of the immune system, which is Great so that our bodies quit attacking our own body. However, I contracted a UTI, yet even with an Anti-biotic (later determined to the be wrong one for this particular bug), I went into Sepsis, lungs and kidneys quit working and then into DIC (diseminating intersitial coagulation) - bleeding from everywhere! about a month on a respirator with extremely high PEEP (Positive End Exhalation Pressure - to keep the lungs inflated). Nasty time for me, but obviously good end to the story as I'm still alive with very little after-effects. After 5 yrs OFF Enbrel, the pain is horrific. My Rheumy's very good about Pain Managment, including Fentyl patches, tramadol, Ect., hydrocodone, etc. As I'm far over the line about taking all these Narcotics., Rheumy has Enbel back on the table for discussion. My Warning is: IF you're feeling ill, get to a Dr. QUICKLY! A false alarm is better than the alternative.

Hi all: This thread about Enbrel is from 2013 but was curious how its working for any of you on it. I just did my 2nd injection and have had no injection site reactions luckily. It sounds like a reaction may come later from what some of you have experienced. Its costing me $300 a month so I better be doing cartwheels soon. Any thoughts on Enbrel from any of you? Thanks and hope you feeling good :)

Hi Peggy: Thanks for the nice response...Im glad the Enbrel works for your husband. I am feeling better after 2 shots. Hopefully it continues...I too hope the infusions works better for you:) Regards Sharron

Hi Carole~Thanks for reply. Jury is still out on Enbrel. Hands feel much better which is huge! However, balls of my feet have been more sensitive than before I started. Giving it another week then after 4th injection will have to find out what's going on...good luck to you as well and hope the pain for you is subsiding...Its an ongoing battle... Take care. Sharron

Make sure to give it a chance to work. Many biologics can take up to 6 months to get the full effect and if it does work you are ahead of the disease which over the course of a lifetime can be a huge help.

I hope that you have relief.