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New to arthritis.. ? about enbrel

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Posted 1/29/2007 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on the ulcerative colitis forum for the past few months. After seeing my rheumy for some "body pains" I was having, he took some X-rays and has diagnosed me with AS and I'll be starting enbrel next week after my TB test. My question is: has anyone heard of enbrel helping with IBD or Ulcerative colitis? Another question is: has anyone felt any significant side effects from enbrel? How helpful has the drug been for you?

Thanks!
Posted 1/29/2007 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there angelscry - welcome to the Arthritis side of the forum.. :) Glad to have ya.. I think you'll be quite pleased with the Enbrel. I am on it, as I have AS too.. but I don't have IBD... However, one of our other moderators, Erin does have IBD and she was on Enbrel for her Arthritis, and she said that it significantly improved her quality of life... I haven't really had any bad side effects from Enbrel.. I do get headaches a lot, but I did before I was on Enbrel as well, so that's kind of hard to say.. There are a few of us here that is on it, I'm sure they'll jump in soon to lend their 2 cents.. please let us know how you are doing!

Take good care.. Duck
Posted 1/29/2007 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking Enbrel and MTX for 2 years for my RA.
I have not noticed any significant side affects and it has performed as advertised.

don't leave home without it ... Craig
Posted 1/29/2007 6:42 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there.  Enbrel has not been fda approved for IBD, but I believe it does have unofficial benefits.  My rheumy feels that I may have IBD, but enbrel is controlling the symptoms rather well.  Erin has also previously experienced similar benefits.  Keep in mind that I do not have an official diagnosis of IBD, but since I've started the biologics, I've had minimal lower GI symptoms.  Enbrel also works well on my joints--it's a two-for-one drug.  No side effects for me except lots of minor infections.

Elcamino

Posted 1/31/2007 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
hey Zach,

Enbrel did a world of good for the AS i was dealing with.  within 4 months there was a big difference in lessened back pain/stiffness/spasms.

along with RA...i developed Crohns (via biopsy in 2005).  when i went off of Enbrel for 2 months...the bowel problems got WORSE!  so i kinda believe the Enbrel was doing something beneficial in that area.

 

i did well regarding side effects.  nothing major.  didn't even get sick despite a drop in WBC's.  but...Enbrel didn't quite help the Rheumatory Arthritis so i stopped it altogther after 2 years of being on it.

 

umh...i prefer the Enbrel shots that you mix yourself.  even though i had to inject twice for 50mg...it stung less.  the abdomen was like the best place (personally) for injections.

best wishes!!!!!!

let us now how you're doing.

 

erin

Posted 1/31/2007 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have AS and Crohn's. I started taking Remicade and Imuran for it. Remicade has a better track record for CD and UC though Hunira is a close second or tie. Humira is approved for AS I believe.
Posted 2/1/2007 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses so far everyone.. good news: insurance covers the enbrel! enbrel has a card which will cover the copay for a year. Had the TB test done yesterday and going back in tmr for them to check the results. I'm assuming it will be only days after that before I start the enbrel... I REALLY HOPE it provides some relief for my UC, otherwise I'll be starting imuran soon because asacol and sulfasalasine have not put me into remission yet =(
Posted 2/1/2007 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
That is great news about your insurance! Very cool! You'll have to update us once you start Enbrel! Good luck to you!
Posted 2/1/2007 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
:-)  GOOD LUCK ZACH!

Wow what a relief.  One less thing to sweat about.

I do hope that this med works well for you & quickly.  But do give it time, sometimes it takes a while to notice results.  (Was about 6 shots into Enbrel before I noticed some clear cut improvements)

Oh, and don't think I wanna add another pill to your list...lol...but Imuran wasn't that bad!  So if it turns out that you might need to go on it, it's alright.  Imuran is one of those "tried & true" meds...been around forever.

Best wishes!!!!!!!!

Posted 3/14/2007 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this...I've had RA for about 15 years or more now and only over the last year or so have I had any disfiguring. Right now my ankle is really swollen and some days I can barely walk. I went to my doctor and she wants to put me on the enbrel. I'm afraid to take it. Can anyone tell me about the side effects?
Posted 3/17/2007 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
I am too scared of the side effects. The main thing is the link to lymphomia (cancer). I hope this is rare.
Posted 3/17/2007 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Enbrel for 14 months. The only side effects that I noticed were local injection site reactions which slowly got smaller and smaller with each injection and some sinus infections. In all fairness, I have to say that it's likely the sinus infections were my own fault. I know I have significant sinus problems and there are things that I should be doing to ensure that they don't get infected, whether or not I am taking some form of immunosuppressant. Since I wasn't doing those things, I probably would have gotten the infections even if I wasn't taking Enbrel.

The only reason I stopped it was because I had to change Docs and the new Rheumy wasn't convinced that I needed it. We battled over my treatment for a year before I finally got a referral to a new one. By the time I left my first appt with the new guy, I had a script for Humira in my hand. We only switched me up to the Humira because I also have Crohn's Disease. At the time I started Enbrel, my Crohn's was under control. Now it is not and since Enbrel is not effective for Crohn's I needed either Humira or remicade which does treat Crohn's.

All of these meds carry risks regarding the possibility of lymphoma, activation of latent TB, opportunistic infections and medication induced Lupus, to name a few of the scariest. I delay treatment with Biologics for quite a long time and finally came to the realization that without these meds, my life was misery. I could barely move, am not able to work and end up canceling or avoiding many of the things that i used to love to do. I had to ask myself if this was the life I wanted and the answer was NO.

The decision to use these meds is never an easy one and I don't envy anyone facing the decision. I know how long and hard I agonized over it. However, I came to the realization that i had to weigh the pros and cons to come to a decision. My thinking is that I could lay here and wait as the disease slowly progressed and I got more and more debilitated because I was to afraid of the "what ifs" or I could take my chances, use the meds and make the best out of my life that I can.

Please understand that I'm not trying to tell anyone what theyshould do. This is a very personal decision and only you can make it. I am only explaining how I came to my decision.

I hope you each make the best decision for you and find a way to combat the disease with which you are comfortable.

Best Wishes.
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