Enbrel

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Foe on March 29, 2010 at 9:02pm

I was on Enbrel for close to 6 years....When I was first put on it my doctor told me it would take weeks and weeks to see a difference...within a week I saw a difference....Throughout my time on Enbrel I had a few break outs but i must say most of them were my fault....When I would start to get clear I would stop taking the meds because i hate needles and i cant do my own shots so it took time to get my mom to do them....anyways...hope you see an improvement soon....

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Permalink Reply by Andrea on March 29, 2010 at 10:37pm

I started on Enbrel 3 weeks ago, I took my 6th shot tonight. I have P. on the palms of both of my hands and fingers. Lesser patches on my elbows, hips ankle. It was getting to the point that I could hardly function, the pain from not only the cracking, itching burning and constant pain, but also the arthritis. As a nurse I was constantly washing my hands making it worse. I was so self conscious when taking care of my patients, and keeping my hands covered was not an option. I saw results from my very first injection, the next day my joint pain felt less, and the pain has gotten better with each shot. My hands after week 3 (shot 6) are showing noticeable differences, I can see my natural hand lines! I have hands again! There have been no new plaques, no cracks, less itching, I'm totally thrilled with my results this far. The injection is painful, I take 50mg (2x/week) Sure click pen and it burns, but I can live with it , seeing the results I'm getting. Tonight I tried ice on the injection site prior to the shot, and my husband did my shot for me, this helped, I didn't tense up as much, made it less painful for me. Aside from the painful injection, I haven't had any side effects as of yet. What dose are you talking?

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Permalink Reply by andre j benard on March 30, 2010 at 10:23am

Thanks Cindy I hope so too...

Cindy Foe said:

I was on Enbrel for close to 6 years....When I was first put on it my doctor told me it would take weeks and weeks to see a difference...within a week I saw a difference....Throughout my time on Enbrel I had a few break outs but i must say most of them were my fault....When I would start to get clear I would stop taking the meds because i hate needles and i cant do my own shots so it took time to get my mom to do them....anyways...hope you see an improvement soon....

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Permalink Reply by andre j benard on March 30, 2010 at 10:30am

Hi Andrea I am taking the same dose that you are 2x a week 50mg with the sure click and I have the burning also but I can say that it dissipate very quickly so its not to bad

Andrea said:

I started on Enbrel 3 weeks ago, I took my 6th shot tonight. I have P. on the palms of both of my hands and fingers. Lesser patches on my elbows, hips ankle. It was getting to the point that I could hardly function, the pain from not only the cracking, itching burning and constant pain, but also the arthritis. As a nurse I was constantly washing my hands making it worse. I was so self conscious when taking care of my patients, and keeping my hands covered was not an option. I saw results from my very first injection, the next day my joint pain felt less, and the pain has gotten better with each shot. My hands after week 3 (shot 6) are showing noticeable differences, I can see my natural hand lines! I have hands again! There have been no new plaques, no cracks, less itching, I'm totally thrilled with my results this far. The injection is painful, I take 50mg (2x/week) Sure click pen and it burns, but I can live with it , seeing the results I'm getting. Tonight I tried ice on the injection site prior to the shot, and my husband did my shot for me, this helped, I didn't tense up as much, made it less painful for me. Aside from the painful injection, I haven't had any side effects as of yet. What dose are you talking?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on March 30, 2010 at 4:45pm

Hey Andre, I just started a month ago and as far as side effects I had some anxiety in the begining but then some steady clearing of skin. Im on Methotrexate too, and looking forward to getting off it sometime in the near future and just sticking with the Enbrel, the Metho has more side effects for me. You could always ask your doc if they think the Metho dose might help you, my understanding is it is common to jump start the Enbrel. Keep us posted and good luck!

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Permalink Reply by andre j benard on March 31, 2010 at 9:26am

Hi Sarah we must have the same Dr. I was given also that Methotrexate last week in addition to Embrel dosage 2pills in the morning and 1 in the afternoon once a week along with some folic acid but the difference is that he waited 3 months to try to jump start the Embrel and so far no side effect to that one either lets hope it helps cant barely walk today my feet are so raw... I told him my next treatment is I am cutting them off lol my hands are somewhat clearer I think but still feels like alligator skin lol I guess its better to laugh about it than cry... keep me posted on your progress

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Permalink Reply by Miranda Davis on March 31, 2010 at 10:10am

I have done the shots with no help at all. The only thing that totally cleared me up was Metho and I have taken it now as long as I could. I have been off of it for 2 yrs and just waiting on this yr to go by so I can hopefully get back on it. I was taken 10 pills every friday night. I did get really bad headaches from it but found that taken it right before I went to bed helped. I am now just doing nothing for it. I am so tired of all the creams the shots and pills that I just live with it the best I can. I use Curel itch defense lotion and go on about my day. Good luck with the shots they didn't do anything for me.

Sarah said:

Hey Andre, I just started a month ago and as far as side effects I had some anxiety in the begining but then some steady clearing of skin. Im on Methotrexate too, and looking forward to getting off it sometime in the near future and just sticking with the Enbrel, the Metho has more side effects for me. You could always ask your doc if they think the Metho dose might help you, my understanding is it is common to jump start the Enbrel. Keep us posted and good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Arlene Vickrey on April 1, 2010 at 4:15am

Enbrel hasn't worked for me yet either, so the doc added Methotrexate to it about a month ago. I'm still waiting to see if there is any improvement. Also, my derm told me that probably the Enbrel isn't working so well because it is a "weight based" type of drug. She told me that since I am overweight that probably about three or four shots a week would do the trick, but the problem is that no insurance company would ever agree to pay for that type of dose.

Does anybody know how long it takes the Metho to start working?

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Manthey on April 3, 2010 at 8:37pm

I was on Enbrel for 2 years. I was taken off of it when I tested positively twice for TB. Enbrel, for me, was a 'miracle drug'. Within the first 2 months my psoriasis was gone. Even my fingernails were returning to normal. I have been off of it now for about a year and a half and my psoriasis is worse than it has ever been. The itching is driving me crazy! I see my Rheumatologist on Wednesday and I cannot wait!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on April 6, 2010 at 2:04pm

Hey Andre, Update: Week 5: I am doing awesome on the Enbrel, only a few spots here and there :D !! Just went off the Metho, b/c I was feeling over medicated and was doing well enough to try just the Enbrel. I had been on the Metho for the last 6 months or so-before the Enbrel. Hoping you are doing as well, and that your feet are better. I am happy to think you will be feeling better soon. The doctors think the metho is a real help to get the Enbrel working at first. :)

andre j benard said:

Hi Sarah we must have the same Dr. I was given also that Methotrexate last week in addition to Embrel dosage 2pills in the morning and 1 in the afternoon once a week along with some folic acid but the difference is that he waited 3 months to try to jump start the Embrel and so far no side effect to that one either lets hope it helps cant barely walk today my feet are so raw... I told him my next treatment is I am cutting them off lol my hands are somewhat clearer I think but still feels like alligator skin lol I guess its better to laugh about it than cry... keep me posted on your progress

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Permalink Reply by andre j benard on April 6, 2010 at 8:38pm

Hi Sarah I am glad your better keep buying new clothes you GO girl !!! here I am still the same no improve ment so far but I keep hoping...:o)

Sarah said:

Hey Andre, Update: Week 5: I am doing awesome on the Enbrel, only a few spots here and there :D !! Just went off the Metho, b/c I was feeling over medicated and was doing well enough to try just the Enbrel. I had been on the Metho for the last 6 months or so-before the Enbrel. Hoping you are doing as well, and that your feet are better. I am happy to think you will be feeling better soon. The doctors think the metho is a real help to get the Enbrel working at first. :)

andre j benard said:

Hi Sarah we must have the same Dr. I was given also that Methotrexate last week in addition to Embrel dosage 2pills in the morning and 1 in the afternoon once a week along with some folic acid but the difference is that he waited 3 months to try to jump start the Embrel and so far no side effect to that one either lets hope it helps cant barely walk today my feet are so raw... I told him my next treatment is I am cutting them off lol my hands are somewhat clearer I think but still feels like alligator skin lol I guess its better to laugh about it than cry... keep me posted on your progress

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Smith on May 20, 2010 at 10:00pm

Hi, I am 41 years old and got the chicken pox when I was six. I got psoriasis right after. Severe psoriasis. When I was 14 I was the youngest person in the PUVA study at Pennsylvania Hospital. I have been on every cream on the market. When I was in my 20's I could control it by going to the tanning salon, but it didn't help my nails/scalp. After I had children, my psoriasis changed. I used to have huge huge patches but it was on my stomach and the side of my chest, my elbows, rear end etc. After children I developed tiny patches all over my body in places I never had them before. Because I had it so young, it was part of my identity. A year ago, I sat with my husband watching an Enbrel commercial with all the side effects and I said, I would rather have the psoriasis. A week later my dermatologist suggested it and I went on it. It took almost exactly three months to see a result. I have been psoriasis clear for about 8 months. I have not gotten so much as a cold. Maybe my immune system is so strong which would account for how bad I had it, that the Enbrel is just bringing it down but not enough to make me sick. I don't know. What I do know is that it was life changing for me. It is no longer part of my identity. If fact, we pay our own health insurance which is about 1200 a month and we both agree we will not change to another plan if the Enbrel is not included in the prescription plan. When I first went on, the only side effect I had, which I am not sure was from the Enbrel, I have a vein in the arch of my foot which would twitch. But that went away. I tell everyone who asks me that Enbrel is the miracle cure, life changing to someone who suffers from severe psoriasis as I have. I no longer have to look over my shoulder to see if I am flaking, I wear black and navy without thinking about it. I no longer have to dress to hide it. If you have the opportunity to go on it, and have insurance to pay for it, you should try it.

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