Enbrel and methotrexate
Common Questions and Answers about Enbrel and methotrexate
enbrel
I was only 42 at the time and the thought of that was mindboggleing! Enbrel was introduced in 1998 and by the time my insurance agreed to pay for it it was Spring 1999 when I took my first injection. I started Enbrel along with an injectible dose of.09 Mtx weekly. For me Enbrel was a light-switch medication and within 2 weeks I was a normal functioning adult again with no pain at all.
My husband has ankylosingspondilitis and takes enbrel injections and has considered taking methotrexate before. Best of luck. Could be a real blessing from God :) and a healthy baby!
Hi there, when I was first dx with AS 4 years ago I was put on MTX and Folic Acid, was told you cannot take MTX w/o the folic. Long story short I had to stop the MTX as it made me severely depressed to the point I was having suicidal thoughts. My doc at the time acted like I was crazy but 2 rheumy's one from the Mayo Clinic said it can be a side effect for some people. After I stopped it I was back to my old self, and just an fyi while I was on it, it did nothing to help me.
Not sure if was the meds I was on at the time, methotrexate, prednisone and anti inflammatories ( Ketoprofen ). I had mentioned it n passing to my GP and she said she wanted to see them the next time it happened but I went off the methotrexate and prednisone, I could not tolerate either. 4 years later I am now on Enbrel and so far so good, wish I had done it sooner.
Methotrexate did nothing for me and then I got on Enbrel...miracle drug! I have my life back and am even in the gym running on the treadmill and lifting weights...stick with it if you can...it could be well worth it!
I'M A MALE 59 YEARS OLD BUT WITH A VERY ACTIVE LIFE STYLE. I;VE HAD RA FOR 25 YEARS, STARTING TAKING METHOTREXATE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO WITH PREDIZONE FROM TIME TO TIME. AROUND THREE YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING FLARE UPS AND MY DOCTOR ALSO ME ON ENBREL, WORKED VERY GOOD FOR THE RA BUT MY NOW MY THROAT IS ALWAYS SORE AND CONGESTED WITH PHELM. THIS YEAR I'VE SEEM NUMEROUS DOCTORS ENT, GENERAL ALERGIST AND EVEN HAD SINUS SURGERY FOR 30 GRAND, NOTHING FIXED THE THROAT PROBLEMS.
Reactions to mtx are as individual as each person who takes it. For example, I've been on it for over 20 years and it is still my mainstay. About 3 years ago I switched from the pills to the self-injectible, which is supposed to give you "more bang for the buck" because it bypasses the digestive system. Since adding Enbrel to the mtx, I haven't had a major flare in over 3 years. Mtx alone worked pretty well but I'd get breakthrough flares once or twice a year.
Hi and welcome. I am HLA B27 negative too but have AS which is another of the spondys. I have heard of the antibiotic treatment but have not personally communicated with anyone for whom it worked.
I can appreciate your reticence about the stronger drugs. Most of us feel that way at one time or another. Personally, I prefer the methotrexate injections to the pills. They are easier on your body and have fewer side effects.
After a period of time, it is the hope that I will be able to stop the Enbrel and remain on the cheaper methotrexate. I also take klonopin for anxiety/panic. Since taking the methotrexate at the full dose of 1 ML, I have noticed that I wake up with my heart racing and sometimes this seems to last most of the day if not all. It isn't horrible but never the less, it is there and I am aware of it.
I have taken methotrexate for over 20 years. A few years ago we added Enbrel and it has been a good combination for me.
The good news is, children are extremely adaptable. At her age, she may not have the language skills to tell you how good or bad she is feeling, so it is up to you to watch her for non-verbal cues. Also, you can teach her ways to communicate how bad something hurts. A series of simple face drawings that start with a smile and gradually progress to a frown could help.
There are many, many medications available to treat not only the pain and inflammation, but also slow down and hopefully halt the progression of the disease itself. The frustrating part is finding the right medication or combination of meds for you - no two people respond the same way to the same medications.
My "cocktail" is Enbrel and methotrexate, plus an anti-inflammatory called meloxicam (Mobic). These three meds only scratch the surface of what's available. Good luck!
No cure. I have AS and use methotrexate and Enbrel. I am virtually pain free and live a normal life. Occasionally I do have flares but other than that those 2 drugs gave me back my quality of life.
I suffer quite badly from Psoriatic Arthritis. I have no signs of Psoriasis, but my joints are inflammed and very painful. I'm 33, female. I'm taking 25mg of Methotrexate weekly, other anit-inflammatroy drugs. I'm interested in hearing from others who suffer from this and what they are going through, as I've never met anyone who suffers from this.
He is on needles now weekly for Methotrexate, how aggressive is this and what can we expect, he has had it for 4 years now but i can see him deterorating very rapidly in the lat year, are there any other options he can be doing to get some relief from this....
I am on 40mg humira every other week. June 2007 - March 2008 I was on Enbrel and prednisone. I started on 10mg prednisone daily in June of 2007 and reduced it to 2 mg daily currently since December 2007.
I am also very fatigued, have no libido, skin rashes here and there, my hands have "hot spots" of red and swollen flesh which moves around every few days. I also experience incontinence (I have never had children), slight depression and lethargy.
29, 2009 - Rheumatoid arthritis patients who take the biologic drugs Remicade, Humira, and Enbrel do not appear to have an increased risk for developing cancer in the first few years of use, researchers in Sweden report.
The study is one of the largest and longest population-based investigations ever into the cancer-causing potential of the drugs, known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.
Hi Karen,
I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. I also have RA, for which my main medications are methotrexate and Enbrel. If mtx isn't working for you, I would urge you to look into adding a biologic like Enbrel or Humira to the mix. It's very important that you get off the prednisone if at all possible. It can give you short-term relief but trust me, the long-term effects of prednisone are not worth it.
The current idea is to wait and follow up with another CT in 2 months. My rheumatologist wants me to stay off Enbrel and methotrexate, so I am miserable. I was off Enbrel for 4 years as it caused a dangerous drop in my blood counts, but went back on it a little over a year ago.
My shortness of breath was improved while on the prednisone, but I am a long time prednisone user so my drs do not want me to be on it any longer. Now the shortness of breath is causing me discomfort again.
I have also been through the ringer with test for a yr and 4 months now, I finally found a Doctor that tells me ankylosing spondylitas, I just started Enbrel Friday and hope it works.
It is a great place to find info and talk to others who have Stills. A friend I talk to from there takes methotrexate, Enbrel and steroids and she is having significant relief and she is returning to work after ten years.
I get injections put in the joints that are bugging me, the best relief I got was a steroid and lidocaine mixture. The numbing effect doesn't last long though but it was worth it to me to be numb.
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