Enbrel and methotrexate side effects
Common Questions and Answers about Enbrel and methotrexate side effects
enbrel
I never wanted to go on MTX because the side effects scare me, and I enjoy a few drinks with friends. A new doctor has put me on it in conjunction with Enbrel because I have couple joints which have been causing me problems. Otherwise, I've been great on Enbrel. I am now in my 3rd week on MTX, and seveal joints are really flaring. I find this very depressing. The GI tract challenges, fatigue and foggy brain are a pain, but my arthritis now seems worse in general.
Granted, we have different types of arthritis, mine being psoriatic arthritis, but I can tell you that I was on Enbrel alone for atleast three years and I had great results with no side effects. For me it was a wonder drug. You may wonder why I would go off something so great...it was a dollars and cents issue. My husband retired and my lifelong coverage of medication was reduced to $100,000. On a medication like Enbrel, I would go through that within 4 to 5 years.
I have Reiters and it first presented as a UTI. Despite all kinds of tests (blood, urine, xrays, body scans, etc) and visits to almost every hospital in America (including Hopkins, Cornell, Mass Gen) no doctor could pin point the cause of my pain and symptoms. I had always suspected Chlamydia.. but it was never proven. I am HLA B27 negative.... I have even tried an experimental approach to curing this condition (dual antibiotics for a year). Nothing helped.
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 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.
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.
Simple exercise while lying in bed or sitting in front of the TV -- try leg raises, bicep curls and walking in place. I've had rheumatoid arthritis for 11 years and lost 100 pounds with great results. Just walking around the block gave me great pain relief and removed all signs of depression. It took months just to get to the corner but it helped after concentration and prayer during the walk. Buy a walkman or mp3 player.
m jellylegs and from ireland, I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last march after a long battle with leg weakness, pain and exhaustion that was being diagnosed as CFS but I knew ther was a lot more going on and pursued a diagnosis privatly.Am on sulphasalazine and in the last few weeks have added methotrexate but finding the side effects difficult to deal with so cant increase it yet. I am like you(bit older) in that I dont know anyone that has this condition either.
hi was just reading your post there i have severe psoriatic arthritis deformed fingers and toes all my fingers have seized completely with arthritis and some are bent over to the side , i was on remacide for 5 years and it made a dramatic change to my life from severe pain to none what so eber i had an iv every 7 weeks of remacide until march this year i woke up with numbness in my left leg which over a few days travelled up my side and face went for an mri and a few months on was diagnosed with
Hi Jen,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Thankfully I have no side effects from the Enbrel. As far as food, my personal belief and experience is that sugar has a huge effect on inflammation in the body and should be cut out of ones diet. I don't drink but I can't imagine that alcohol is good for inflammation either, especially anything with sugar in it.
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.
2 years ago i was diagnosed with RA since then I have tried just about every NSAID (and now have acid reflex due to it), Methotrexate, enbril, Humara and now remicade and none of them have appeared to be helping at all. the closest was enbril which only delt with some of the problems. I am beginning to think i was misdiagnosed. I only had a slight elevation level of rhumetoid factor yet i have severe RA. What else could I have?
Although the Enbrel may have lessened the pain and progression. other
Here's a list of common and uncommon side effects of Enbrel: https://www.rxlist.com/enbrel-side-effects-drug-center.htm
If you get a fungal infection, you should call your doctor immediately. Since it is a known risk, your doctor will know how to treat you, and may recommend discontinuing the medication for at least some time.
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.
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 recommend going on the injectable form of MTX as it has fewer side effects. It takes another 3 months to determine if this is helping at which point the doc may opt to increase yoru dosage. If you still need something more, the doctor may prescribe Enbrel or Humira. These are both injectables. I have heard wonderful things about them but currently I am not taking them.
The doctor will likely also prescribe Naproxen (an anti-inflamatory) and a perhaps something for the pain.
ve never taken Enbrel since I have Osteoarthritis and not Rheumatoid but in going to the Enbrel.com website and reading the side effects, I would be extremely concerned about the side effects that you are experiencing. From everything I've read it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that at least some of your problems that you have. You should get hold of your Doctor immediately and go and see him and talk with him.
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