Enbrel for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Mike
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 5, 2020

"I was diagnosed with RA when I was 13 years old and thought I would be wheelchair bound or bedridden when I was in my twenties. When I started enbrel and I can honestly say It's a miracle drug, minor pain I can do anything now but run and I'm 40 years old now great medication needle still hurts but it's truly a blessing"

• DJ Sp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

"After four years of out of control RA I did some research on here and asked my Rheumatologist to put me on Enbrel. I'd been on several other biologics and all the other usual suspects but had little relief and horrendous side effects. The only two things that worked for me were steroid injections and over the counter ibuprofen. I'm happy to say the Enbrel worked almost immediately like within the second day which has given me a great deal of hope for the future. The side effects so far after two injections are pretty bad acid reflux after the first injection but not the second and a couple of days of heavy fatigue after both jabs. The overall side effect I'm noticing is a general feeling of gloom and finding everything a bit of an effort. Just wondering if anyone else is feeling this. I intend to stick with Enbrel as its dramatically halted my all over pain and its given me 90 % of my mobility back so far."

• still...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2014

"I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in Feb. 2012 and started Enbrel the following September. I insisted on a biologic, as the methotrexate wasn't doing any good. I'm on 25mg twice weekly. I still have pain, my knees and left hip are the problem areas for me. I'm able to work, but still have to rest (ha ha! ) when I'm off. I would recommend Enbrel, the side effects have been minimal, compared to some of the other treatments."

• Marsha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2016

"I was put on Enbrel in 2007. The change it has made in the quality of my life is amazing. I prefer the mix-it-yourself 25 mg vials because they don't have preservative like the pre-filled syringes, which causes the horrible burning sensation. These also have tiny thin needles, which make the shot almost pain free. I haven't had psoriasis since about 2008, and my rheumatoid arthritis slowed in progression considerably."

• Enavid
• October 23, 2012

"Was diagnosed 3 yrs ago. Thought I'd had a stroke. Couldn't get out of bed on my own. I was reluctant to try Enbrel and decided to go natural with supplements, acupuncture, massage, etc. It worked for about 6 months but when I had flare up decided to try Enbrel. It has been a God send! Been on it over two years with no side effects. I am 62 years old. I went on line to find a good nutritional diet for rheumatoid arthritis. I stay away from dairy, eggs, wheat and some night shade veggies and NO sugar! I believe this staves off any negative side effected Enbrel might have! I take good supplements also. I go to the gym and do light weights 3 times a week and walk the rest of the time. I feel better than before I was diagnosed!"

• BeckyG
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2018

"I used the Enbrel injection 3 times before I decided to NOT do the 4th injection. After the third injection I had a giant, purple raised, rash everywhere I had injected. 8 days after my third injection I suffered a massive subdural hematoma (brain bleed). On top of that the 8 days after the 3rd injection I had more body pain than I have ever experienced in my life. I would never advise anyone to use this medication!"

• 52...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2016

"I've had RA for two years now. Started MTX about 7 months ago. I started to get worse, not able to open bedroom door in the morning. Stiffness lasting most of the morning and joint pain all day. MTX increased to max dosage without improvement. I take MTX injections. Started Embrel a month ago, much improved with first injection. Now morning I do not have a lot of stiffness, still have joint pain but it is improving as well. My RA was rated as severe. I've had no real side affects from either drug. I have muscle pain in my legs which I understand can be a side affect of Embrel but it beats the joint pain. I had read that the Embrel injections were painful. I personally did not find that to be true."

• Life...
• September 15, 2015

"I was not diagnosed with RA for 6 years due to being overweight. So, after all the agonizing daily pain I went thru, I finally found a doctor that listened. Actually, I found a nurse practitioner that listened! So on went a 2 year stent of trying methotrexate/steroid combo of what came with no results. I was given Enbrel and a next option. It changed my life!!! By the next day I had 50% pain relief. I have been taking it for a couple of years now and I would say I'm about 80% pain free. I don't have joint swelling at all. But the main affected joints hurt when pushed past their limits. I was taken off enbrel for a short time due to insurance and put on Simponi. Within 1 week all the pain and joint swelling returned. I have no s/e also!"

• Lizzie...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 30, 2016

"Was on enbrel for seven years, got relief after first injection. I developed breast cancer this year and feel that enbrel played a part in bringing it on. I wouldn't change a thing though, I would have been crippled by now, I had good years enjoying life while on enbrel. I can no longer take enbrel, and my RA has gotten so much worse. Also taking prednisone, sulfasalazine, and methotrexate."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2013

"Started Enbrel 4 months ago, and 100% pain and swelling reduction in a week. No adverse reactions except weight gain. So far, so good! Has made a huge difference in quality of life after 2 years of worsening symptoms at age 45."

• Bette
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 18, 2014

"Pain started 2005, diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis 2010. Cannot tolerate methotrexate, sulfa medicines and prednisone has severe negative psychological side effects. New Dr. in 2012 prescribed Enbrel. Took about 2 weeks to really kick on and then worked beautifully until recently. Now am having flares, swelling in AM, by mid week it wears off and I am hurting badly. At this point I am getting 2-3 good days out of 7 but I will continue as long as possible 2-3 out of 7 is better than 0-7. I miss when it worked all week. When Enbrel works it is awesome. I have used the Pfizer relief program and only pay $10 out of pocket. Without that it would have been too expensive even with our good insurance."

• Shell...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2016

"I've gone from 6 sulfasalazine, 1× 15mg tablet form of methotrexate, 4 naproxen and 1 omeprazole a day to only my 1× Enbrel injection and 1× methotrexate injection a week and am 100% better. I'm still exhausted and occasionally have puffy hands but pain and inflammation are gone."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2012

"I had terrible rheumatoid arthritis for almost 2 years at a young age. I had it in both my knees and feet and it was going into my right arm. I was so miserable I could barely leave my house for school during the winter. Driving and running were impossible and walking even a short distance was extremely hard without Advil. I started Enbrel 2 weeks before my 18th birthday. The first day I took Enbrel I felt better. I was able to go to my senior prom without pain, it was great! I have been pain FREE with no side effects. I was skeptical at first but I'm SO GLAD I took Enbrel. The shot is painless too! I can't guarantee that it'll work as quick as it did for me, but if you suffer as I did, TAKE ENBREL. It has saved my life and I can finally be a normal teen again."

• MLAdo...
• May 31, 2015

"My husband has RA. His doctor sent him to the Indiana Heart Clinic to ensure he had no heart issues before they put him on it. In November 2012 Dr Daly released Tony saying he had NO heart issues so he started Emprel. In January 2013 Tony had a sizable aneurism on his aorta so he underwent heart surgery. In April due to infections he had a 14 Hour surgery to redo all he had done in January. He died on Mothers Day may 12, 2013 of infection. I'm saying that he had a good heart yet two month s after taking Emprel he doesn't. What are the odds? I would not recommend it. Just in case."

• NewGi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2016

"So I started Enbrel two days ago and I feel exhausted , nauseous, and have a strange metallic taste in my mouth. Has anyone ever experienced this? I am told I should feel like a new person but I feel uncomfortable."

• Kishc...
• August 20, 2016

"I began taking Enbrel in 2008 for severe RA after a year of trying a series of other drugs. I lforgot I had RA. Last Nov. I stopped taking it because I had to be on chemo. Things were fine until April when I went into a full blown flare. Extreme morning stiffness lasted 6 hours or more. My thumbs were virtually useless. I hobbled like I was 95 years old with excruciating pain in my feet, knees, hips and neck. I took morphine which did little to suppress the pain. After consulting with my oncologist and rheumatologist I took my first injection of Enbrel in June - expecting it to take another month or longer to stop the flare. I felt much relief 2 days later. Now I'm almost back to normal."

• Paddy...
• December 22, 2017

"I was one of the first people in England to use this drug over 15 years ago. When I started all the clinicians were very nervous, as was I. My RA was so bad I had little to lose. I am now in the gym at least 3 times a week and hiking regularly. For me it has been literally a life saver and a life changer. Good look to anyone who tries it."

• Karley
• September 6, 2013

"After about 7 months of weekly Enbel injections I began to experience severe psychological symptoms. I continued taking Enbrel for about five more months as my doctor didn't believe the symptoms were due to Enbrel. At this point we believed I was in remission and I was off treatment for several months. My side effects disappeared. When I had a flare up I was put back on Enbrel. The psychological side effects came back full force and many doctors saw that it was definitely a side effect of the medicine. Enbrel did wonderful things for my arthritis, but I can't take it again. My doctor has noted these symptoms in other patients."

• DarkB...
• September 2, 2017

"I developed RA after Breast cancer treatment. After 2 years in terrible pain I started enbrel and the pain was took way like by hand. Stayed with this medication for about 4-5 yrs until the side effect came out. Today I have Multiple Myeloma --an incurable blood cancer with tons of effects and short life. I really don't know if taking Enbrel for RA is worth. Must have an alternative."

• Maria...
• October 3, 2013

"I started getting sick in August of 2008. After numerous trips to ER's, Dr.'s offices and hospitalizations, I finally got diagnosed with full skeletal rheumatoid arthritis. With it came Fibromyalgia, anemia, insomnia, depression and medicine induced diabetes. Was put on Humira for 2 years with continues Flare ups. Finally was put on Enbrel about 5 months ago and I just now am experiencing less pain and less swelling. I can even jump off the bed first thing in the morning, specially when my dog asked to be taken out. I'm only on 5mg of prednisone now, Enbrel once a week and few intakes of pain meds and muscle relaxants. I'm not sure how long will it work for me but I am thankful for the availability of the medicine and my having good insurance."

• no...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2014

"On it 9 weeks. Helps the rheumatoid arthritis, but I'm going bald very fast. Eliminated other DMARDs to confirm it is in fact the Enbrel. I can not lose all my hair, so I'm quitting it. It began falling out in clumps within the first week of shot #1. Too bad. Got the Enbrel card and it covered the cost."

• Vicki...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2014

"I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years. First on Methotrexate with Prednisone: got off the prednisone and went into remission after 8 months on methotrexate. Had a flare a year ago and have been fighting it ever since. I took Leflunomide, then Xeljanz and neither one worked and I was having to take 40mg of Prednisone just to handle the pain. Am now on Enbrel with prednisone; started out at 40-mg of prednisone and am now down to 10mg after 5 weeks. I am having a lot of rheumatoid arthritis nodules that started appearing during the flare, but so far since Enbrel there hasn't been any new growths appearing. Nodules are causing more pain (probably due to pressure on nerves) in my wrists then the rheumatoid arthritis in my finger joints. Hoping the Enbrel will improve my rheumatoid arthritis joint pain in my hands over time."

• Daisy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 7, 2019

"My daughter was diagnosed with RA at the age of 8, after severe pain in most of her joints including jaw, fingers, elbows, neck, knees, hip, ankles and swelling around knees. At that point she even struggled to walk. She was prescribed Methotrexate by NHS in the Uk, which didn’t seem to change anything and had terrible side effects. She was then injected with Embrel in each of the 23 affected joints, which had an immediate effect and she was able to walk and on a lot less pain in a matter of days. She was put on weekly Embel injections and has been on it since, 10 years now. We tried tanking her off twice, after arteries went into remission, but both times it came back. Embrel has been life changing for us and I am grateful to the UK government for covering the cost, and now for having an insurance also covering the cost in the UAE."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2008

"I have had RA for 23 years and had been on plaquenil and methotrexate for 10 years and still had swelling and joint pain. I started Enbrel in September 2004 and after two injections I felt like a brand new person. No more stiff hands in the morning..I can walk on ceramic floor without shoes (although I'm not supposed to), and it doesn't hurt! Thank goodness for Enbrel, it has changed my quality of life tremendously."

• desert...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 22, 2015

"I've had RA for 8 years. I still had much difficulty doing daily activities while on Methotrexate only. I've been on Enbrel for 15 months and now wouldn't be able to function without it. The Sureclick Autoinjector is a convenient method of administration, but is always quite painful and but fortunately over quickly. I'm so thankful to be on Enbrel."