Enbrel for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 3)

• young...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2018

"I have been on Enbrel 50 mg auto injector for approximately 2 1/2 months. before this I was put on Prednisone for 3 bad months, then 5 months of Hydroxychloroquine that was ineffective. The Enbrel is included in my personal list of "miracle" drugs that work for me! The injections are now producing good results the same day I inject, dealing with crushing fatigue and debilitating body ache/pain. I know that people react differently to meds and Enbrel might not work for you or give you bad side effects, but I feel that, if you can tolerate the med, try it for 2 months. I just hope that, after my trial run, I can afford it or get assistance, its a great med for me."

• Phast
• April 7, 2017

"I was diagnosed with RA 20 years ago. Never had any serious issues that I could not easily live with until one year ago February. Had a severe flare in shoulders, hands, wrists and other areas. I was put in methotrexate, sulfasalazine and prednisone and plaquinel. Also had several steroid injections. I also needed to take Aleve on a regular basis. I started Enbrel 5 weeks ago. Remarkable results. Haven't taken an Aleve since. I have stopped methotrexate which was giving me a chronic cough. I feel much better."

• Bosh
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 6, 2019

"Diagnosed with RA at 22yrs. Started with Plaquenil, then added methotrexate. Took some time to get the dose right due to nausea. That combo helped for 2 years. Then added Enbrel. It helped immediately but still had problems so added Meloxicam. Prednisone as needed for flareups. After serious ulcers I stopped the meloxicam and prednisone. Enbrel only worked for 1.5yrs. After I'd been on it about a year it started wearing off. I would inject every week but the meds would only last about 5 days and then I'd be disabled until time to take my next injection. Finally it stopped working all together. Just switched to Humira, still taking plaquenil and methotrexate. Many illnesses due to the compromised immune system, and extreme fatigue, but my RA is so severe I am fully disabled without these meds. I hope I can find one that will last longer. With the Enbrel support card, I have not had to pay for this drug. I prefer the syringes to the pens."

• RA...
• July 17, 2015

"I've been on enbrel for about 2 years now. I can't go out in the sun because of the rash i get all over my chest and back ( side effect of enbrel) I never had any eye problems until I started using enbrel, now I need new glasses about every 6 months ( side effect of enbrel) . Do the benefits outweigh the side effects? In my case no! I'm done with enbrel."

• Bill...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 19, 2013

"took Enbrel for 3 years and it took the joint pain away but did not take swelling bags away in wrist, switched to orencia and joint pain came back so once again went back to Enbrel with no joint pain but will have to live with the swelling in wrist, also a big difference in needle pain with Enbrel verses orencia, the orencia needle was nice and sharp with no pain, the Enbrel needles seem to be dull and needs to be sharper like the orencia needles, but at least there's no longer any joint pain, thankful for that."

• Raft...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 27, 2013

"On starting the self injection Enbrel, it took six weeks to take the pain away. Enbrel if I had it prescribed twenty years ago, my life would not be wheelchair dependent. My life is anything but painful. I can take part in daily life, enjoy all that can be given."

• Eostara
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2017

"My hands have been deteriorating rapidly, they'd closed into a fist and could barely open them, was in pain every day that only huge doses of prednisone (not prescribed) helped. A few days after my first injection the pain was gone and my hands opened up again. I'm hoping this continues to be the case."

• The...
• June 3, 2013

"Rheumatoid Arthritis for 22 years. Misdiagnosis when disease presented, 6 years of damage until correct diagnosis. Damage not able to be reversed. Taking ENBREL. I have tried REMICADE, was in trials for ORENCIA, but ENBREL seems to be the one that works better for me."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2008

"I have used Enbrel for more than a year to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have had no adverse reactions to the injections and have been pain-free/symptom-free since the 3rd day after my first injection. I have used both the pre-filled syringe and the pen, both are fairly easy to use, but the pen is by far the easiest between the two."

• out...
• November 15, 2014

"Enbrel has worked well for me for about 4 years and it has been covered partly by my husband's former employer and Pfizer. It seems, however, that when I turn 65, it will barely be covered on Medicare and supplemental insurance due to Congress approving a renewal of the patent on Enbrel. Also, due to Medicare being a government program, it won't be covered. "

• able...
• October 13, 2010

"I have been on Plaquenil, methotrexate and several other medicines since I was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago. Nothing seemed to work, had trouble just brushing teeth, brushing hair and the smallest task. Then 3 months ago they put me on Enbrel and boy what a big difference it made. Now I have my life back."

• frien...
• March 27, 2017

"I had one injection of Enbrel in the Dr. office two weeks ago it did such a great job on my knees there was no pain, no swelling I felt normal for a change, I could not believe this drug could do so well. I will finally be starting my weekly injections tomorrow. Boy am I ready! The side effects scare me a little now that I have read these reviews."

• Asi
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2014

"I am so lucky I live in Denmark where it is free to get all kinds of medicines. Enbrel has been working quite well actually for the past 2.5 year, but recently my doctor recommend me to get out of it, and I started by pushing it with 3 days, and the 3 days made my knees swell up. Now I am back with the 7 days interval, but it wont really help as much as before. So, I guess it was too soon to get out of using it."

• Toxic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2016

"Well it's been an hour and a half since my first injection by my doctor in my arm and I feel like a giddy space cadet mentally compared to the insomniatic, sleepless, suicidally depressed wreck that I've been for decades. I started off with misdiagnosed JRA called "growing pains" by my inept pediatrician when i was a child and after it never cleared up I went to see a specialist at age 15 then diagnosed with JRA. It went into a remission in my late teens early twenties then crept back up badly about 6 years ago. I tried every anti-inflammatory in the book and methotrexate with no success only prednisone helped but made me a wee bit too violently insane at times. Basically it's working good so far. 10 stars for enbrel."

• dgshi...
• December 2, 2008

"I'm 75 year's old and I've had RA since 1995 and was on almost every medicine you can think of for RA. My morning stiffness lasted almost all day and was getting worse. My doctor finally started me on Enbrel and Methotrexate almost two years ago, and I could almost jump out of bed in the morning and I've been good ever since. However, the high cost ($1,500 per month) will eventually use all of my retirement savings and then if I don't find a way to pay for it, I'll have to give it up and go back to my old miserable self."

• Guinea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2019

"I started it with the Enbrel sure click 50mg. I've taken Enbrel for 2 months. My finger pain seems to be going away. My doctor recently changed it to the mini sure click. I find the injection to be painful. I didn't have this issue with the regular sure click. I do like the lights and the sounds that lets you know it's complete. I will continue talking it."

• Bob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 20, 2016

"Took Enbrel with methotrexate for four years and it worked great. Developed optic neuritis in right eye and discontinued it. Optic neuritis is inflamation of the optic nerve and is one of the neurological disorder side effects of the drug. Changed diet to eliminate red meat and poultry and sugar and take natural supplements."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

"My son is 7 and has been taking Enbrel for a year and a half along with methotrexate. He is doing remarkably! Before the medication he literally had to crawl because the pain was so bad in his ankles. After only one shot of Enbrel he is able to run and play like a normal child! Unbelievable! Thank goodness for Enbrel!"

• debihut
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 27, 2013

"Enbrel is the first medication I've taken that's actually helped. After taking it for about 10 months with really good results, I had an Achilles tendon repair that was infected with MRSA during rehab. I had to take intravenous antibiotic for 8 weeks and had to go off Enbrel for several months. The pain from the rheumatoid arthtitis came back 10 fold. I'm back on Enbrel now but I find that it wears off by the 5th day, and by the time the week is over I'm in misery with swollen joints. I don't know what I'd do without it - just wish it could work all week."

• tina
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2018

"I was given Enbrel in January and after 3 injections noticed a rash. The rash after a month put me in the hospital. The rash turned into sores on my legs and after 1 month of stopping injections the rash is worsening. I would use this medication with caution. Take notes of side effects daily. For me the rash is an allergic reaction but it still has me in bed and not working. It feels like knives stabbing in my legs. unable to walk. numbness and swelling in my ankles. Something still isn't right. and its been over a month since last injection."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2012

"Had severe rheumatoid arthritis for 6 years - pain uncontrolled by DMARDs. Prescribed Enbrel and my health improved 85%. Sadly, after using Enbrel successfully for 5 1/2 years, it stopped being as effective. Since tried Humira - didn't work. Now trying Roactemra infusions - some improvement, but lots of side effects. Really miss the quality of life that I had when Enbrel worked for me!"

• RA-Don
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2017

"Enbrel has done a fantastic job of relieving the inflammation and pain associated with my severe RA. I began Enbrel three weeks after surgery unrelated to RA. Almost overnight the inflammation in my hands and the painful joints disappeared after the first injection. Have not experienced any bad side-effects to date, other than some minor sinus issues. I eat raw local honey each day, two tablespoons morning and evening to help keep me healthy. Am on Methotrexate 10 mg injection once a week, as well as Enbrel 50 mg injection once a week. Tried going off Methotrexate, but was back on it after ten days as apparently Enbrel alone is not quite enough to treat my RA."

• CET
• December 10, 2015

"I have been on Enbrel for about 2 1/2 years & have really had no relief. Prior I was on methotrexate & ended up having to see a liver transplant doctor because of an acute drug injury to my liver. I now have to see the transplant doctor every 3 months so I'd rather be on Enbrel than Methotrexate. But honestly I feel the Enbrel is just a waste of my time. I've also tried Cimzia, Celebrex, Vioxx, etc. Yet here I am at 42 unable to lift my grandchild & 2 shoulder surgeries & 2 toe replacements while on Enbrel."

• Age...
• March 29, 2015

"I've been on enbrel with other meds then finally with metrotexato since I was about 19 years old. The other meds I took were strong (harsh). So before I start, the absolute first credit in recovery goes to God. Now about the med, Enbrel, It really has helped me out in living a normal life (just add exercise)... Big difference from not being able to get up to being able to run again. Yet lately each time an injection has been made on my upper left arm, it feels odd. I feel as if the fluid is running into my veins going towards my rib cage. One time it felt as if it was going directly to my heart. Later it would feel warm in those areas, but giving it a few minutes later it would feel cool, oddly fresh. I would like to know if others have had similar symptoms."

• SGA
• July 26, 2009

"I've been on Enbrel for 2 years and went from being bed bound and using a walker to playing on my company's soft ball team. It has motivated me to live and has allowed me to consider having children now. My husband and I are really excited Enbrel has worked well. The only problem is that I continue to get oral ulcers and bruise easily. I am now having cold symptoms. "