Enbrel for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 5)

• Rui...
• February 5, 2018

"I've been on Enbrel for 3 weeks, and it's been a game changer to my life. I was on Methotrexate for 4 weeks and realized the pain did not subside. I'm hoping that this will last since I have experienced a few aches, but nothing compared to the pain I had before. One MAJOR downside: the injection is very expensive, especially since insurance companies in Asia do not cover this particular medicine."

• kas...
• September 13, 2016

"I do have the medication with me (Enbrel), but I'm unable to pinch myself due to my damaged fingers because of arthritis. I went with a nurse to teach me how to do it, but it was impossible for me to grab the pen, I have no grip abilities. Tomorrow, I will see my R doc to see if I have other options on how to do it. I live by myself, and there's no one around to help, and my question is, what's the reason nurses wouldn't do it in the office? I'm willing to pay for this service since I can't do it. I need your comments, please?"

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2016

"Took 1 injection. Found out I could not afford it because Medicare won't pay. Have never experienced a flair of this nature. I am in so much pain it is unbearable. Hope it goes away soon. I cannot bear it!"

• Ter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2023

"Be careful with this medicine. At first, I thought it may be helping me, but after the second or third months, I felt so lousy and tired that I couldn’t get up. I had side effects such as a dry mouth and allergies, and my foot swelled up. I would much rather take Humira with fewer side effects, so be careful with Enbrel. Also, they are very prejudiced against medical insurance, they only want to help people with their program that have commercial insurance. They have what they call a nonprofit, but they do not help you if you have Medi-Cal, so beware of that before you start your samples."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2018

"Just diagnosed with RA at 65 years old. The Enbrel is super expensive! Only on my third injection, but nothing positive yet. The actual injection hurts like heck, but only for about 20 seconds, which seems like minutes, then it's over with, but it really does hurt."

• Mag...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 15, 2021

"Have been on Enbrel for at least 10 yrs+. Have been using the new mini cartridge for about 2 months (did away with the 2-shot-a-week vial). I dread getting this shot once a week. Application is very easy to use, but the medication going into the area is extremely painful. I use an ice pack up to 1/2 hr before use, and it still hurts. Anyone else have this problem?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 3, 2024

"This is a very effective medication for me. I was on it for seven years, then was switched to other medications that either did not work or had intolerable side effects. As soon as I resumed Enbrel, my health stabilized (inflammation was gone)."

• sly...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 24, 2018

"I've been on Enbrel and Plaquenil for about as long as I've been diagnosed, which is about 10 years. I've had surgery to remove cysts on my fingers, bottom, my cervical spine (kinda tricky). Tomorrow I go in to have a walnut-sized growth on my left chest wall. My fingers are deformed, numb, with episodes of Raynaud's."

• Hap...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2023

"I have been on Enbrel for the last 14.5 years. I had to get off of it here these last several months due to new insurance. I'm not eligible for any assistance because I'm on the Market Place that gives me about a $100 discount. The foundation said I make too much money for assistance. With the economy the way it is, I barely squeeze by every month. During the last 3 months, the RA came back with a vengeance. I had forgotten how bad it was when it originally started, and this time it was actually worse. Not having access to Enbrel makes me not able to live a normal life. It is an amazing drug. Very scared as to what the future holds without this medication."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 5, 2022

"I took Enbrel for 1.5 years. Then took one shot of Humira. Before starting Enbrel, I took methotrexate. Enbrel worked great! Other than RA, I've always been healthy and had lots of energy. One weekend, in 2021, I started having pain in my left shoulder. I thought it was a heart attack. I went to the ER and was told it was a pulled muscle. Long story short, back and forth urgent clinic and ER visits, I found that I had an extreme bacterial infection on the outside of my lung. I had all sorts of tests to find out what was going on. I was in the hospital, in ICU, had surgery to remove the infection, a chest tube, was on a ventilator, and on oxygen for over one week. All of that, and I've always been healthy and never sick...other than RA. Another long story short...the Enbrel had compromised my immune system. A common bacteria had caused the infection on my lung. I cannot take Enbrel again...never want to go through that experience again! I'm looking for another option to help me."

• van...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 17, 2021

"I have been taking this med for over 16 years, and it works great, but the company has recently stopped making the dosage you have to mix and has gone to prefilled syringes. It sucks, the needles are horrible, and it hurts to use this new kind. I do not recommend this if you can take another route. I am contemplating changing to another medication."

• Jan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 12, 2021

"I had used Enbrel for over 19 years, and it has been effective at controlling my RA. They recently have discontinued the reconstitutable form of the drug I had been using. The new formulation, according to the company, has a lower pH, which means a higher acidity, and wow, does it BURN after injection. I had been delighted with the medication, but now the pain after injection is intolerable. I am talking to my doctor about alternatives."

• Hav...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 21, 2014

"Amazing. First one I used lasted for the longest time frame. Only thing was the shots were annoying. After the Enbrel, each one I used or tried, I had an allergic reaction to. About 6 different ones I finally gave in to the prospect of having a premed to help accept the medication. Currently on Actemra with premed of Solumedrol. Helped for about 10 months, the medicine was increased to maximum dose. 1st down and praying for continuing relief. I hope this helps. As each medication change, the sulfasalazine and methotrexate have always remained as a stable medicine treatment in my plan, with only one exception."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 18, 2022

"I am a former athlete, and the onset of arthritis has been terrible for me. Sulfasalazine helped a lot, but then I had to have a new rheumatologist due to the retirement of the previous, and she recommended Enbrel, informing me I could discontinue the Sulfasalazine. This was a bad idea, substantial pain returned, which was alleviated by starting the Sulfasalazine again. I have no idea if this very expensive drug is worth the cost."

• Pee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2021

"I have recently been diagnosed... It is only in this day and age that we, as patients, reach out to our doctors and tell them what medications we should be on because of an ad we saw on TV. My follow-up with the doctor is in one week when these decisions will be made. I have been watching pharmaceutical ads on TV much more closely these days. I will not ask my medical care provider to recommend Enbrel. The ads, as with many, many other like-minded ads for so many pharmaceuticals treating so many diseases or illnesses. Why should we, as real patients with real diseases, believe your ads full of 'actor portrayals' telling us how much better they feel and how improved their quality of life is? If I want acting, I will go to the movies. What would be so wrong with featuring actual patients on the actual medications telling us their true experiences?"

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2021

"I started out on Enbrel with Methotrexate. The Methotrexate made me feel sick. My Enbrel was increased to 50 mg twice a week. Since then, I have been in remission. No need for Methotrexate. Now, after 3 years of twice a week, my insurance will not cover that dose. Since when could insurance companies prescribe? I am going to have to switch, and it is scary."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 30, 2021

"Is there a drug that you can take with Enbrel that would help besides methotrexate? I love Enbrel, and it has helped immensely, but I was on methotrexate and another drug, and I had some bad side effects. Now just on Enbrel, but still pretty sore. Any advice? Thanks, Tracy."

• lyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 27, 2023

"I have been in remission from my RA after starting Enbrel. I have had no problems or side effects, my question is, why does it take so many clicks for the applicator to deliver my medication? I use the Enbrel SureClick. It's like opening a can of biscuits, I never know when it is going to happen."

• Kjm...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 3, 2022

"I have been taking Enbrel once a week, 50 mg injection for seven years. This drug has been good to me. I could live with a lot of mobility and less pain. My arthritis started when I was 14, and I started on prednisone and gold pills. That treatment did not stop the progression, just helped me live. I then tried all the infusion medicines. They worked, just not very long. Enbrel has been the longest treatment that has stopped most further progression. I just turned 50, and I am starting to have more pain and realizing Enbrel is not working as well. I am so grateful for Enbrel. I am nervous about finding something new."

• Hil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2019

"This medication Enbrel gave me uncomfortable side effects that I would rather not discuss, however, my doctor took me off the medication immediately, and I feel much better on my new medication. I should have listened to my doctor to begin with."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2012

"Off Enbrel I was basically not functional. On it, I am as functional as a normal person. This is a miracle. Over 5 years on it and no side effects."

• Anonymous
• February 11, 2015

"Just had my first injection yesterday. I felt better right away. I was really surprised at the fast response!"

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2008

"After about 8 meds over 5 years, with most helping little, if any, I started with Enbrel, and it is like night and day. This helps so much. Try it!!"

• gdv...
• January 30, 2017

"Used for about two years. Injection site skin discoloration. Lost effectiveness and caused secondary reaction."

• san...
• October 19, 2011

"I only wish the shot lasted the whole 7 days. I find I start hurting again after day 5 of having my shot."