Enbrel and Injection Site Pain: What Users Say

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Had RA for 4 years after the birth of my baby. I spent 2 years on various meds, which did nothing for the pain. Then put on Humira, which worked wonders for nearly 2 years. Then started getting flare-ups again, so they put me on Enbrel. 1st injection fine, 2nd got small injection site reaction, 3rd injection got massive reaction at injection site & laryngitis. Dr. diagnosed cellulitis, but after reading that laryngitis can be a symptom of an allergic reaction, I'm leaning towards an allergic reaction and am currently waiting for a reply from my rheumatology team!"

• bab...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 4, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Enbrel for a little over 2 years. Tried MTX, Humira, and some other biologic before insurance would pay for Enbrel, which my RA doc says is the 'gold' standard treatment. I feel that it helped the first 2 years, but after the last few months, I've been having more intense side effects - achy legs, lethargy, headaches, injection site reactions, and my joints are actually more swollen - especially in the a.m. I went off it last year for 3 months just to see what would happen, and I felt better (side effect wise), and my RA seemed stable, but my labs were abnormal after the 3 months, so my doctor encouraged me to go back on the Enbrel. I've been back on for 3 weeks and feeling very discouraged. Helps with the RA, but now living with the side effects."

• smc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2015

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "Oh my god! This medication is amazing. It's turned me into a brand new person. The debilitating swelling/stiffness in my knees, pain, and grinding in my shoulders are entirely gone. The stiffness and lack of movement in my spine are very slowly getting better. I've been on it for 3 weeks, and I'm so much better. It took a very long time (3 years) and 6 rheumatologists to finally get a doc to agree to trial me on a TNF inhibitor. The injection site reaction is super sucky. I have a big red itchy/burning rash where I inject for 3-4 days after. I've made up a great cream to treat the symptoms, but I'm gonna ask the doc if I can switch to prefilled syringes."

• Ore...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2015

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "I am a 46-year-old female. I had my first flare at 19, but doctors couldn't figure out what it was. I wasn't diagnosed until 5 years ago. I have steadily gone downhill since the diagnosis. They tried me on all the medications they could before starting TNF blockers. I was put on Humira first, and although it made me feel somewhat better, my back measurements were getting worse. Then the rheumatologist changed it to Enbrel. I had terrible site reactions from Enbrel and also tremors. I now have a prescription for Simponi, but I can't start it until I finish a round of antibiotics for sinusitis and bronchitis. I'm so happy to read that some people are getting help from some of these medications and hope that Simponi is my answer to prayer and I'll get my life back!"

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Asi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2017

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "My 14-year-old daughter takes this once a week. It has really helped her. But the injections hurt, and she often cries for several minutes after getting the shots. She has multiple health issues and has had 3 open-heart surgeries. We have elected to stop taking shots and try something else. It's just too hard on her."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've only been taking Enbrel for two weeks for my rheumatoid arthritis. I haven't noticed any changes or decrease in pain. I haven't had any pain at the injection site, or any side effects so far."