Enbrel Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Enbrel is also known as Etanercept. It is the first in a new class of rheumatoid arthritis drugs known as biologic response modifiers. It is approved by the U.S. FDA in November 1998. Etanercept works by targeting immune system chemicals known as cytokines. Cytokines are proteins, it is similar to hormones and which cause the inflammation and joint destruction seen in RA.

Enbrel Dosage

• The recommended dose of ENBREL for adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis is about 50 mg per week.
• Injection using a 50 mg/mL single-use prefilled syringe.
• The dosage of Enbrel for children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is based on their weight.
• A once-weekly dosing option exists for children weighing 138 lbs or more.
• For plaque psoriasis, 50 mg twice a week for 3 months, stepped down to once weekly.

Uses of Enbrel

• Enbrel is used to relieve the symptoms and slow the progress of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.
• It is also prescribed to relieve the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
• It can be added to methotrexate (Rheumatrex) therapy when methotrexate fails to provide adequate relief.
• In medical studies, ENBREL was shown to be effective in about 50% of psoriatic arthritis patients who used it.
• Clinical responses were apparent at the time of the first visit (4 weeks) and were maintained through 6 months of therapy.

Side Effects of Enbrel

Common side Effects of Enbrel

• fever, chills
• depression
• bleeding
• numbness or tingling in legs
• shortness of breath
• skin rash
• unusual swelling
• vision changes
• weakness
• Dizziness
• hair loss
• headache
• nausea, vomiting
• redness, itching
• upset stomach

Warnings and precautions before taking Enbrel:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
• Be sure to mention any of the following: medications that suppress the immune system such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf).

Drug Interaction:-

• Specific drug interaction studies have not been conducted with ENBREL.
• It was observed that the pharmacokinetics of ENBREL was unaltered by concomitant methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Overdose

No harmful effects due to large doses of etanercept have been reported. But after taken Enbrel if you feel that overdose is suspected, then you should contact with your doctor immediately. Because it will may lead to another serious effect.

Online drugs information in an A to Z format.