Etanercept for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 it's dramatically halted my all-over pain, and it's given me 90% of my mobility back so far."

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in February 2012 and started Enbrel the following September. I insisted on a biologic, as the methotrexate wasn't doing any good. I'm on 25 mg 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."

• Mik...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 5, 2020

Enbrel (etanercept) "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, 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."

• Ena...
• October 23, 2012

Enbrel (etanercept) "Was diagnosed 3 years ago. I thought I had had a stroke. I 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 a flare-up, I decided to try Enbrel. It has been a godsend! I've been on it for over two years with no side effects. I am 62 years old. I went online to find a good nutritional diet for rheumatoid arthritis. I stay away from dairy, eggs, wheat, and some nightshade veggies and NO sugar! I believe this staves off any negative side effects Enbrel might have! I take good supplements as well. I go to the gym and do light weights three times a week and walk the rest of the time. I feel better than before I was diagnosed!"

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 preservatives like the pre-filled syringes, which cause 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 has slowed in progression considerably."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2018

Enbrel (etanercept) "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. Eight days after my third injection, I suffered a massive subdural hematoma (brain bleed). On top of that, the eight 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

Enbrel (etanercept) "I've had RA for two years now. Started MTX about 7 months ago. I started to get worse, not able to open the 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 Enbrel a month ago, much improved with the first injection. Now, in the 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 effects from either drug. I have muscle pain in my legs, which I understand can be a side effect of Enbrel, but it beats the joint pain. I had read that the Enbrel injections were painful. I personally did not find that to be true."

• Lif...
• September 15, 2015

Enbrel (etanercept) "I was not diagnosed with RA for 6 years due to being overweight. So, after all the agonizing daily pain I went through, I finally found a doctor that listened. Actually, I found a nurse practitioner that listened! So on went a 2-year stint of trying methotrexate/steroid combo, which 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 side effects also!"

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "Was on Enbrel for seven years, got relief after the 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

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

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 18, 2014

Enbrel (etanercept) "Pain started in 2005, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2010. Cannot tolerate methotrexate, sulfa medicines, and prednisone has severe negative psychological side effects. New doctor in 2012 prescribed Enbrel. Took about 2 weeks to really kick in, and then worked beautifully until recently. Now am having flares, swelling in the morning, 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."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2012

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 quickly 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."

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "I've gone from 6 sulfasalazine, 1× 15 mg 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."

• MLA...
• May 31, 2015

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 Enbrel. In January 2013, Tony had a sizable aneurysm 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 Mother's Day, May 12, 2013, of infection. I'm saying that he had a good heart, yet two months after taking Enbrel, he doesn't. What are the odds? I would not recommend it. Just in case."

• Pad...
• December 22, 2017

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 lifesaver and a life changer. Good luck to anyone who tries it."

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "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."

• Kis...
• August 20, 2016

Enbrel (etanercept) "I began taking Enbrel in 2008 for severe RA after a year of trying a series of other drugs. I forgot 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."

• Kar...
• September 6, 2013

Enbrel (etanercept) "After about 7 months of weekly Enbrel 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."

• Mar...
• October 3, 2013

Enbrel (etanercept) "I started getting sick in August of 2008. After numerous trips to ERs, doctors' 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 continuous 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, especially when my dog asks to be taken out. I'm only on 5 mg of prednisone now, Enbrel once a week, and a few intakes of pain meds and muscle relaxants. I'm not sure how long it will work for me, but I am thankful for the availability of the medicine and my having good insurance."

• Dar...
• September 2, 2017

Enbrel (etanercept) "I developed RA after breast cancer treatment. After 2 years in terrible pain, I started Enbrel, and the pain was taken away like by hand. Stayed with this medication for about 4-5 years until the side effects came out. Today I have multiple myeloma-an incurable blood cancer with tons of effects and a short life. I really don't know if taking Enbrel for RA is worth it. Must have an alternative."

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 cannot 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."

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

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 40 mg 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 10 mg after 5 weeks. I am having a lot of rheumatoid arthritis nodules that started appearing during the flare, but so far since Enbrel, there haven't been any new growths appearing. Nodules are causing more pain (probably due to pressure on nerves) in my wrists than the rheumatoid arthritis in my finger joints. Hoping the Enbrel will improve my rheumatoid arthritis joint pain in my hands over time."

• Mik...
• November 1, 2024

Enbrel (etanercept) "Came down with RA back in 2017. Refused biologics b/c of cancer danger for about 2 years. That was a mistake. MTX was no help. Got by on ibuprofen and Tylenol. Started Humira in 2019. Miracle drug. All symptoms gone after 1 shot. However, Humira quit working during 2024. Doc put me on Enbrel. It did not work overnight (like Humira). However, after 2-3 months I am again symptom free. Just turned 60 and feeling great. I can even bench press over 180 pounds, walk 5 miles, and swim using butterfly stroke. Don’t be afraid of biologics."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2008

Enbrel (etanercept) "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."

• Dai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 7, 2019

Enbrel (etanercept) "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 Enbrel in each of the 23 affected joints, which had an immediate effect, and she was able to walk and was in a lot less pain in a matter of days. She was put on weekly Enbrel injections and has been on it since, 10 years now. We tried taking her off twice after arthritis went into remission, but both times it came back. Enbrel 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."