Enbrel

[Kathy]

Hi, For those hard to heal plaques, I use a dab of Taclonex, put it on a moisture-proof bandaid and keep it on for a week. Take it off, wash, repeat. After a month, the plaques fade. I repeat as necessary. I've had great results with Enbrel and Taclonex and clobetasol propionate.

Local Kingmaner wrote:

I have had psoriasis since 1989. During that time, I have never had a remission. I've always had the embarrassing lesions on my hands, on the bottom of my wrists, in my arm pits, on elbows and knees, under my breasts, scalp, and the base of my scalp was hellishly flakey. Two years ago, I got approved by my insurance to use Enbrel. It has cleared all spots except for the ones which show....sigh. I still deal with terrible spots on my hands, elbows (knees cleared up--funny),and wrists.
I use 25mg premixed injections twice weekly. I find that if I let the shot sit out for at least 1/2 an hour before injection, it cuts down on the sting. The needles are small enough, I hardly feel them.
Even though I am thankful for this drug, I am at a loss on how to handle the hard to heal plaques. Every time I put my arms up, I see people look at my lesions. The question they always ask is "Did you burn yourself?" I always respond that I have psoriasis, and it's not contagious. I've learned not to be intimidated to tell people what I have.
I've treated these spots with cortisteroids and plastic wrap, but I am tired of wrapping to get results which only last a short time.
Anyone else have any suggestions? I've thought about Remacade. I heard it works well for plaque psoriasis.
I haven't had any flu-like symptoms, so I feel pretty lucky. When I first started, I had injection site reactions, but that went away after a few months.
I take 250

[Kathy]

I put a dab of Tacloniex on a Nexcare waterproof bandage and keep the bandage on for a week on resistant plaques. Remove the bandage, wash the plaque and reapply. After a month the plaque starts to go away. Reapply as necessary. Taclonex box says not to put it on with a bandage, but my doc says its OK and it works.

[Anastacia]

Hi, this is my third week using enbrel. I have some concerns. My father came back from Greece and brought an article with him written specifically regarding the chances of getting cancer and being on enbrel. Now, when i search enbrel (such as medline) I keep finding FDA warnings. I don't know if i am confortable being three time more likely than the general population of getting cancer. Has anyone else heard of this?

thanks

[Michelle]

I have started my second month of enbrel for rumatiod arthritis. My right hand has been swollen for months and still getting bad. The pain has not gotten better. My fingers are so swollen i can barely move my fingers. Forget the rings. Any suggestions. I'm on 50 mg enbrel shot once a week. Doesnt hurt so bad in the belly. Leg forge it. lol

[Moogs]

I have been using enbrel for 1 year. The reactions, which were initially quite large, are now about the size of a quarter. In my case, sometimes previous injection sites also react again when I get a new injection. If you scratch them, they just get worse, so you have to just learn not to do it. In the beginning when I was really desperate, I used an over the counter topical benedryl to relieve the itching. I do not need to use anything now and I can pretty much ignore the current reactions.
My physician prescribed the medication for a very different condition. In my case, it has literally given me a life.
Good Luck, God bless.

[mike]

John wrote:

Is it ok to drink Alcahol if i am on Enbrel?

yes it is ok but its not helpful to your skin or organs

[Molly]

i am 16 years old and i have rheumatoid arthritis,and i got it when i was 8. the arthritis never bothered me really. but i started using enbrel 4 months ago. in the beginning the shots didn't bother me at all and had no side effects. but as the weeks go on the shot are becoming more and more painful. i have always been really really skinny but since i've been on enbrel its made me gain a lot of weight in my cheeks, my neck, and stomach. i've put on about 6 pounds. and it makes me break out really bad.

[Alli]

I am thinking of beginning embrel for my psoriasis and am wondering if it is worth the risk?

[Bim at Chicago]

Terry in Canada wrote:

I was prescribed Enbrel by my rheumatoligist three years ago. I am 66 years old. I started doing two injections per week. I have Ankylosing Spondilitis which is similar to RA. Also have some psoriasis.
The day I took the first shot I was in real pain from the AS. In fact for the previous three years I had, after reacting badly to chronic anti-inflammatory use, been unable to really function. No golf or exercise, even walking was a real test. The day after I took that first shot the pain subsided and by the second day I was mobile again. Since then I walk eighteen holes of golf three times a week and spend an hour or so most days in a gym doing strenuous exercise on a tread mill, mat or exercise bike.
After using Enbrel on a twice weekly basis for about six months I reacted badly with extreme sinus problems which nothing seemed to help. So I cut down to one shot a week. Still good relief from the SA but sinus infection continued so I tried it once every two weeks. Eventually I found out I only needed a shot once a month and I have used it that way for the past couple of years. About thirty days after a shot I start to seize up. I know the symptoms of AS too well, of course. So then I take the shot, have a mild sinus reaction and that's it. Three weeks of relief with no side effects. My slight psoriasis problem never changed in this period. I have some flaking etc. on my temples and that's all.
I pray every day that I can continue to use Enbrel. It has been a miracle for me.
Terry in Canada

I am starting to take once a month shot now. This is after taking once a week shot 50 ml.
Economy is bad. Can't afford this drug. But once a month works for me, reliving my RA symtoms.

[Bim at Chicago]

I am starting to take once a month shot now. This is after taking once a week shot 50 ml.
Economy is bad. Can't afford this drug. But once a month works for me, reliving my RA symtoms.

[karen burns essexI]

I have been on embrel for seven years now, luckily with no side affects. however i have noticed my joints becoming more inflamed once again. i wonder if your body starts to get immune to the benefits of this drug.1638

[lou g]

I have Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. I was on Methotrexate for about 10 years, then the doc put me on Enbrel because of concerns of the blood tests, even though the liver biopsies showed no problems. I've had no problems with Enbrel; occasional on site reaction and a little soreness at times. But the doc has me doing blood tests every 2-3 months. I seldom have arthritis pain and psoriasis severe outbreaks. 4 years ago I had my first severe outbreak. The dermatologist put me on a regimen of topical ointments, shampoos, etc., and my eye doc gave me a prescription because I had some type dermatitis in my eyelids, thus causing an eye infection. It took several months, but finally went away. During that time, I had no arthritis problems. Spring of 2007 I started having pain in my right foot. As I walk for exercise, it got to the point of having too much pain for long walks. I saw my rheumatologist and he had my nerve endings tested, but that didn't seem the problem. Although x-rays showed arthritis, it wasn't severe. I had to see an orthopedic doctor who after x-rays, a cat-scan, and an mri determined it was a medial column collapse due to psoriatic arthritis. He decided he would perform surgery to "clean" the joints, ligaments, tendons, etc., that were causing the pain. As it was now summer, I asked him to wait till Nov - Dec so I could continue keeping up with my yard work. He said if the pain got worse he would move up the surgery. In Sep I had a follow-up and he said he'd do the surgery in Nov; I agreed. I then read an article by People's Pharmacy in the local newspaper about persons taking a tablespoon of Certo with 8 oz of Grape Juice were getting relief from arthritis pain. I bought some and begin taking it daily. A month before the surgery during a final follow-up I told the doc I had no more foot pain. But because I have bunions (non-hurting) and hammertoes (one hurting) he said he would just correct the hammertoe. I've had similar pain in my left foot since, but it went away. I don't know if it's the Enbrel or Certo but I keep taking it. I'm not advocating taking any of this stuff. You need to go online, search for what I've said, and decide for yourself, just like I did. I'm putting all this out, in hopes that what helped me will help others. However, you have to realize I'm not advising anyone to try any of this. This is just information about my problems and what I've done to try to alleviate them.

[rosie]

Aurora wrote:

I have been on Enbrel for a month now for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, 2 50mg injections a week. I am now experiencing injection site reactions that are quite large...the size of a standard envelope. The areas are red, raised and itchy. Has anyone else had a similar reaction? My derm does not seem too concerned but I wanted to get the input first hand from other enbrel users. How long before these reactions went away? Any tips on how to lessen the redness and itching?
I am also not totaly convinced that this is the cure for me...I have not been much inprovement in my skin the last month but my arthritis pain has subsided in my back and fingers. How long before results were evident on skin? Any input or other experiences would be extreamly helpful. Thanks so much!!

I have found that my reactions are less if I inject before bed. By morning, it is not as bad. If I inject in the morning or afternoon, I become tortured if the itching and swelling almost immediately.