Enbrel

etanercept

Enbrel is used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and to prevent joint damage caused by these conditions. Enbrel is also used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children who are at least 2 years old.

Enbrel is also used to reduce the symptoms of active ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory condition that results in stiffness and immobility and can sometimes cause joints and bones to fuse together.

What is Enbrel?

Etanercept belongs to the class of medications called biological response modifiers (biologics) or TNF blockers. Enbrel works by decreasing a certain protein produced by the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight infections. In people with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakes the body's own cells for invaders and attacks them.

Before taking Enbrel

You should not use Enbrel if you are allergic to etanercept, or if you have a severe infection such as sepsis (infection of the blood).

Before using Enbrel, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using Enbrel, tell your doctor if you have:

• a weak immune system;
• any type of infection including a skin infection or open sores;
• diabetes;
• congestive heart failure;
• a nerve disorder such as multiple sclerosis, myelitis, or optic neuritis;
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• asthma or other breathing disorder;
• if you have ever had hepatitis B;
• if you are allergic to latex rubber;
• if you have recently been vaccinated with BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin); or
• if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines.

How should I take Enbrel?

Enbrel is given as an injection under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

You may need to mix Enbrel with a liquid (diluent) before using it. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medication.

Enbrel side effects

In the psoriasis and the arthritis studies, the most common side effects reported were:

• dizziness
• sore throat
• cough
• stomach pain
• injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, swelling)
• upper respiratory infections
• headache
• rhinitis (irritation of the nose)

These side effects were generally mild and did not cause most patients to stop taking Enbrel. These events happened most often after the first dose of Enbrel and may decrease after additional doses.

Precautions

Children using this medication should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment with Enbrel. You may have pain, redness, swelling, or warmth where the medicine was injected. Call your doctor if these symptoms continue for longer than 5 days. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with Enbrel. Contact your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, cough, sweating, tired feeling, or if you feel short of breath.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• anakinra (Kineret);
• cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar);
• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine); or
• drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids).

Preganacy

Enbrel is in pregnancy category B. Enbrel is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether etanercept passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Enbrel without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Children using this medication should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment with Enbrel.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of Enbrel is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

Notes

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Enbrel. If you have any other questions about Enbrel, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.