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Enbrel

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) facts

  • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages.
  • The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions.
  • In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually, but not always, affected in a symmetrical pattern.
  • Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.
  • Damage to joints can occur early and does not correlate with the severity of symptoms.
  • The "rheumatoid factor" is an antibody that can be found in the blood of 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
  • The treatment of rheumato...

Enbrel

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Enbrel Drug Center

Medical Editor: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Enbrel (etanercept) is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. There is no generic Enbrel available currently. Side effects of Enbrel include nausea, vomiting, headache, redness or discomfort at the injection site, heartburn, cough, and weakness.

Enbrel is available in three preparations; 0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept, 0.51 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept and 25 mg etanercept. All are used for injection; only the 25 mg strength is available in a multiuse vial, the others are available in a prefilled syringe. Starting dose is often 50 mg injected twice a week in adults and 0.8 mg per Kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 63 Kg. Other doses may be used. Serious side effects of Enbrel may include seizures, bruising or bleeding, skin changes (rash, pustules or blistering skin), swelling and difficult breathing or swallowing, vision changes, paresthesias, weakness, and dizziness. Warnings are given for Enbrel use; Enbrel users are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death and for the development of lymphoma and other malignancies and death in children and adolescent patients treated with TNF blockers, including Enbrel. Patients receiving cyclophosphamide therapy are not recommended to use Enbrel and patients should not obtain any live vaccine while taking Enbrel. There are no studies available on Enbrel use in pregnant or breastfeeding women or their infants.

Our Enbrel Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information as well as related drugs, user reviews, supplements, and diseases, and conditions.

What is Prescribing information?

The FDA package insert formatted in easy-to-find categories for health professionals and clinicians.

Enbrel Prescribing Information: Indications & Dosage

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Enbrel is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Enbrel can be initiated in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or used alone.

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Enbrel is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in patients ages 2 and older....

Read the complete drug monograph for Enbrel »

What is Patient information?

Easy-to-read and understand detailed drug information and pill images for the patient or caregiver from Cerner Multum.

Enbrel Patient Information: Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with etanercept. Stop using etanercept and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:

  • fever, sweating, chills, tired feeling;
  • feeling short of breath;
  • cough, sore throat; or
  • flu symptoms, weight loss.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these other serious sid...

Read the complete patient information for Enbrel »

What is Consumer information?

A concise overview of the drug for the patient or caregiver from First DataBank.

Enbrel Consumer Information: Uses

This medication is used alone or in combination with an immunosuppressant (such as methotrexate) to treat certain types of arthritis (such as rheumatoid, psoriatic, juvenile idiopathic, and ankylosing spondylitis), as well as a skin condition called psoriasis. These conditions are caused by an overactive immune system (autoimmune disease). The immune system attacks the body's own healthy cells, causing inflammation in the joints and skin.

Etanercept controls your body's defensive response by blocking the action of a certain natural substance (TNF) that is used by the immune system. Treatmen...

Read the complete consumer information for Enbrel »

What is Enbrel Consumer Information?

Warnings - Uses - How to Use - Side Effects - Precautions - Drug Interactions and More

Enbrel - User Reviews

Enbrel User Reviews

Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.

Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Enbrel sorted by most helpful. Patient Discussions FAQs

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


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