How quickly did you feel Enbrel taking effect?
Hi Ir,
It is totally different with each person. The average is 6 weeks, but some Rheums will keep you on it even longer to make sure before they move on to the next biologic. I started having better days right away, I was lucky. Of course there are still bad days, bad months, bad storms (barometric pressure) that are factors. Stress, insomnia, and these negative influences all play a part too.
I hope you have great success, it is a med that has helped millions, I am one of those fortunates!
Wishing you well,
SK
Thanks for your answer, SK. I’m only 2 weeks in - I guess I need patience! I was hoping for more.
I’m interested that you mention barometric pressure. I have always been really sensitive to that. Do you know why it affects us?
Yes, my chiropractor explained it, "Opposite of what you would expect, when the pressure drops is when it will bother us, it expands the body (swells) and makes it 'thump'", and thump is the word!
The storms affect me so severely that my Rheum suggested I consider a move to a dry climate. My response was that moving away from my grand kids would cause even more pain and depression, and there is no med in the world for that!
I understand your impatience! Hopefully it will soon kick in!
Wishing you well,
SK
SK,
My family actually upended itself and moved from WA to AZ to have a dry climate. Turns out I didn't feel any better after almost 2 yrs and we abandoned the experiment. I do better in WA that has fairly steady weather (cool, drizzly) than I do in heat. I do feel better here than in the Midwest though :)
SK said:
The storms affect me so severely that my Rheum suggested I consider a move to a dry climate. My response was that moving away from my grand kids would cause even more pain and depression, and there is no med in the world for that!
It never worked for me and I gave it a good shot of 5 months.
I felt an improvement in energy level, and a lifting of my brain fog in the first week. Of course, at the time I thought it was my imagination! I knew within the first two weeks that Enbrel was going to work. (Nothing really dramatic, just feeling generally better than I had been.) There was steady improvement for about 3 months, but my feet were still sore. The rheumatologists said it could take up to six months for that to improve.
Since starting, I've had to quit twice because of an infection. Both times, on restart, I experienced an improvement in my mood and energy within a couple of days. Remarkable, really. Enbrel seems to affect my brain first.
Like SK, I'm one of the lucky ones. But if Enbrel doesn't work well for you, there are other biologics. They all work slightly differently, so just because you don't have success on one, doesn't mean that another won't work. You keep trying them until you find a good "fit".
Good luck with this, lrcjvl!
Thanks everyone. I don’t have any dramatic improvement, but my daily flares (mostly feet and knees) seem a little less severe? I am continuing on my methotrexate and Celebrex which are partially effective as well.
Maybe time will tell?
Its funny how it works........ I just had a rheumy appointment with the new guy. He assured me he knew everything about me. Scary if you knew my relationsip with the gal replaced (She accidently started a ten acre fire with my daughter at aslumber party when they wrre in jr high I'm sure it was future research on alternative organic pain control) In any event he noted that she was thinking it was time for a change in bios - so did I. It was only when he started askig questions that I realized it had been two years since I was laid out by my back.. TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!! We tweaked some other things and left.I am still a satisfied enbrel user althogh my golf game still sucks. Keep watching. More than one of us have missed it..........
I've taken 4 shots of enbrel so far (5th tomorrow)..feeling very,very tired and I got the rash again. My GP suggested we try some prednisone with the shots. So I take 10 -15 mg the day of and the day after..so far it is working..rash is minmal..looking for opinions on if you think this is safe or not????
I am curious about this "rash", did you doctor test you for Lupus? I had an ANA test done and I tested positive and she said that was borderline Lupus. First thing she asked me was if I ever get rashes... no I don't.. she also asked do I ever get sores in my mouth... no I don't. So I don't have Lupus. I was told a lot of people with Psoriasis will test positive on the ANA test since it is an auto immune disease. I would definintely get this checked out though, a rash could be an allergy too. I am supposed to be starting Enbrel as soon as the paperwork goes through from my doctor and insurance. I can't wait to see if I have good results! :-)
Smitty said:
I've taken 4 shots of enbrel so far (5th tomorrow)..feeling very,very tired and I got the rash again. My GP suggested we try some prednisone with the shots. So I take 10 -15 mg the day of and the day after..so far it is working..rash is minmal..looking for opinions on if you think this is safe or not????
no..never been tested for lupus but have had many, many allergy tests. All of the med related ones come back as a side effect of the drug...if it has a rash side effect I will get it..but we have to try something to help with the Psa. Still taking the enbrel, still keeping the rash sort of at bay..at least it hasn't spread from my arms or legs to my torso yet So far I don't see it as the wonder drug that Phil says it is.
if it is an allergy can't you just take an Anti Histamine? I would think if it is induced by allergies then you would be increasing inflammation? I am not really familiar with this area though so I might be way off.. What has your doctor said about it?
Smitty said:
no..never been tested for lupus but have had many, many allergy tests. All of the med related ones come back as a side effect of the drug...if it has a rash side effect I will get it..but we have to try something to help with the Psa. Still taking the enbrel, still keeping the rash sort of at bay..at least it hasn't spread from my arms or legs to my torso yet So far I don't see it as the wonder drug that Phil says it is.
Well I saw doctor yesterday (GP) he's been my GP for going on 20 years now. I have so many sensitivities and allergies that we are never quite sure what causes it. But definitely the flare of this one started with the onset of Enbrel and yes inflammation increases when I have the rashes. I take Benadryl almost daily and have for about 15 years now. We will continue with a dose of 10 mg of prednisone for a month and then ween off it again if rash is within tolerable limits and see what happens then. On a good note saw eye doctor 2 weeks ago and my eye problems are just an extrememly dry eye. He told me IF we can get my arthritis under control this will also cease to become so much of a problem. I had no idea the tearing and pain and congunctivitis was all symptoms of dry eye..but also a part of the PSA. I'm waiting for my new glasses as well..or should I say my second prescription..I now have one for non prednisone times and prednisone times..apparently the prednisone works well in the inflammation in my eyes.