The use of Enbrel can make an individual prone to certain types of cancer such a special type of lymphoma. Thus, it is important to discuss the risk factors before taking Enbrel. The risk is particularly high in case of children and young adults. If you are taking this drug, you must be careful about the occurrence of any of the following symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss, night sweats, nausea, rapid heart rate, feeling full just after eating little food, itching, clay colored stools, easy bruising or bleeding, feeling exhausted or having symptoms like jaundice. Seek yours doctor’s advice if you experience any of the above symptoms. Enbrel can make your immune system weaker and expose you to serious infections. The symptoms of weakening immune system include diarrhea, body aches, chills, fever, short of breath, burning sensation while urinating, cough etc.
How Does Enbrel Works?
Our immune system produces a protein called as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) that helps our body to fight against infections. However, in case of some people, the immune system produces excess TNF resulting into autoimmune disorders. In this condition, the body starts to harm even the healthy cells. Enbrel (etanercept) helps in blocking the excess production of TNF and preventing autoimmune disorders.
How Effective is Enbrel?
Enbrel is used to effectively treat disorders like psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc… Enbrel is also effective in treating pain in joints such as polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis occurring in children below 2 years old. Enbrel is an effective drug against plaque psoriasis children above 4 years old and adults.
What is the Suggested Dosage for Enbrel?
General Adult Dose of Enbrel for Ankylosing Spondylitis:
The dosage for adults must be limited to a maximum of 50 milligrams / week injected directly into the skin.
Enbrel is recommended to be used for treating the symptoms of severe to moderately active (AS) Ankylosing Spondylitis in adults. It can be safely used accompanied by (MTX) methotrexate.
General Adult Dose of Enbrel for Rheumatoid Arthritis:
The dosage for adults must be limited to a maximum of 50 milligrams / week injected directly into the skin.
Enbrel is recommended to be used for treating the symptoms of severe to moderately active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults. It can be safely used accompanied by (MTX) methotrexate.
General Adult Dose of Enbrel for Psoriatic Arthritis:
The dosage for adults must be limited to a maximum of 50 milligrams / week injected directly into the skin.
Enbrel is recommended to be used for treating the symptoms of severe to moderately active Psoriatic Arthritis (PA) in adults. It can be safely used accompanied by (MTX) methotrexate.
General Adult Dose of Enbrel for Plaque Psoriasis:
Initially for the first three months, the dosage must be limited to 50 mg to be given twice over a period of 14 days with a gap of 3-4 days. The dosage can be adjusted to total 25-50 milligrams / week given twice but the maximum dosage must not exceed 50 mg/week. In the following months, the dosage should be kept to 50mg/ week.
Enbrel is recommended only in case of adults receiving systemic therapy or phototherapy for treating chronic severe to moderate plaque (PsO) psoriasis.
General Pediatric Dose of Enbrel for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis:
In case of children, the dosage should be given according to the weight. If the weight of an individual is lower than 63 kilograms, then the dosage should be 0.8 mg/kg injected directly into the body once in a week. If the weight is greater than 65 kilograms, the Enbrel dosage of 50mg should be injected once in a week. This dosage must not exceed 50 mg/week.
Enbrel is recommended to be used in children above 2 years or adults for treating severe to moderately active polyarticular (JIA) juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
General Pediatric Dose of of Enbrel for Plaque Psoriasis:
In case of children above 4 years or adults, the dosage should be given according to the weight. If the weight of an individual is lower than 63 kilograms, then the dosage should be 0.8 mg/kg injected directly into the body once in a week. If the weight is greater than 65 kilograms, the dosage of 50mg of Enbrel should be injected once in a week. This dosage must not exceed 50 mg/week.
Enbrel is recommended to be used children above 4 years or adults who are receiving systemic therapy or phototherapy for treating chronic severe to moderate plaque (PsO) psoriasis.
What are the Side Effects of Enbrel?
If you experience any of the symptoms like difficulty in breathing, hives, swelling on lips, throat, tongue or face; see your doctor immediately as these are clear indications of allergic reaction to Enbrel.
Fatal Side Effects: The side effects caused by intake of enbrel can be fatal. You must look out for symptoms such as sweating, fever, diarrhea, skin sores, loss of body weight, chills, coughing with blood, lacking physical strength and stamina. If any of these symptoms occur, call your doctor immediately.
Enbrel Side Effects are as Follows:
- Unhealthy Blood – It is reflected by symptoms such as pale skin, fever and easy bruising are side effects of Enbrel.
- Problems associated with Liver – Liver is an important gland that aids digestion. Problems in liver leads to loss of appetite, pain in upper part of the stomach, jaundice, vomiting and improper digestion.
- Lupus-like syndrome – It is mainly symbolized by pain in joints, skin problems such as rashes that get worse when skin is exposed to sunlight.
- Problems related to nerves – Common symptoms are numb feeling with loss of sensation, lacking strength, problems in vision etc.
- Psoriasis that degrades with time – Skin tends to become reddish with bumps and patches – this is a side effect of enbrel.
- Signs of heart failure – The person feel shortage of oxygen and pain in feet and ankles.
- Signs of lymphoma – The person feels pain in stomach and /or chest, cough that can make it hard to breathe, fever and swelling in glands.
- Tuberculosis like symptoms – The person gets tired quickly, loss of weight, coughing especially while sleeping, fever etc…
Other common side effects of enbrel include itching, swelling, pain especially where the medicine was injected. Headache, sneezing, cough and cold, sore throat are also part of this symptoms of enbrel side effects.