What You Should Know About Enbrel's Side Effects

Enbrel is a drug prescribed to treat various types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, other conditions where joint stiffness has been present, and occasionally given to those with psoriasis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis also has been treated with this drug. Sometimes it has been mixed with the drug methotrexate when that drug has been ineffective on the patient. The drug has worked by blocking a protein that causes the majority of joint inflammation. The generic name for Enbrel is etanercept, and it is administered by injection.

Side effects.
There have been several common side effects present in those taking this medication, including headache, dizziness, cough, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, sinus/nasal inflammation, sore throat, rash, and weakness. Other users have experienced abdominal pain, infections, reaction at injection site, respiratory problems, respiratory tract infection, and serious infections (pneumonia, cellulitis).

Severe side effects.
Using this drug has been known to lower the patient's ability to resist infection, and this side effect has occasionally turned fatal. In some patients, taking this medication has caused them to develop a lupus-like skin condition with raised-red skin patches, in which case you should get ahold of your doctor. Other serious side effects have also included the development of a blood disorder. Symptoms of this have included paleness, bruising, bleeding, or persistent fever. If any of these have been present, a doctor should be seen immediately.

Drug interactions.
The doctor should have been informed of any prescription and nonprescription drugs being taken by the patient. Getting vaccinated with live vaccines should be avoided when taking Enbrel since the drug promotes infections. People taking Kineret and other arthritis drugs should not take them with Enbrel because it has often led to infection. Other drugs that have interacted with this prescription include Cellcept, Imuran, Neoral, Prograf, and Sandimmune.

Medical interactions.
This drug should not have been taken if the patient has any kind of infection. The elderly and those with lowered immune systems due to diabetes, heart failure, or other conditions have been warned that this drug increases their risk of infection. Children should be immunized thoroughly before taking Enbrel. Patients that have had blood disorders have been more susceptible to infections when taking Enbrel. Also, nervous system diseases (seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis) have been known to worsen when on the medication. Children with chicken pox should have halted using the drug. Women should tell the doctor if they are pregnant or breastfeeding.