Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the skin, causing scaly patches, or
plaques. Both psoriasis and the
psoriatic arthritis that often accompanies it can be treated with
Enbrel® (
etanercept), a TNF inhibitor. This medication is given as an injection either once or twice a week. Your healthcare provider can administer the injection, or you can inject it yourself.
When used to treat psoriasis, Enbrel can be used alone or in combination with
methotrexate (
Rheumatrex®). Studies have shown that using these two products together improves the effectiveness of Enbrel.
The interesting thing about this medication is that it doesn't just improve
symptoms of psoriasis, however. It also helps prevent psoriatic
arthritis from becoming worse -- in particular, the joint damage that it often causes. Unfortunately, Enbrel is not approved for children with this condition, only adults.
(Click Enbrel Uses to learn more about the other conditions this drug can treat, how it works, when it can be given to children, and possible off-label uses.)
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