Enbrel
® (
etanercept) is a prescription medication that is approved to treat several inflammatory conditions that affect the joints and skin.
Enbrel is made by Amgen.
Specific uses of Enbrel include reducing the signs and symptoms of the following conditions:
Enbrel has also been shown to decrease the damage caused by rhuematoid
arthritis and psoriatic arthrits. Enbrel is not a cure for rheumatoid arthritis or any of the other conditions mentioned above.
(Click Enbrel Uses for more information what Enbrel is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
Enbrel is part of a class of medicines known as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, or TNF inhibitors for short. As the name of the drug class implies, Enbrel blocks the activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is involved in inflammation and other immune system functions.
People with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or ankylosing spondylitis often have higher levels of TNF. These high levels of TNF-alpha can cause inflammation and lead to problems such as swollen, painful joints and raised, thick, red, scaly patches. By blocking TNF-alpha, Enbrel helps to keep the immune system from attacking the body, which improves symptoms and, in some cases, prevents future damage from occurring.
Enbrel has been studied in several clinical trials for the following conditions:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
In clinical studies looking at Enbrel as a
rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Enbrel was shown to improve symptoms of
rheumatoid arthritis. More of the people taking Enbrel showed improvement compared to those people not taking Enbrel. During these studies, people usually noticed improvement within the first one or two weeks of taking Enbrel. Enbrel also improved the physical joint changes that occur in rheumatoid
arthritis.
Other studies have shown that combining Enbrel with methotrexate (Rheumatrex®) improves the effectiveness of Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Another Enbrel study looked at using Enbrel for the treatment of
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, 24 percent of the children and teenagers taking Enbrel experienced an arthritis flare, compared to 77 percent of those not taking Enbrel.
Psoriatic Arthritis
In a study of Enbrel for
psoriatic arthritis, Enbrel was shown to reduce pain and other
psoriatic arthritis symptoms, including stiffness in the morning. Also, while the physical joint changes in most of the people who were not taking Enbrel got worse, the joint changes in people taking Enbrel did not get worse.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Clinical studies have shown that Enbrel is effective for improving the symptoms of
ankylosing spondylitis. Enbrel also improved the physical changes that occur with ankylosing spondylitis.
Plaque Psoriasis
In clinical studies for
plaque psoriasis, Enbrel has been shown to improve the symptoms of plaque psoriasis. These studies did not include people with other
types of psoriasis.
When and How to Take Enbrel
Some general considerations for when and how to take Enbrel include:
- Enbrel is taken as an injection once or twice a week.
- Your healthcare provider may give you the Enbrel injections or you can give your own injections at home (if you feel comfortable doing so).
- If you will be giving your own Enbrel injections, your healthcare provider should show you exactly how to inject the medication.
- For Enbrel to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Enbrel will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose of Enbrel your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may currently be taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your Enbrel dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
(Click Enbrel Dosage for more information about dosing for Enbrel.)
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Enbrel. However, not everyone who takes Enbrel will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it well. When side effects do occur, in many cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects with Enbrel are less common.
The most common side effects of Enbrel include:
- Reactions at the injection site (redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising)
- Infections
- Headaches
- Irritated or runny nose.
Serious infections are rare, but can be a potentially life-threatening side effect of Enbrel.
(Click Enbrel Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of Enbrel, including other serious side effects to look out for. You can also read about other possible side effects by going to:
Drug Interactions With Enbrel
Enbrel can potentially interact with a number of medicines.
Enbrel: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Enbrel if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The exact effects of an overdose with Enbrel are not known. This is because there have been limited cases of people taking too much Enbrel. In small studies, people who took large doses of Enbrel did not have any problems.
Enbrel should always be kept in its original container. Store Enbrel in the refrigerator (do not freeze) and protect it from light. If you are traveling, keep Enbrel in a cooler with an ice pack and do not expose it to light. You may let your Enbrel dose warm up to room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before injecting (this may help with injection pain).
Keep Enbrel and all medications out of the reach of children.
Enbrel: What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your Enbrel as scheduled, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose of Enbrel.
Enbrel injections are available in the following forms:
- Enbrel prefilled syringes -- which contain 50 mg of Enbrel
- Enbrel SureClick™ -- which also contains 50 mg of Enbrel
- Enbrel multiple-use vials -- which contain 25 mg of Enbrel per milliliter (mL).
SureClick is an automatic injecting device that people may find easier to use. Both the prefilled syringes and SureClick come in kits with four syringes containing Enbrel and everything you need to give the injections. The multi-use vials (used for children or people taking doses other than 50 mg) come in a kit of four 25 mg vials and everything you need to mix and inject Enbrel (although you may need more supplies that do not come in the kit, including needles).
Enbrel also comes in a multi-dose vial for use by healthcare providers.
There is currently no generic Enbrel licensed for sale.
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