Anyone using or has used Enbrel?
They are putting my wife on it and I would like to find out about any
real problems from actual users. The drug companys only tell us what
they want us to know so please don't send me to the drug companys web
page.

I've been taking it for at least three years. If there ever was a
miracle drug, this is it. Thank heavens I have good "medical insurance"
as it costs me $9 a month instead of the across the counter approximate
$1500 a month.

I have psoriatic arthritis. I used to take up to five Vicodins a day.
Now I take none and haven't taken any for a long time. It also totally
wiped out my psoriasis, something no other drug put even a mild dent
in. It doesn't work overnight but I expect you will see very palpable
results within 6 months. If it had existed earlier I probably wouldn't
be really bent over by my psoriatic associated ankylosing spondylitis.

Enbrel works great for most on either rheumatoid or psoriatic
arthritis. It is NOT used for osteoarthritis. My rheumatologist has had
NO reported bad side effects associated with this drug.
Good luck.

Tom Roach
kodakfilm@gmail.com

kodakfilm@gmail.com wrote:
<snip>
Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira are all anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor
biological medications that target a particular protein.

It has been highly recommended that no one start one of these if they
have any infection. Moreover, it has been recommended that one be sure
they have no latent tuberculosis which can be determined by skin or
antibody tests.

The long term side effects of anti-TNF drugs haven't been determined to
my knowledge.
--
Bruce

One assumes you see a COMPETENT rheumatologist before you start on
Enbrel or any other medicine for arthritis. I know plenty that don't.
There's a word for these people - stupid. While a general practitioner
can legally perform brain surgery, I don't think that would be a wise
choice. Same thing for general practise dentists doing root canals.
Leave this to an endodontist.

As for how you determine if they are competent - listen carefully to
what they say. Ask them questions and see if they answer them or are
annoyed by them. It isn't that hard to find a good doctor. Do some
research on the Internet.

Over a period of 25 years I had my psoriatic arthritis misdiagnosed by:
an opthamologist [treating me for uveitis - a condition that often
accompanies psoriatic arthritis], a general practitioner who treated me
for "rheumatoid" arthritis with aspirin, a dermatologist who treated me
for psoriasis. Finally my feet were so swollen from arthritis I went to
see a podiatrist. He took a foot X-ray and said, "Your bone deformation
has a striking characteristic. You have psoriatic arthritis. See a
rheumatologist immediately!" I did. Of course by then I was well on my
way to getting ankylosing spondylitis which has crippled me [or rather
has me bent over with a fused neck so I can't look up or to the side].
Oh yes, I did go see a "top-notch" osteopathic surgeon when I was about
to retire from the military. He diagnosed me as "... either a hysteric
or a malingerer," At this time I had already presented with the
uveitis, arthritis [asymmetrical - another clue it's psoriatic
arthritis], and a positive test for HLA-B27 blood factor, commonly
associated with this disease.

Well meaning people told me to wear a copper bracelet, eat tomatoes,
don't eat tomatoes, try acupuncture and see any quack that practises
homeopathic "medicine".

I learned a long time ago just because you "believe" something doesn't
make it true. I am sure there are many people whose brains are wired so
they seek out chiropractors and worse. That's sad. The fact is many
homeopathic practitioners and chiropractors actually pay attention to
what their patients say and interact with them. This may explain why
they have so many patients. This isn't always the case with what I call
real doctors. Anyway, you beter learn to help treat yourself. These
days the resources are available via the Internet and groups like this.
In the end, it's you that suffer if you fail to seek and receive good
medical attention.

As for long term results not being in- well, most people with severe
arthritis are interested in results - now! So there are risks in life.
I just read today that there was an incomplete study with Vioxx [see
Google News] which indicated Vioxx kept people with colon polyps from
their polyps turning cancerous. So now if your off Vioxx [as if you had
a choice!!] you may die of colon cancer instead of a heart attack.
Well, for the weak of heart, just go buy a copper bracelet. It won't do
squat but if you're happy that way - go for it. Of course who knows
what the long term results of wearing a copper bracelet are. Be
careful!!

I've been taking it for at least three years. If there ever was a
miracle drug, this is it. Thank heavens I have good "medical insurance"
as it costs me $9 a month instead of the across the counter approximate
$1500 a month.

I have psoriatic arthritis. I used to take up to five Vicodins a day.
Now I take none and haven't taken any for a long time. It also totally
wiped out my psoriasis, something no other drug put even a mild dent
in. It doesn't work overnight but I expect you will see very palpable
results within 6 months. If it had existed earlier I probably wouldn't
be really bent over by my psoriatic associated ankylosing spondylitis.

Enbrel works great for most on either rheumatoid or psoriatic
arthritis. It is NOT used for osteoarthritis. My rheumatologist has had
NO reported bad side effects associated with this drug.
Good luck.

Tom Roach
kodakfilm@gmail.com

One assumes you see a COMPETENT rheumatologist before you start on
Enbrel or any other medicine for arthritis. I know plenty that don't.
There's a word for these people - stupid. While a general practitioner
can legally perform brain surgery, I don't think that would be a wise
choice. Same thing for general practise dentists doing root canals.
Leave this to an endodontist.

As for how you determine if they are competent - listen carefully to
what they say. Ask them questions and see if they answer them or are
annoyed by them. It isn't that hard to find a good doctor. Do some
research on the Internet.

Over a period of 25 years I had my psoriatic arthritis misdiagnosed by:
an opthamologist [treating me for uveitis - a condition that often
accompanies psoriatic arthritis], a general practitioner who treated me
for "rheumatoid" arthritis with aspirin, a dermatologist who treated me
for psoriasis. Finally my feet were so swollen from arthritis I went to
see a podiatrist. He took a foot X-ray and said, "Your bone deformation
has a striking characteristic. You have psoriatic arthritis. See a
rheumatologist immediately!" I did. Of course by then I was well on my
way to getting ankylosing spondylitis which has crippled me [or rather
has me bent over with a fused neck so I can't look up or to the side].
Oh yes, I did go see a "top-notch" osteopathic surgeon when I was about
to retire from the military. He diagnosed me as "... either a hysteric
or a malingerer," At this time I had already presented with the
uveitis, arthritis [asymmetrical - another clue it's psoriatic
arthritis], and a positive test for HLA-B27 blood factor, commonly
associated with this disease.

Well meaning people told me to wear a copper bracelet, eat tomatoes,
don't eat tomatoes, try acupuncture and see any quack that practises
homeopathic "medicine".

I learned a long time ago just because you "believe" something doesn't
make it true. I am sure there are many people whose brains are wired so
they seek out chiropractors and worse. That's sad. The fact is many
homeopathic practitioners and chiropractors actually pay attention to
what their patients say and interact with them. This may explain why
they have so many patients. This isn't always the case with what I call
real doctors. Anyway, you beter learn to help treat yourself. These
days the resources are available via the Internet and groups like this.
In the end, it's you that suffer if you fail to seek and receive good
medical attention.

As for long term results not being in- well, most people with severe
arthritis are interested in results - now! So there are risks in life.
I just read today that there was an incomplete study with Vioxx [see
Google News] which indicated Vioxx kept people with colon polyps from
their polyps turning cancerous. So now if your off Vioxx [as if you had
a choice!!] you may die of colon cancer instead of a heart attack.
Well, for the weak of heart, just go buy a copper bracelet. It won't do
squat but if you're happy that way - go for it. Of course who knows
what the long term results of wearing a copper bracelet are. Be
careful!!

<dougk@oz.net> wrote in message news:41caf5b5.11204796@news.alt.net...
what RA does to a persons body during that time.
I stopped using it because of my insurance and turning 65, I started
Remicade for about a year and because of a reaction to it am now going back
to Enbrel in hopes it will do the great job again for me.
Please be afraid of the disease and give today's medicine a chance.
Harv

I have used enbrel since 1999 when it came out. It has kept me going when
all else had failed. The only problem I had for awhile was sinus infections
which were hard to get rid of. For the last 2 years I have not had that
problem at all.

When I first started, after a couple weeks I developed a bad rash from waist
up. Dr told me to quit for a week till healed, then take an injection, wait
6 days, do another, then wait 5 days, etc till was back to the 2 times a
week. It worked and no more rashes. Of course now there is the new
injections that are once a week and premixed. You might want to keep this
in mind just in case.

Good luck!


"Harvey R. Stone" <hrstone@swbell..net> wrote in message
news:tZbKd.9663$2e7.2600@newssvr12.news.prodigy.co m...

Scheduled for knee replacement 12/2. When did other one, as well as several
other surgeries, I was on Enbrel the whole time. This time surgeon had me
stop it a month ago as he said they had one person on it who got infection
and had to have replacement taken out and they have been 2 years trying to
get her well. Man, am I hurting and my right hand is getting stiff. I bet
that woman would have had trouble anyway and this misery is for nothing. Am
wondering how long after surgery before he will let me use Enbrel again.
Anyone else had this experience?
PD