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Enbrel Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Generic Name: Etanercept

ETANERCEPT (Enbrel®) is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis, active ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis. Enbrel (Etanercept) is the first in a new class of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs known as biologic response modifiers or you can say, it is also known as BRM's or biologic agents. ENBREL is a type of protein known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, in which it blocks the action of a substance in your body's immune system makes known as TNF. People who have immune disease, such as includes rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis, have too much TNF in their bodies. ENBREL is used to reduce the amount of TNF in the body to normal levels and it help to treat your disease. It works by reducing the actions of chemicals in the body that are involved in inflammatory and immune responses.

Enbrel Dosage

• The usual dose is 50 milligrams per week and you can also take dosage as two 25-milligram injections at separate sites.
• The recommended dose is one 50-milligram injection given under the skin twice weekly for 3 months.

Uses of Enbrel

• Enbrel is used for treating ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis.
• It is also used as primary treatment to reduce the pain, swelling and tenderness of joints, that are result from rheumatoid arthritis.
• You can also used to treat certain skin conditions (psoriasis).
• Enbrel drug is used to treat another autoimmune disorder known as Wegener's granulomatosis.

Side Effects of Enbrel

If you are using enbrel, then discuss the side effects of enbrel with your doctor and if you feel any develop or change in intensity, then tell your doctor immediately. Side effects of enbrel may include:

• Abdominal pain
• weakness
• cough
• vomiting
• dizziness
• sore throat
• headache
• sinus and nasal inflammation
• indigestion
• respiratory tract infection
• infections
• respiratory problems
• injection site reaction
• rash
• nausea

Warnings and precautions before taking Enbrel:

• If you feel that any infection developing, then stop taking Enbrel and call your doctor immediately.
• This drug may worsen congestive heart failure. If you have this condition, then make sure that your doctor knows about it. You should be used this drug with caution.
• If you develop or feel warning signs of a blood disorder, such as including symptoms as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness, then contact with your doctor immediately. You should stop to taking Enbrel.
• Tell your doctor your medical problems such as including decreased bone marrow function, cancer (e.g., lymphoma), seizures, active or reoccurring infections, diabetes, certain brain/spinal cord disorders.

Drug Interaction:- If you are taking certain drugs with enbrel, then it may be increased, decreased, or altered the effects of enbrel. It may also cause another serious effects. So discuss with your doctor before combining enbrel with the following:

• anakinra
• live vaccines (e.g., measles, mumps, polio, rubella, typhoid, varicella, yellow fever)

Combining Enbrel with other rheumatoid arthritis drugs, such as includes Kineret, can lower your resistance, and it may lead to a severe infection. Make sure your doctor known about drugs, that you are taking.

You should also avoid getting vaccinations that contain active, live viruses while taking Enbrel. But, other types of vaccines such as those with inactive viruses may be given during treatment with Enbrel.

Overdose

After taking enbrel, if you feel that overdose is suspected, then contact with your doctor immediately. Symptoms of an etanercept overdose are not known. No harmful effects due to large doses of etanercept have been reported.