Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Enbrel Experiences Anyone ?
I'm hoping to start a clinical trial for Enbrel beginning in May (they need me on MTX for 3 months before I can start the trial) and am wondering if anyone that has used it or is on it currently can tell me how they're doing on it?
I woke up this morning with that heavy duty exhausted, malaise feeling that I felt for so many months before being diagnosed last summer. I had to work a mandatory training 40 hours last week, played catch up over the weekend and worked another 8 hours yesterday. I woke up to that heaviness in the chest; not a sick like heavy as in bronchitis or chest cold, but literally like someone was draining my insides out. I am emotional today and that's what happens when I get these episodes.
Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Enbrel - Side Effects?
After 8 months only on pain killers and a visit to yet another rheumy (who happens to be a head of the department and a boss of the last two that I saw... Sorry, semi vegan diet. Ha. Not funny... plus, he lost my medical records from the past visits...) I am switching to Enbrel as soon as it's approved. What side effects should I monitor except for the obvious ones? Does anyone apply ice before the injection as with Humira? (does it help?...)
View 22 RepliesRheumatoid Arthritis :: Enbrel Rash Progress
I started Enbrel 4 weeks ago. For the first two weeks I had no rash at all. After the 3rd injection, I got a rash of size of say 2cm over 5cm with swelling that disappears after 24h. The rash itself disappeared after 6 days. After the 4th injection (this Saturday) the rash appeared and is now about 3.5cm over 6 cm and is lasting 2 days with swelling. Itches, hot and bothering. I wonder if it is going to get worse or if the size of the rash and this semi allergy reaches a critical point and that's it... Saw some scary pictures on the net. Wonder if it really gets to the face and back, etc.
View 4 RepliesRheumatoid Arthritis :: Enbrel For Beginners And Fatigue
I started the Enbrel injections yesterday and the only way to describe me today is a zombie - hardly keeping my eyes open. Sugar and coffee intake improved nothing. Taking ibuprofen yesterday eve (I thought that it might be a flu) made it worse. After a quick browsing, I found that some people experience such effects but I did not find if this is a temporary thing or is this a permanent side effect.
View 6 RepliesRheumatoid Arthritis :: Enbrel - Red Raised Itchy Rash
I've been taking the Enbrel injection for the past 4 weeks and this last week I have a red raised itchy rash where I inject myself. My nurse has told me that this is normal and usually around the size of a 50 pence piece but mine is a lot bigger than that! So I'm looking to see if anyone else has suffered from this and which creams can help? My nurse said an antihistamine cream will help but I want to make sure I get one that will work because it's so itchy!
View 1 RepliesAllergies :: Delayed Reaction To Penicillin?
Last night I came up with horrendous lumps, bumps and itchy mosquito type looking rashes all over my body. I have been on Penicillin for about 10 days and only started getting itchy on my scalp maybe a day or so ago, and now these symptoms have seemed to broken out into something very severe!!
The spots keep changing and moving into different spots all over my body, on my face, in my ears, on my knees, arms, hands etc.
The doctor gave me (Prednisone) which is a steroid hormone. This has helped the itching. They say it couldn't have been the penicillin, otherwise I would have reacted far earlier than after 10 days of treatment...
But then I looked at some academic journals, which stated that you can have 'delayed' drug reactions to antibiotics, sometimes a week after first taking them??
I did eat seafood a day or so ago ...but usually am fine eating shellfish etc.
It looks like someone has severely beaten up my legs with a pole! These huge golf ball size hives, very bizarre!
Anyway... my question is...has anyone else had a 'delayed' reaction or unpredictable reaction to antibiotics/penicillin?
Tendon Rupture? Delayed Reaction To A Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
If you have ruptured a tendon, particularly a large one ie., Rotator Cuff or Achilles and you aren't sure why, then consider whether or not you have taken an antibiotic in the Fluoroquinolone/Quinolone group, in the previous year. If so, then please refer to discussions on Ciprofloxacin or Levofloxacin or Fluoroquinolones, as you may be suffering a delayed adverse reaction. This can happen long after you have stopped taking these antibiotics - there are others in this class too.
View 3 RepliesArthritis :: Enbrel Or Celebrex Side Effects
I am on my second week of Enbrel injections and my second week of taking Celebrex, I have been on MTX for the past 3 months. So now that I am taking 3 different medications I seem to be having some new side effects. Mostly night sweats and I mean drenching night sweats and a moderate sore throat. Feels like half my throat is swollen and it just stays on the edge of moderately sore. Both of these symptoms started about 3 days after my first injection of Enbrel and my first dose of Celebrex.
My question is does anyone have any experience with these side effects and how long until they subsided on these medications?
Tetanus Toxoid Booster (3 Weeks) Delayed Reaction - Muscle Pain
I received a tetanus toxoid booster in early December. I had no reaction until three weeks later, when I began having shoulder muscle pain and tingling down to my fingers. This pain has lasted 10 days. According to drugs.com this could be a rare reaction but other than "call your doctor" it says nothing about how serious this is or what can be done about it. I called my doctor, who did not think this was serious. Any thoughts?
View 1 RepliesArthritis :: Enbrel - Side Effects? Diet Advice?
I am about to start Enbrel. I know it's been about for a while, but could anyone tell me what to look out for. What side effects have people had with it? Does it affect your hair? Do you need to watch what you eat and drink? I have had Psoriatic Arthritis for 7 years now and tried everything! Recently had bad flares with skin and joints, so consultant has suggested I try the biologics. Starting Enbrel next week.
View 3 RepliesArthritis :: Enbrel 75mg Per Week? Optimal Dosage?
Is anyone else out there taking Enbrel 75mg per week?
For years, my doctor has had me on three 25mg injections per week. I know that the recommended dose is 50 mg per week, and I know that studies by Amgen showed most people got no added benefit from the larger dose. But I also know that for a very small group of us, the larger dose is what's needed (out of all my doctor's patients, he said only 4 responded to the higher dose, and responded well).
After years of paying, my insurance company now has a problem with this. Which puts me in a situation where I risk the stability of my RA or pay an enormous bill.
So, I'm just wondering how many others are like me, responders to the higher dose? And if anyone has found a cheaper source of Enbrel (besides the Enbrel Assistance program which is like a catch-22 -- they only help on insured Enbrel, not Enbrel outside what insurance covers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Methotrexate For RA?
And what would you say your side effects are? And how good is the drug at easing your condition?
For me, and I have been taking it for around 2 years now. My condition has improved greatly. But, my elbows and wrists are still not fully flexible, I was tempted to ask my GP for some 'one off' steroid injections to ease the swelling in some of my joints. But other than that awesome.
I do get tired though quite easily, particularly the morning after the methotrexate intake. Folic acid probably eases the side effects though, which I take the following day.
Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gabapentin
I've read some of you responses concerning RA & Gabapentin usage. I have been taking Gabapentin since 2000 for various pains throughout my entire body. I have recently been diagnosed with RA, but doctors will not put me on the required meds because I have COPD & Polycythemia which I am continuing to aggravate because of my smoking addiction. For the past month, I have had excruciating pain in my hip that radiates to my lower back and throughout my right buttocks. The pain is so bad, I have had to begin using a cane. I have no insurance. I have increased my dosage of gabapentin (which has been OK'd throughout the years by my DR's) to try and reach a comfort level of reduced pain. I counter the drowsiness by drinking more coffee to get through my workday. I obtain "pain-free" periods with the increased Gabapentin usage, but I also seem overly energetic or "excitable" during those pain free periods. (reminds me how I used to "feel" before the pain began so long ago . .about 15 yrs already). I'm a 55yo man, have many other health issues as well, including deep depression & PTSD. Because of insurance, I'm only purchasing the Gabapentin and have also started using Turmeric to TRY to help with all the other issues. The Turmeric seems to help, so far. Is there any problem you can see with the increased usage of Gabapentin to become "pain-free" and the mood change during those pain free periods? I cannot afford numerous DR visits w/o Insurance and have to earn a paycheck.
View 1 RepliesArthritis :: Humira Or Enbrel - Side Effects - Heart Failure?
Pills for RA are not working for me so rheumatologist is suggesting self-injected Humira or Enbrel. I read the side effects and they are scary. Especially it can cause heart failure even if you don't have a bad heart. I'd like to hear from any of you who are on these drugs and your experience with them.
View 2 RepliesRheumatoid Arthritis :: Prednisolone - Feeling So Hot
i have been taking 5mg per day of prednisolone not a high dose but i have been feeling so hot and not to good since taking it also i seem to ache all over i have been tempted now to stop taking them but on such a low dose do i have to be weaned off them i started taking them last september and i i still need to take painkillers for my joints thanks for reading.
View 3 RepliesRheumatoid Arthritis :: Hit A Brick Wall
I've hit a brick wall and had enough. Tired of it all. Just want to sleep but need to look after kids and work. So so tired. Seen consultant today. He was kind but so matter of fact.
View 13 RepliesRheumatoid Arthritis :: Any Improvement With Antidepressants?
I've reluctantly started Zoloft (SSRI antidepressant), being encouraged to do so by my GP due to the depression of diagnosis and the possibility I also have fibromyalgia.
(Pain isn't just limited to joints and fatigue is crippling) ie: I've slept 18 hours of the last 24 and still so very tired.
I'm having awful start up side effects which I understand will pass and understand there will be no benefit until 4-8 weeks, if at all.
I've tried Lexapro a while back with no real success.
Has anyone had any improvement at any level with ADs? I really hate mucking around with my brain chemistry.
Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Stopping DMARDS And Pregnancy
I take humira and MTX for a mixed Connective tissue disorder. I'm getting on in life (maternally speaking, late 30s) and while I have one child I'd really like another to keep him company. I haven't discussed this with the doctors as it's only really an idea floating around my head at the moment. I know previously pregnancy gave me a temporary remission and for a good few months post pregnancy too but I was undiagnosed at that point and wasn't on these medications.
I'm aware I have to stop the medications for a minimum of six months before trying and this is the bit I'm unsure of. Has anyone else stopped their medications to get pregnant? How did you feel in the months before you were pregnant? Did you have to take steroids? What did you do for pain relief? Any anecdotal information would be helpful. I don't want to commit to something I will never be able to do so I need to find out as much as possible before speaking with my doctors about it as I can't see them being overly enthusiastic.
Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Pain In Elbow And Ribs
I wonder whether anyone else has experienced this sharp pain simultaneously in their elbow and rib. Mine is on the right side and the pain is literally at exactly the same time and in my rib it seems to be directly adjacent from my elbow with my arm down by my side. It started two nights ago. I have been in touch with ra nurses but had to just leave a message, yesterday, but nobody has come back to me yet. It really is an odd pain, but really sharp and stops me in my tracks. It will go on for several minutes, breaking off every few seconds, then will go off for a few hours and then start again. Also my upper abdomen seems really distended, I have no idea whether that is connected in any way.
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