Rheumetoid arthritis embril (enbrel) treatment

Enbril (Embrel) belongs to a newly developed and highly effective medicines, the TNF (tumor necrosis factor) blockers. The TNF blockers have shown excellent results in the treatment of rhrumetoid arthritis symptoms (arthuritis).

	Enbrel (Embril)

Enbrel (Embril) and Remicade (infliximab) are the two most frequently used TNF blockers (tumor necrosis factor) used in the treatment of rheumatory arthritis. They are both using the idea of a receptor, binding itself to the TNF which thereby effectively blocks the damaging effect of the immune system cells sent out to battle a phantom infection in the joint. These two medicines have shown promising results with people with advanced rumitoid arthritus, where many other methods have shown to be less powerful.

Etanercept (Enbrel) is successfully used in the treatment of severe rumatory artiritis in children and in adults, in patients with proriatric (psoratic) arthritis, plaque-psoriasis and other related conditions. Over a quarter of a million patients globally have been successfully treated using Enbrel (Embril) so far.

The larte TEMPO study (the Lancet, 2004) showed Enbrel (Embril) to be very efficient in intercepting and blocking the destruction of joints in patients with advanced rumatory arthiritis, as well as very good in the treatment and minimizing of swollenness, stiffness and pain in joints.

Enbrel (Embril) - how to use

Embril (Enbrel) does the job by blocking and intercepting the TNF in the blood well before it has bound to the inflammatory cells. Enbrel can stop an inflammation that is already active in ligaments, joints and also in skin (psoratic arthritis). The medicine can give a lasting result on both skin and joint arthritus symptoms, something that is very valuable when treating chronic inflammation conditions. 

Side effects of Enbrel (Embril) known include infections and some redness and irritation where injected.

Enbrel (Embril) is injected just under the skin, this can be done either by the patient, by someone at home other than the patient, or by hospital staff. Embril is a prescription drug. It comes as a powder to be dissolved in a special fluid before it is injected. Every bottle of Enbrel (Embril) is a 25 mg active etanercept container with solvent included in syringes (already filled with the solvent). After mixing, it should be used immediately as per the full instructions included. Store cool (refrigerator), do not freeze.

As it is on prescription, each pack will be adapted as a dose to the patient it is intended for. So follow instructions carefully in your particular case, to avoid any unnecessary adverse side effects.

Enbrel is injected twice every 7 days and a typical dose for a normal size adult with arthirities is 25 mg (for each injection). There are cases where the injections are set to 50mg and only half the number of injections per week. Full effect will show in about 3 months and it takes around 2 weeks to notice anything at all.

If a patient has a severe infection like blood poisoning etc, Enbril should not be used. Therefore, before the prescription of Embrel, a doctor normally will run a test to make sure the patient is infection free (checking for TBC). This can be done as a lung X-ray + TBC test. 

Enbrel (Embril) side effects

If you have had Emberel prescribed, it is important to inform your physician if you develop a temperature or any other symptom that could mean an infection - this could be anything from a sour throat to pain while urinating. Enbrel medication can mask infection symptoms.

There is a risk, although not very big, that there is an allergic reaction. Signs of this would be breathing difficulties, pain in the chest or any rashes etc. If you susptect this, you need to contact your doctor immediately.

In some cases, the patient will experience a reaction at the site of the injection. This can be pain, itching or some swollenness. These are not uncommon but they usually go away after a short while. Diarrhoea has been reported as well.

There is a certain risk that this medication can increase the risk of developing other infections such as herpes or influensa. If you have any symptoms pointing to an infection and you are using Embril, you must contact and inform your doctor immediately.

Using Embril in combination with other drugs

As the drug is very new, combinations with other medicines has not been well researched yet. Enbrel (Embril) may react adversely, we simply don't know enough. You need to tell your doctor in detail what other drugs you are using. 

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and Enbrel (Embril)

The area of pregnancy and Embril is not researched enough, if you do need to use Embril when pregnant, you should consult your physician. For breast feeding, it is uncertain whether Embril will pass via the milk and in what quantities. Effects on the fetus are unknown.

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