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Enbrel users opinions needed

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 9/9/2016 11:07 AM (GMT -8)
I've had Rheumatoid Arthritis/Sjogrens for 3 years now. I first started slowly with Plaquenil for the first year and then added Sulfasalazine and now have been on that for a year. I still have pain and my Rf is normal now after being at 58. My CCP was at 250 and now 200. I still have pain and my toes are like splitting in half in the middle. My hands hurt and parts of me here and there. I have been approved for Enbrel through Safety net which they are sending me through the mail till January. I also have hep C and the Enbrel is now approved for this. I would like to have everyones thoughts that have been on Enbrel. Don D, I remember talking to you a while back and you were always so informed. I would love to have your opinion on this too please. Thanks for any input on this. I am hoping to get off Sulfalalazine and maybe the plaquenil to. What scares me most is that i will start it and then they will not let me renew next year, Please any advise, input, from any Enbrel users out there. Thanks
Posted 9/10/2016 2:12 PM (GMT -8)
Hi CP,

I took Enbrel as well for 12 years and it worked incredibly well for me. Im glad to hear that you were approved that is great news :) In my experience I have never had insurance not renew an RX after approving it but I wouldn't worry about it honestly. Give it a try and see if it is going to work for you. I hope that your experience was like mine. I had a very profound improvement on it within the first week taking it. I was then able to stop my other RX over time and only take it. We all are different however and the immune system is unique and so complex we all seem to have different experiences with them.

I hope that it helps you too. I really felt like I had my life back on it.

Take care and God Bless. -Don
Posted Yesterday 10:19 AM (GMT -8)
Hi,Don, It wasnt the insurance company that approved me, it was the Enbrels site that approved me. It was approved till 2017 and they want me to get medicaid and i have been turned down for it. I am on disability and have medicare which dont pay for anything. Thats why I am so afraid to start and then have to stop in 3 months. So I dont know what to do except maybe stockpiling until next year to hear approval, Sounds crazy what we have to do to survive. Hope your doing better these days, CP.
Posted 8/16/2022 3:40 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Don, I'm new to this site and also relatively new to having RA. I am 69 and was diagnosed in 2018. Been on HCQ and methotrexate. My rheumatologist would like me to add in Enbrel. Injection. I have been opposed to biologics because they sound so serious and with terrible side effects. I'm doing pretty well currently but do have wrist stiffness in the mornings and aches in some joints that don't exceed 3+ most days. But I have significant swelling in my right forearm, some swelling on the back of my left hand, and some swelling in my left ankle. No one has been able to explain this and I'm thinking she is trying to see if Enbrel will help. She also said she wants me to have quality life as I go on and I appreciate that. But was curious to know why you were on it for 12 yrs, it worked well and now you must not be on it. What happened? Remission? I admit I'm scared of this drug. Can you provide any advice or experience that may be helpful?
Posted 4/4/2023 6:53 AM (GMT -8)
I realise this is a belated post, but Enbrel made a HUGE difference to the pain in my hands. I used to draw and paint but the pain and weakness from RA became so bad over time that I couldn't control the pen/brush properly anymore and I gave up in disgust. I has such a big improvement on Enbrel that I took it back up again after a few months. I've since switched to Cimzia to see if it would make a difference to my fatigue (answer = no), just mentioning in passing cos it sounds like Enbrel has multiple benefits for you so not worth considering other biologics anyway. Cimzia was about the same as Enbrel for RA but I know a lady who improved on it compared with Enbrel - I think with a lot of drugs (not just RA ones) you have to listen to your body and how it reacts.
I really hope you have had good results like I did smile smile smile
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