Guest guest Posted November 2, 2003 Report Share Posted November 2, 2003 Jay, I started Embrel a week ago and so far so good. No reaction at injection site so far. I do have mre energy the day after the injection but that is all I have seen as improvement so far. I am still on 15mg Pred a day and 17.5mg MTX by injection once a week. I prefer self injection over having to go to clinic. That is such a pain. I hope the Embrel works for you. Its a breeze once you learn all about it. The manufacturers of Embrel also have a great support network set up called Enliven program. They send you out sharps containers, travel coolers, 24/7 RN support line, injection reminders, training a info video, and a lot more. I was really impressed with the staff at embrel and how wonderful they have been to me. I have been getting packages in the mail all week with al this stuff in it. The only draw back to Embrel is its injected twice a week, requires special refrigeration( mine has its own personal mini frig), has to be mixed before taking, and of course the cost. Around $1500 a month if not more in some places. But I think once you are on I hope you will see some improvement. I am still waiting. I have been told it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months before we know if I will respond. You can also check out Embrel's website at www.embrel.com. It has lots of info, phone numbers that you can call to request info. To the others on embrel..how long before you saw an improvement allowing to you lower the dosages of pred and MTX? I'm really anxious to get off the pred and MTX. Pred makes my stomach hurt and MtX causes dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and causes headaches. The only thing I have found to reduce some of the nausea and dizziness is to inject into my thigh instead of stomach and take large doses of Folic acid. Toni In a message dated 10/30/03 12:38:37 PM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: Message: 7 Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 07:41:27 -0000 From: "Jay Bishop" <jbirdak@...> Subject: Enbrel Well the VA did it again, what a beaurocracy!! I was sent to the wrong place, to see a surgeon, when I was supposed to be at the surgical department which is where they give Remicade infusions. one and a half hours after my appt. I finally talked with one of the doctors who give the infusions. The medicine has to be ordered two days prior to the appt. so there was no way I could get mine. To top it off before Remicade is prescribed rules require that a RA patient be prescribed Enbrel first for at least 90 days. Must be less expensive! I do prefer trying Enbrel since I won't have to drive 120 miles for the infusion. So, the Enbrel has been ordered, 90 days worth. When It arrives I will see my Doc and get started, hopefully within the next 10 to 14 days. Now I'm perusing any and all information I can find on Enbrel. I would appreciate any information from any one taking this drug. Thanks and God Bless, Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Toni, I got your message in my email and responded. Just don't want anyone to think I ignored you in this group. Thanks for your response, I'm looking forward to starting the Enbrel. Hopefully Thursday afternoon if I get it in the mail by Wed. I hope it works as well for us as it does for others that are taking it. Good luck and God Bless, Jay > Jay, > > I started Embrel a week ago and so far so good. No reaction at injection > site so far. I do have mre energy the day after the injection but that is all I > have seen as improvement so far. I am still on 15mg Pred a day and 17.5mg MTX > by injection once a week. > > I prefer self injection over having to go to clinic. That is such a pain. I > hope the Embrel works for you. Its a breeze once you learn all about it. > The manufacturers of Embrel also have a great support network set up called > Enliven program. They send you out sharps containers, travel coolers, 24/7 RN > support line, injection reminders, training a info video, and a lot more. I was > really impressed with the staff at embrel and how wonderful they have been to > me. I have been getting packages in the mail all week with al this stuff in > it. > > The only draw back to Embrel is its injected twice a week, requires special > refrigeration( mine has its own personal mini frig), has to be mixed before > taking, and of course the cost. Around $1500 a month if not more in some > places. > > But I think once you are on I hope you will see some improvement. I am still > waiting. I have been told it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months > before we know if I will respond. > > You can also check out Embrel's website at <A HREF= " www.embrel.com " >www.embrel.com</A>. It has lots of > info, phone numbers that you can call to request info. > > To the others on embrel..how long before you saw an improvement allowing to > you lower the dosages of pred and MTX? I'm really anxious to get off the pred > and MTX. Pred makes my stomach hurt and MtX causes dizziness, nausea, > diarrhea and causes headaches. The only thing I have found to reduce some of the > nausea and dizziness is to inject into my thigh instead of stomach and take large > doses of Folic acid. > > Toni > > In a message dated 10/30/03 12:38:37 PM Central Standard Time, > Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: > > > Message: 7 > > Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 07:41:27 -0000 > > From: " Jay Bishop " <jbirdak@y...> > > Subject: Enbrel > > > > Well the VA did it again, what a beaurocracy!! I was sent to the > > wrong place, to see a surgeon, when I was supposed to be at the > > surgical department which is where they give Remicade infusions. one > > and a half hours after my appt. I finally talked with one of the > > doctors who give the infusions. The medicine has to be ordered two > > days prior to the appt. so there was no way I could get mine. > > > > To top it off before Remicade is prescribed rules require that a RA > > patient be prescribed Enbrel first for at least 90 days. Must be less > > expensive! > > > > I do prefer trying Enbrel since I won't have to drive 120 miles for > > the infusion. > > > > So, the Enbrel has been ordered, 90 days worth. When It arrives I > > will see my Doc and get started, hopefully within the next 10 to 14 > > days. > > > > Now I'm perusing any and all information I can find on Enbrel. I > > would appreciate any information from any one taking this drug. > > > > Thanks and God Bless, > > > > Jay > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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