Important concern about Enbrel

February 22, 2004

, I don't know. Depression appears in the list of " infrequent

serious adverse events " reported for Enbrel from the manufacturer:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/etanercept_ad.htm

Also, Carol recently reported that she became depressed after starting

Humira but wasn't sure if the Humira was to blame.

I'll try to see if I can find anything on this.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Important concern about Enbrel

> My Rheumy just started me on Enbrel last week (I have had a total of

> 2 shots). One day after the second injection, started feeling

> changes in my mood. At first I attributed it to PMS but it kept

> getting worse (far worse than I have ever had with PMS). For the

> last few days I have felt depressed (at times pretty severely).

> Now, I am on Zoloft for anxiety problems and have had depression

> before, but it's rare and non-existent all together with the

> Zoloft. I have been fine lately until starting the Enbrel. I never

> put the two together until I mentioned it to my GP and she said that

> one of the (rarer) side effects of Enbrel is depression.

>

> Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to have

> arthritis pain but I certainly don't want to be severely depressed.

> I am due to inject myself today but wonder if I should just stop for

> now. I have called my rheumy but he has yet to call me back (well,

> his nurse...he never calls).

>

> Thanks,

> SC

February 22, 2004

SC,

I had not heard that, but now that you mention it, I guess I have had the same

problem.

Right before I started taking Enbrel I had started having more problems with

depression. My health had taken a considerable turn for the worst - the worst

it had been since before I was diagnosed almost 10 years. I had just started PT

school and was incredible stressed and exhausted. I was thinking that I was not

going to be able to handle PT as a profession. I found a rheumatologist in my

new home-town. He put me on Enbrel. My RA got a lot better, but my depression

got a lot worse. I never really equated the two due to all of the other

thingsgoing on in my life at the time. Thanks for calling that side-effect to

my attention. I will have to mention it to my Dr next time I see him. My other

Dr. changed my anti-depression persrciption so I am now taking both Zoloft and

Wellbutrin (less Zoloft than I had been taking earlier).

I would have to say that I will still continue to take Enbrel because it has

made an incredible difference in my RA. I pay for the entire perscrition out of

pocket (insurance doesn't cover it). So that should tell you how much of a

difference the drug has made in my life. If it weren't for Enbrel, I would not

still be in school.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

My Rheumy just started me on Enbrel last week (I have had a total of

2 shots). One day after the second injection, started feeling

changes in my mood. At first I attributed it to PMS but it kept

getting worse (far worse than I have ever had with PMS). For the

last few days I have felt depressed (at times pretty severely).

Now, I am on Zoloft for anxiety problems and have had depression

before, but it's rare and non-existent all together with the

Zoloft. I have been fine lately until starting the Enbrel. I never

put the two together until I mentioned it to my GP and she said that

one of the (rarer) side effects of Enbrel is depression.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to have

arthritis pain but I certainly don't want to be severely depressed.

I am due to inject myself today but wonder if I should just stop for

now. I have called my rheumy but he has yet to call me back (well,

his nurse...he never calls).

Thanks,

SC

February 22, 2004

Depression or other psychological changes are listed as a potential side

effect of Enbrel, so it is possible that Enbrel is contributing to

depression. I¹m glad the benefits outweigh the side effects. It has

helped me a great deal as well.

a

> SC,

>

> I had not heard that, but now that you mention it, I guess I have had the same

> problem.

>

> Right before I started taking Enbrel I had started having more problems with

> depression. My health had taken a considerable turn for the worst - the worst

> it had been since before I was diagnosed almost 10 years. I had just started

> PT school and was incredible stressed and exhausted. I was thinking that I

> was not going to be able to handle PT as a profession. I found a

> rheumatologist in my new home-town. He put me on Enbrel. My RA got a lot

> better, but my depression got a lot worse. I never really equated the two due

> to all of the other thingsgoing on in my life at the time. Thanks for calling

> that side-effect to my attention. I will have to mention it to my Dr next

> time I see him. My other Dr. changed my anti-depression persrciption so I am

> now taking both Zoloft and Wellbutrin (less Zoloft than I had been taking

> earlier).

>

> I would have to say that I will still continue to take Enbrel because it has

> made an incredible difference in my RA. I pay for the entire perscrition out

> of pocket (insurance doesn't cover it). So that should tell you how much of a

> difference the drug has made in my life. If it weren't for Enbrel, I would

> not still be in school.

>

> Good luck with whatever you decide to do.