Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick

Generic Name: etanercept (Pronunciation: ee TAN er sept)

• What is etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What are the possible side effects of etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What is the most important information I should know about etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• How should I use etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What happens if I overdose (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What should I avoid while using etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• What other drugs will affect etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?

Etanercept works by decreasing a certain protein produced by the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight infections. In people with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakes the body's own cells for invaders and attacks them.

Etanercept is used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis, and to prevent joint damage caused by these conditions. It is also used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children who are at least 2 years old.

Etanercept may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• fever, night sweats, weight loss, tiredness;
• feeling full after eating only a small amount;
• pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder;
• easy bruising or bleeding, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate; or
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Stop using etanercept and call your doctor at once if you have any of these other serious side effects:

• signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, confusion, neck stiffness, flu symptoms);
• shortness of breath with swelling, rapid weight gain;
• chest pain, ongoing cough, coughing up mucus or blood;
• signs of skin infection such as itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• changes in mood or personality (in children);
• numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling;
• joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizure (convulsions); or
• patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped skin rash over your cheeks and nose (worsens in sunlight).

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea, mild stomach pain;
• runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms; or
• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about etanercept (Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)?

Call your doctor at once if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, night sweats, itching, loss of appetite, weight loss, tiredness, feeling full after eating only a small amount, pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder, nausea, easy bruising or bleeding, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Etanercept can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood may need to be tested often. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with etanercept. Contact your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, cough, sweating, tired feeling, or if you feel short of breath.

Children using this medication should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment with etanercept.

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