• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is etanercept?
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.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of etanercept?

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.

Stop using etanercept and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• dry cough, fever, weight loss, night sweats;

• fever with chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• signs of skin infection such as itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing;

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

• swelling, rapid weight gain;

• joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizure (convulsions);

• patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped skin rash over your cheeks and nose (worsens in sunlight);

• changes in mood or personality (in children); or

• numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;

• runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms; or

• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use etanercept?
Etanercept is given as an injection under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes. This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You may need to mix etanercept with a liquid (diluent) before using it. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medication.

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What is the most important information I should know about etanercept?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to etanercept, or if you have a severe infection such as sepsis (infection of the blood). Before using etanercept, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common. Also tell your doctor if you have a weak immune system, an infection (including a skin infection), diabetes, congestive heart failure, seizures, asthma, hepatitis B, a nerve disorder such as multiple sclerosis, or if you are allergic to latex.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your etanercept dose.

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What other drugs will affect etanercept?
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: anakinra (Kineret); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar); sulfasalazine (Azulfidine); or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids). This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with etanercept. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Etanercept has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal data have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. Data from human pregnancy studies are not available. Etanercept is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

A pregnancy registry has been established to monitor outcomes of pregnant women. Physicians are encouraged to register patients by calling: 1-877-311-8972.

There are no data on the excretion of etanercept into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to etanercept or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Sepsis.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of etanercept is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using etanercept?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to etanercept, or if you have a severe infection such as sepsis (infection of the blood). Before using etanercept, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common. If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using etanercept, tell your doctor if you have:

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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