Etanercept
About Etanercept
Etanercept is an injectable prescription medicine used to reduce pain and inflammation caused by certain autoimmune conditions. It is commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. By controlling chronic swelling, it helps limit progressive joint damage and improves daily physical function.
This medicine is typically injected once or twice a week, and it is crucial to use it consistently to maintain a stable level of the medication in your system.
Because it is injected under the skin, you can take it with or without food, as meals do not affect how the body absorbs it. Adopting a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet and engaging in gentle physical activity can further support your joint and skin health during treatment.
Some people may experience mild side effects, such as redness, itching, or swelling where the injection was given, as well as minor cold-like symptoms. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects, such as a persistent fever, sudden weight loss, severe skin rashes, or unusual bruising or bleeding.
Talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have a history of chronic infections, tuberculosis, heart failure, or disorders affecting the nervous system. Do not take this if you currently have a severe, active infection or blood poisoning, as this medicine can weaken your body's ability to fight off illness.
Let your healthcare provider know about all the medicines you use, as certain immune-suppressing therapies can interact with Etanercept and increase your risk of severe infections. It is also important to consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you are an older adult, as special monitoring may be required.
Uses of Etanercept
Medicinal Benefits
Etanercept is a biologic medicine used to treat certain inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. It works by blocking tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a protein that plays a key role in inflammation.
- Reduces Joint Inflammation: Helps decrease pain, swelling, and stiffness in inflammatory joint conditions, making everyday movement more comfortable.
- Improves Physical Function: By controlling inflammation, it may improve mobility and make activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or using the hands easier.
- Helps Control Psoriasis: Reduces the severity of red, scaly, and itchy plaques in people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
- Slows Joint Damage: In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, controlling inflammation may help slow the progression of structural joint damage.
- Supports Long-Term Disease Control: Regular treatment can reduce disease activity and help improve overall quality of life in people with chronic inflammatory conditions.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safe and effective use.
- Etanercept will be administered by the doctor or healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Etanercept
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Redness, swelling, itching, or pain at the injection site
- Runny nose, sore throat, or sinus congestion
- Headaches
- Mild skin rash or itching
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of serious infection, such as a high fever, chills, persistent cough, or painful urination
- Extreme tiredness, pale skin, or unusual bruising and bleeding
- Numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, or sudden vision changes
- Shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or sudden swelling in your ankles or feet
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, including hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, and difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the liquid first: Inspect the solution inside the syringe or pen before injecting; it should be clear and colourless to pale yellow. Do not use it if it is cloudy, discoloured, or contains floating particles.
- Do not shake: Shaking the syringe or pen can damage the delicate proteins in the medication, making it less effective.
- Rotate your sites: Consistently changing your injection spot helps prevent the buildup of hard or fatty lumps under the skin.
- Get screened first: Ensure your doctor tests you for tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis B before starting treatment, as Etanercept can reactivate dormant infections.
- Avoid live vaccines: Do not receive live vaccines (such as the nasal spray flu vaccine) while using this medicine, as they could cause a serious infection.
Drug Interactions
Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines before using Etanercept:
- Other biologic medicines: Taking this medicine alongside other biologics (like anakinra or abatacept) can significantly increase the risk of severe, life-threatening infections.
- Immune-weakening treatments: Combining this medicine with strong immunosuppressants (like cyclophosphamide) may raise the risk of developing certain blood disorders.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption as alcohol intake, along with Etanercept, may cause increased dizziness and risk of stomach bleeding/ulcers.
Pregnancy
unsafeIt is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may harm your foetus. Hence, if you are pregnant, or planning pregnancy inform your doctor before receiving Etanercept. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeIt is not recommended for use in breastfeeding as it may pass in to breast milk and harm your infant. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Etanercept. Your doctor may suggest you to stop feeding while on treatment with this medicine
Driving
unsafeEtanercept may make you feel dizzy and sleepy. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience dizziness or drowsiness.
Liver
cautionEtanercept should be used with caution if you have liver disease. Dose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. However, Etanercept is not recommended in patients with active liver diseases.
Kidney
cautionEtanercept should be used with caution if you have kidney impairment. Dose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment.
Children
cautionEtanercept is not recommended in children below two years of age as the safety and efficacy is not established. In children above two years of age, it will be administered by the paediatrician.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on whole foods rich in antioxidants, such as leafy greens, berries, walnuts, and fatty fish, which can help support overall joint and skin health.
- Protect your joints: Engage in low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, or yoga to maintain flexibility and strength without overloading your joints.
- Practice strict hygiene: Wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with individuals who have active infections, as Etanercept can temporarily lower your body's defences.
- Manage your weight: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces mechanical stress on weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, which helps ease pain.
- Avoid raw foods: Steer clear of raw meats, runny eggs, and unpasteurised dairy products to minimise the risk of foodborne infections while your immune system is slightly suppressed.
Special Advise
- It is advised to closely monitor the patient for infections like active tuberculosis during and after the treatment though the patient gets a negative tuberculin test.
- It is essential to inform your doctor if you have any active viral, bacterial, and fungal infections before starting Etanercept.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an auto-immune disease (the body's immune system attacks its tissue) that causes joint pain and damage. It occurs when the immune system does not work properly. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling, stiffness, deformities and loss of joint function.
Ankylosing spondylitis: It causes pain and stiffness in the spine. The pain generally starts in the lower back and can spread to the neck, damaged joints, or other body parts. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include decreased flexibility which usually leads to a hunched-forward posture and pain in the back and joints.
Psoriatic arthritis: It is a type of inflammatory arthritis which occurs in patients with psoriasis. It could also occur in patients without psoriasis, particularly in those with a family history of psoriasis. It affects large joints in the lower extremities, the distal joints of toes and fingers, and the back and pelvis. Symptoms include inflammation of joints, difficulty moving, swelling, patches of red, scaly skin and pain.
FAQs
Etanercept is used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis and Plaque psoriasis.
Etanercept consists of Etanercept, which belong to TNF (Tumor necrosis factor) inhibitor class of drug. It works by inhibiting the TNF-α and TNF-β binding to the cell surface and therby makes the TNF cytokine inactive. This helps reduce inflammation and pain caused due to various autoimmune diseases.
Etanercept affects your immune system and makes you more susceptible to infections. Hence, it is not recommended in people with active infections like tuberculosis, hepatitis B, or abnormal liver enzymes. Etanercept can also increase the risk of developing cancers; hence, mentioning your doctor if you have a history of any cancer is essential.
Yes, Etanercept is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) that works by inhibiting tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a key protein involved in the inflammatory response. By blocking TNF, it helps reduce inflammation, manage symptoms of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and slow disease progression.
Etanercept is neither a steroid nor a monoclonal antibody. It is a biological medicine classified as a TNF inhibitor. It is a fusion protein that binds to tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and prevents it from causing inflammation in autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.
Yes, Etanercept is safe as it is administered by the doctor or nurse in prescribed dose and duration. Ensure you do not skip scheduled appointments to maintain safety and monitor your progress effectively.
Etanercept may cause weight gain if you use it for a longer duration. If you notice any weight changes, manage stress, exercise regularly, eat a nutritious-rich diet, take a fibre-rich diet, stay hydrated, and cut down on sugary foods and drinks.
Etanercept may cause hair loss in some individuals. If you experience this symptom, manage stress, use gentle hair care practices, and eat nutritious rich food. However, if hair loss persists consult the doctor for further guidance.
Etanercept typically starts to show some effects within one to two weeks. However, it may take 3 to 6 months for noticeable improvement.
The side effects of Etanercept include tingling or numbness, shortness of breath, bleeding, dizziness, pale skin, bruising, vision problems, redness on the skin and arms, and injection site reactions. Consult the doctor if any of these symptoms persist or worsen.
Yes, but you must keep the medicine cool. Use a travel cooler bag with ice packs to maintain a temperature between 2°C and 8°C, ensuring the syringes or pens do not touch the ice directly to prevent freezing. Talk to your pharmacist for specific travel storage advice.
Contact your doctor immediately if you develop a fever, chills, or a persistent cough. Because this medicine reduces your immune response, even minor infections can quickly become serious and require prompt medical treatment.
You can safely receive non-live vaccines, such as the standard flu shot or updated COVID-19 vaccines. However, you must avoid live vaccines while on this medication, as your immune system may not be able to handle the weakened virus. Talk to your doctor before scheduling any vaccinations.
There is no direct chemical interaction between alcohol and Etanercept. However, it is wise to limit alcohol consumption, as excessive drinking can strain your liver and potentially worsen inflammatory symptoms. Talk to your doctor about what is safe for you.
This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor determines it is clearly needed. Because it can cross the placenta, especially during the third trimester, you must talk to your doctor to weigh the benefits against potential risks to your baby.
Rotating your injection sites helps prevent skin irritation, tenderness, and the development of hard, fatty lumps under the skin, which can interfere with how the medicine is absorbed. Always inject at least one inch away from your previous site.
Do not inject the medicine if the liquid appears cloudy, thick, discoloured, or contains visible floating particles. The solution should always be clear and colourless to pale yellow. Contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider for a replacement.
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