Enbrel Lawsuits
Last Updated: August 2008 • 67 Comments
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The arthritis drug Enbrel has been linked to an increased risk of fatal infections, incluing tuberculosis and fungal infections. In May 2008, a “black box” warning was added about the risk of tuberculosis. In September 2008, the FDA added information to the “black box” warning about the risk of potentially fatal fungal infections, which were often going undiagnosed.
STATUS OF ENBREL LAWSUITS: Potential for legal claims are being evaluated for individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis before May 1, 2008 or who died as a result of an infection.
MANUFACTURERS: Amgen, Inc. and Wyeth
OVERVIEW: Enbrel (etanercept) is a Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blocker, which was approved in 1998 to treat various auto immune disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idopathic arthritis (previously known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). It is administered as an injection given either by the user or a caregiver.
There are three other TNF blockers currently approved in the United States, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia. When all uses are considered, including indications that Remicade is not approved for, Enbrel is the most widely useed TNF blocker.
ENBREL TUBERCULOSIS RISK: In May 1999, information was added to the warning label about a possible risk of serious infections, including sepsis, which has caused a number of deaths. In April 2008, this information was added to a “black box” which was more prominently displayed on the label.
The “black box” warning also included information about cases of tuberculosis associated with use of Enbrel injections. The FDA and manufacturers indicated that healthcare providers should screen their patients for latent tuberculosis before prescribing Enbrel.
Tuberculosis, also known as tubercle bacillus or TB, is a deadly infection which commonly attacks the lungs (pulmonary TB), the central nervous system, circulatory system, bones, joints or the skin.
Symptoms of tuberculosis could include:
- Chest Pain
- Coughing Blood
- Fever, Chills or Night Sweats
- Appetite Loss or Weight Loss
- Fatique
ENBREL CANCER SIDE EFFECTS: In June 2008, the FDA released an early communication about an ongoing safety review involving Enbrel and a possible association with the development of lymphoma and other cancers among children and young adults and an Enbrel black box cancer warning was added in August 2009.
At least 30 reports of childhood cancer were received by the FDA involving the use of TNF blockers. Other medications indicated in this early communication were Humira and Remicade.
Approximately half of the cancers seen in all children and young adults taking TNF blockers were lymphomas, including bother Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a cancer of cells in the immune system. Lymphoma is not a recognized complication of JIA (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis) or of Crohn’s disease. Other cancers reported included leukemia, melanoma and solid organ cancers.
ENBRAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS: A number of users who were receiving TNF blockers, such as Enbrel, have experienced fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis, blastomycosis and cocciioidmycosis. In several of these cases the infection resulted in death.
In September 2008, the FDA issued an alert to healthcare providers to provide new information about the risk of Enbrel fungal infections. At that time the agency also indicated that new information will be added to the Enbrel black box warning to ensure that doctors and consumers are aware of the risk, especially for those who live in or visit areas where fungus is prevalent.
Unfortunately, many cases of fungal infections from Enbrel go undiagnosed by doctors, since the symptoms are similar to the flu. Symptoms could include cough, fever, fatigue, loss of weight, sweating and shortness of breath.
Pingback by Enbrel side effects could include risk of serious infections, tuberculosis — AboutLawsuits.com on 10 May 2008:
[...] Enbrel (etanercept) is an injection prescribed for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idopathic arthritis. It is marketed and sold by Amgen, Inc. and Wyeth, and was originally approved by the FDA in 1998. [...]
Pingback by Remicade Lawsuits — AboutLawsuits.com on 5 June 2008:
[...] States, and has been used by more patients world-wide than the other medications in the same class, Enbrel and Humira, combined. It is a blockbuster drug for the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & [...]
Pingback by Humira Lawsuits : AboutLawsuits.com on 5 September 2008:
[...] In June 2008, the FDA released an early communication about an ongoing safety review involving Humira and a possible association with the development of lymphoma and other cancers among children and young adults using the TNF blockers. At least 30 reports of childhood cancer were received by the FDA involving the use of TNF blockers. Other medications indicated in this early communication were Remicade and Enbrel. [...]
Pingback by FDA Investigates Possible Association of Enbrel, Humira and Remicade with Lymphoma Cancer in Children : AboutLawsuits.com on 5 September 2008:
[...] among children. The agency is investigating reports of children and young adults using Remicade, Enbrel and Humira who developed lymphoma and other [...]
Pingback by Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Do Not Increase Cancer Risk According to New Research : AboutLawsuits.com on 29 October 2008:
[...] research suggests that Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and other biologic TNF-blockers widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis do not [...]
Comment by hugh on 17 December 2008:
my wife used embrel in 2005 she was later diagnoised with chirrosis of liver she was in the hospital april 13 till april 22 2008 she was diagnoised with blood comtionating she passed away july 25 2008 i fell it was from embrel because she had hepatis when she was put on embrel
Comment by Jackie Fletcher on 24 December 2008:
My father started using enbrel early 2006 and then in 2007 starting having blood problems and was diagnoised in February he had AML which is a form of Leukemia. He passed away on June 27, 2008. I believe this stemmed from a use of enbrel.
Comment by Mary on 10 January 2009:
My husband used Enbrel for several years for rheumatoid arthritis, injecting it into his stomach twice a week. He became very ill in the spring of 2006, and doctors did countless tests to determine the cause. Just days before he died, they discovered that he had stomach cancer. I really believe that the Enbrel was responsible. I’m looking for a class action lawsuit.
Comment by chris on 20 January 2009:
I started using Enbrel for RA in 2001. It worked. Later, 2006, I was diagnosed with Non-Hogkins Lymphoma. Cause – Enbrel?
Comment by Bonnie on 6 February 2009:
I was injecting enbrel for about two years for my RA and posorisis. I had a very bad cold and just happened to mention to my Dr. that my lymph glands in my groin and neck were swollen.After my exam it was discovered that my glands under my arm and everywhere were swollen. I was sent to a cancer Dr. right away. After two different biopsy’s from my grion and underarm it was determined I did not have cancer.I then started to have tremors. First my hand then my head then my whole body. I also would experience internal treamors. Now I am on medication for that…which I will have to be on for the rest of my life……………Who Knows??????????
Comment by Bonnie on 6 February 2009:
Please let me add how sorry I am for all of your losses and illnesses. It makes what I have seem not soooo bad………
Comment by Kim on 13 February 2009:
My husband had been taking Enbrel for about 3 months for psoriasis. He was injecting Enbrel into his stomach as directed by his dermatologist. During his 3rd month, he started having tremors in his hands and his tongue. He lost his taste and was having dry mouth along with thick white saliva. He has also been experiencing intense stomach cramps. He reported symptoms to his doctor and they told him to quit taking the medicine. He is still having these symptoms. He was ok before he started taking this Enbrel.
Comment by Jack on 17 February 2009:
My mom contracted pancreatic cancer from enbrel and she is going to die in 1 week and the doctor who gave it to her would not talk to her when she called for help tanks
Comment by Patty on 26 February 2009:
My husband has been taking Enbrel for 4 years for his RA. He was first diagnosed with interstial lung disease last year, the Enbrel was reduced and we were told his lungs had cleared up. He again started taking the Enbrel 2X weekly. About a month ago I noticed his breathing sounded strained, he went through several tests which indicated his interstial lung disease has returned and today was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Comment by alice on 27 February 2009:
Im 53., was taking enbrel for about three years or so. julyof 2007 started having back pain. After many tests and finally becoming paralyzed from waist down end of August. Emergency room led to back surgery to remove mass pushing on spinal cord at T10 T11. Time at rehab to learn how to walk again . Very frustrating and scary. Am walking with help of cane. Am disabled now. Was this a fluke or was it the medicine? Any other stories out there close to mine?
Comment by Christina on 1 March 2009:
I know this is not so bad compared to some of these stories but I started taking Embrel and had only been taking the injections for about 3 or 4 months when I got a MRAS staph infection. I stop taking the shots right away..but needless to say it has been almost 3 years and I still get staph infections. I have been put in the hospital 3 times, have had too many to count cut out and have had close to 250 actual infections(most times more than one at a time)! The doctor tells me that because of the Embrel and getting the MRSA while taking the shots, my immune system will never be the same. I am in my twenties and will suffer from these the rest of my life…and that the staph infections are very serious and could one day kill me. It was not worth it to me to have clear skin and then have to deal with very painful, horrible thing. I now have several scars and I am in pain most of the time! And to make things worse, when my psorisis came back, it came back much worse!!!
Comment by Sharon on 21 March 2009:
My sister has psoriatic arthritis and has been on Embrel for some time. She is now in the hospital with Acute Pancreatitis. Are there other cases out there?
Comment by Chris on 27 March 2009:
My father had RA ( rheumatoid arthritis ) and had been on Enbrel for at least a year, last december his overall health deteriorated. He experienced fatigue, weakness, chest pain, the night sweats, and at the end of december he was hospitalized. They treated him for pneumonia ( what they thought he had ), multiple organ failure, breathing treatments and had a tube in his mouth ( feeding tube, etc ). this lasted close to 3 weeks, when they decided to do a tracheostomy to help him breathe, 3 days after that they said pretty much nothing can be done. In essence, every time they cleared up an infection another one emerged. To this day they never even looked for a fungal infection and IMHO Enbrel is the root cause for his death. Before these symptoms, he wasn’t in perfect health, but he was coming along well. Has anyone else had similiar experiences with a loved one?
Comment by linda on 25 April 2009:
i have psoriasis arthritis, i`ve been taking enbrel for about 3 years now, it has helped me alot, except i still stay sore 24 seven though, sore everyday, but the shot helps some, but i get sick with a cold easy now, and have had mecer staff twice, in the hospital the first time with it, other then that i have no other probblems with enbrel, so far, seems to help, if it want for enbrel i would be in a wheel chair right now,
Comment by linda on 25 April 2009:
just want to share, i mean though enbrel has helped me so much, but don`t want to stop taking it, unless i keep getting sick, but so far haven`t had to go back to the hospital from taking enbrel but just when i had mrsa (mercer staff infection) i know i can still keep getting mrsa, but what has helped me so far to, i take a little travel size bottle of lysol with me everywhere i go, and when i have to use the bathroom, plus i take hand sanitizer with me, so i try to be careful around germs, they are every where, exspecally in the stores to, but just don`t know what to do about enbrel from what i`am reading like i said, in my other posts up here , so far for now i will continue taking it till i can`t anymore as long as it is still helping me, cause when i go off it, when i`am sick with a cold i have to, then i have infumation in my eye (arthritis) till i get back on it, then it clears up, so i lose either way it seems like,
Comment by Mark on 30 April 2009:
Susan had Lupus. In Approx. February of 2006 Dr Thomas Oven of Binghamton NY started her in Enbrel. Although the pain and inmobility caused by her Lupus was greatly reduced. Susan began a steady decline in health. In August of 2007 she developed Cellulitis resulting in an extended hospital stay. Her health became a constant battle. She developed Shingles. Followed by kidney stones and later Salmonella. She also developed urinary tract infections. By December she had open sores in her mouth and covering her body along with her hair falling out. In February of 2008 we seeked out a second opinion from another Rheumatogist in Syracuse at the urging of her regular Doctor. Dr Hong Yu also of Binghamton NY. The doctor in Syracuse told us they never give Enbrel to Lupus patients and wanted her to start on Orencia instead. Susan went off the Enbrel and was to wait 6 weks before starting Orencia. Before the 6 weeks were up, on the weekend of March 8th & 9th Susan developed Flu like symptoms. She steadily got worse. An ambulance was called around noon on March 11th. Susan died in route to Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton NY. Her cause of death was listed as CARDIAC ARREST/RESP FAILURE/HYPOXEMIA/SEPSIS AND DEHYDRATION.
Comment by Vicki on 31 May 2009:
I feel my fathers pancreatic cancer has a direct correlation to enberl medication.
Comment by Frank on 11 June 2009:
My wife was taken enbrel for three years and after a year and half battle with cancer she past away on Dec 2007.Because her imune system was shot she could not fight the cancer which had a 90% cure rate .
Comment by Jennifer on 22 June 2009:
I’ve been on Enbrel for about 18 months for RA. I now have tremors, headaches, fatigue and an MRI found 2 spots on my brain. Now my Neurologist wants me to have a Spinal Tap to check for cancers and more likely MS. Could this really be the Enbrel? I was a teacher and have 3 young kids. I can’t teach anymore which makes me so sad. Just my daily life leaves me completely exhausted and in bed before 9. My husband is getting frustrated with me. I just turned 38. I’m afraid to go off of the enbrel because it does help my RA.
Comment by Leasa on 22 June 2009:
I have been on Enbrel twice now. I find these postings interesting however, I do not see my specific situation. I began taking Enbrel for severe psoratic arthrits in 2007. After only a few injections I began having very bad night sweats. In three weeks time I tested positive for TB. I had to go off the drug and do 9 months of INH therapy. Because I have tried all other forms of medication and nothing else worked, the doctor at the CDC had my doctor put me back on Enbrel. I have only been on it for 2 weeks now, and I am questioning whether or not I have made the right choice. If you ask your doctor (which I have) I have gotten 7 different responses. Some of them say ABSOLUTELY NEVER TAKE AGAIN, and the others tell me that I will be fine. I cannot take INH again, and will always test postive for TB now, but I worry what will happen if I am diagnosed again with TB. I believe there is one other form of treatment but I was told that my immune system may not react to the medication. So what happens if I contract TB again and there is no available medication to treat me?
Comment by Leasa T. (again) on 22 June 2009:
I just wanted to add one more thing. In March 2009, I had my wisdom teeth come in. I am 40 yrs.old. I had to have them removed one by one due to severity (impacted). I had major complications with the first two, they became dr sockets which would not heal. Finally, I had the 3rd one removed in March 2009. IN 24 hours, I was in Intensive care fighting for my life. I was diagnosed with “Ludwigs Angina.” which is a severe infection which caused your airway to close. I spent 9 days in ICU and then went home for a month with a PIC line in my arm to have my husband administer IV antibiotics for 4 weeks, twice a day. Just wanted to add that to the scenario.
Comment by David on 3 July 2009:
1. we all went to our doctors because of pain and fear of what was happening with our body, we all wanted help any thing that would help.
2. Embrel came along, it seemed to work for most of us, I took it for years, minor sideaffects.
3. all these other problems are poping up, trigerd by embrel?
4. I know if I continued in pain, lack of movement and no desire to live
before I took embrel. it gave me years of pain free living. at age 55 I know if it isn’t AR that kills me some other form will, If one has to die let it be painless. I know it does not sound right, untill you hurt so bad you wish death as the only way out of the horrible pain, Embrel at the time was not a bad chance. I knew I had MS 10 years ago, they pulled me off embrel, in one month pain is back as strong as it left me three years ago. I have told my family no wheelchairs or bed ridden for this guy,
put me to sleep. My biggest fear is if I past AR or MS on to my childeren.
Comment by Julie on 8 July 2009:
I injected myself twice a week for four and a half years with Enbrel to treat psoriasis.
I considered myself very healthy. May30th 2008 I found a large mass on my neck and a few days later was diagnosed with lymphoma, and six months later congestive heartfailure.
I am 47,currently cancer free but, not sure what my future holds.
Comment by jeremy g on 5 August 2009:
hello, I have been taking enbrel since early 2005 almost 5 years , I was having trouble urinating so they checked my kidneys, well they found a tumor , I just had the tumor removed from my kidney , and it was cancer , the docter said i was lucky it was caught early, I am only 39, its crazy , I have a bad feeling that its from the enbrel , and I am afraid to start it again, but my life is so miserable without it, its a hard choice. i feel like giving up…
Comment by Jagdesh on 6 August 2009:
After using Embrel for about 2 years. I started to get headaches, dizzyness and loss of balance. I also started to get rashes on my head and face. Ihave seen numerous specialists and I was finally diagnosed with Lupus after a Dermatologoist too a biopsy of the rashes.
Comment by Itchyman on 15 August 2009:
Two years ago I was enrolled in a 24 week double blind research study for a NEW psoriasis drug (Ustikenumab). The other drug used in the study was Enbrel. After the Enbrel drug ended, I was given TWO injections of Usti and all of my lesions disappeared. However, after on 2 months of relief from psoriasis, it came back with a vengence and continues now after 2 years.
Like to know if ANYONE else participated in this clinical study and if they experienced similar or worse conditions.
I tend to believe that Enbrel exacerbated the few psoriasis lesions I had before the study, and causing other organs to fail and trigger the severe psoriasis, OR another skin disorder similar to psoriasis. Four derms say NO and keep giving salves and gels and UVB.
The new drug (Usti) is being held up by the FDA due to patent issues and lawsuits. This may be a blessing, but who KNOWS?
Comment by Mark on 24 August 2009:
I’ve been on enbrel for 5yrs . My RA is in remission I feel great and lift weights and walk 2 miles every day. I’m 56yrs old and would like to quit taking enbrel. My Dr. won’t even discuss this with me. I’m worried about side effects and my future health. Would like to hear from anyone with info to help me make a decision
Comment by judy on 24 August 2009:
I took Embrel for about 2 years. I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in December 08 and had my kidney removed. I had strong suspicions that Embrel caused the cancer. I am going to follow this because I never had any problems other than RA. If the FDA knows this stuff can cause cancer why would they allow it to be distributed.
Comment by Judith on 30 August 2009:
Like Mark,I have been on Enbrel for 5 years and would like to get off. I feel great most of the time with occasional flareups and bouts of iritis uvitis(very painful) and has left my vision impared in one eye. I would like to hear what others use for RA when they go off Enbrel
Comment by Kelly on 2 September 2009:
I took Embrel for 2 yrs. I have had AP for 22 yrs. I got MS from Embrel. Now I have so much to tell! I am sick all the time, I have lost so much weight, so so much more! Then they gave me Raptive, it helped more than anything. (I also take other things) They just took it away from me without even a warning(warnings said could have withdrwls) I guess it killed a few people(that is all they told me) now I am getting worse everyday. Not including other things I keep getting diagnosed with. I am looking for info or help. I have no money! This is a very long life story!
If you have similar story or info respond, maybe we can talk & exchange info..
Comment by John on 7 September 2009:
My Aunt recently passed away from wound infections she was not able to fight due to the destruction of her immune sytstem from taking Embrel . Does anyone else have experiences around Embrel and catastrophic supression of the immune system? Yes the warnings talk of issues but how can one predict an infection yet to come which will not heal because of the effect of the drug? While the drug gave my Aunt diminsihed pain from her Reumatoid Arthritis it also gave her a false sense of security and created an issue lieing in wait to complicate simple problems into becoming critical issues.
Comment by mark on 9 September 2009:
mark took double the recommended dose of enbrel with the approval of enbrel themselves and he was diagnoses with a cancerous tumor on his kidney. the doctors directy relate it to the use of enbrel. He was only 32 and had to have part of his kidney removed. This was after taking enbrel for only two years.
Comment by Dana on 9 September 2009:
My identical twin sister took Enbrel for over 5 years and thought it was the “wonder” drug. IT KILLED HER, She had a fever on 7/4/09 and after two swabs, was sent home. After the fever persisted they admitted her because her blood gas was low and her white blood cell count was high. Unable to find the infection, she was later diagnosed with the Influenza A virus. After almost one month in ICU her lungs collapsed she died on August 4, 2009 at the age of 45. (The ICU doctor did mention Pancreatic failure).
Although Enbrel cleared her psoriasis when nothing else could, it killed her. Please advise others to use caution and see an infectious disease specialist at the onset of any and all fevers. The doctors did not take her off enbrel after it was too late and she could not fight the virus.
Comment by C. Fischer on 1 October 2009:
I started using Enbrel for RA and Psoriasis in 2002. I stopped in 2006 when I started having problems with my balance. I went to a neurologist who said I had MS after having n MRI and showing lesions on my brain and spinal cord. Several of the Neurologists that I have spoken to have said that they are seeing more and more paitients who are diagnosed with MS after taking Enbrel shots.
Comment by Sheba on 6 October 2009:
I have been taking enbrel since 2002 and did not have any problems that i knew of until april 2007 was diagnosed with kidney stones,diverticulitis,etc because no one could find anything wrong. In dec 2008 it was determined that a had a spinal tumor pressing against my nerve causing me back pain.stomach pain and leg and foot numbess causing me the inability to drive since 11/08. I had a spinal laminectomy Jan 09 and was told i would have been paralyzed if it went undiagnosed. I have lost feeling in my feet that i wil never get back. i have back pains,muscle spasms and my story sounds similar to alice. Could this be enbrel related l
Comment by jessica on 8 October 2009:
i stared taking enbrel may-09 starting about the middle of sep-09 i lost felling on left side of body then now im numb from about my breast down & very stiff my left hand & arm are so numb & stiff i can’t use them .they did mri & found 3 lesions on my spinal cord & it’s inflamed,dr said it was from the enbrel.
Comment by Jaime on 10 October 2009:
I started out by taking injections of gold in 1987,I was diagnosed with R/A in 1986 which got worse as time progressed. By 1995 it got so bad i had to retire from my job as a correctional officer, after 22 years of service at Folsom state prison. My rheumatoid Artheritus continued to get worse and my rheumatoligist recommended taking Humera which i took, on his advice because he is one of the best in the Sacramento area. I took the Humera injections for several months and started to break out in hyves on my legs real bad. My rheumatolagist immediately told me to stop taking it and i did. Upon my next visit with him he said there was a new injectable drug on the market called Enbral and strongly recommended i start it’s use which i did, as i recall this was in approximately 2002 or 2003 I will have to check with him to make sure of the date i started. At any rate i started the injections twice a week and continued to do so until June of 2009 when i went to a protologist with what i thought was hemroids. He did a biospy and found i had Squama cell cancer of the rectom. He had me get a pet scan as soon as he could get it ordered and when i got it i found out i had non-hodgkins lymphoma which totally floored me. I then had to take chemotherapy for 4 months, and still have 33 treatments of radiation to go throughfor the squamas cell cancer starting Oct 26th 2009. Obviously my rheumatologist told me to stop taking Enbrel as it was the cause of my lymphoma cancer. I immediately stopped taking the Enbrel and will never take it again as i strongly feel it was the cause of not only the lymphoma but the squamas cell cancer as well. I also ended up in the hospital with a blood clot in my right leg and an irregular heart-beat which is most likely attributed to the Enbrel as well. Seems like all the things that have gone wrong with me in the last couple of years is related to the Enbral injections i was taking. Beware people these injections can certainly cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people. I really think i would rather be crippled than have cancer of two different kinds in my body and now fight for my life. I hope this message will open up people’s eyes about the use of Enbral and other drugs on the pharmacutical market. a lot of times we are in so much pain we don’t think to check into the side affects of the things we put in our bodies, unfortunately when they first put this drug on the market they didn’t warn us of the side affect of cancer… had that warning been given to me I feel quite confident i would have elected not to have taken it.
Comment by Carrie on 2 November 2009:
My daugther started taking Enbrel when she was 15 years old for JRA she took Methotrexate along with it. We were never informed of a cancer side affect and in March of this year she was diagnosed wth Leukemai. APML to be exact. She is in remission but it has been a hellacious year. They said that Enbrel was not linked to the drug until after she started taking it so that is why we were not informed. I think that there should be a law that anyone that takes a medication if new information is found like this they should have to send out a warning to all of the people that are taking it. It is ridiculous that they do not.
Comment by Karen on 8 November 2009:
Went on Enbrel for severe pustular psoriasis in September 2006 after 8 months of mtx not working. Felt great thought it was a miracle. In the past year was diagnosed with arthesclerosis high cholesterol had my gall bladder removed, a sphincterectomy on my dialted common bile dutc, NASH, was taken off Enbrel the beginning of July 09 have had a low grade fever since, joint pain that is unbearable, need MRI on my shoulder for severe pain and inmobility. exhaustion, had to quit my job, had a spot on my left templar lobe, have muscle termors and the 6 specialist have no idea what is wrong with me. CT scans MRI’s and numerous blood test and no real answers. Need info on withdrawal sysmptoms.
Comment by Susan on 19 November 2009:
I was diagnosed with RA in Jan 2006 and I was severe. Overnight onset and joint damage occuring rapidly.
I was horrified by the RA drug choices available. A research of RA on the internet revealed a number of causes that have been shown to put RA in remission when the cause is dealt with.
My rheumy didn’t buy it and was angry when I asked for a “safer” treatment approach which had been practiced for 50 yrs by Dr. Thomas M. Brown. He found bacteria in the synovial fluid joints which he believed were triggering the RA. The bacteria were CWD (cell wall deficient) so not the kind you could knock out with 2 weeks antibiotic.
He treated with low dose tetricycline drugs with minocin being the best.
This method is incredibly safe and has a 70% success ratio yet rheumatologists today ignore that treatment.
I chose it and found a rheumy who believes in infectious causes to auto-immune illnesses.
Perhaps the reason you guys have had adverse reactions to the Enbrel is because it allowed the CWD bacterias in you to flourish causing subsequent illnesses.
Study up on infectious causes to auto-immune disorders. Psoriaris is an exception here. It is believed to be a fungal based illness.
Comment by Vinnie on 20 November 2009:
My wife took Enbrel for several years for RA. A few years ago she caught a cold that went from sniffles to full-blown strep pneumonia with high fever in just a few days. She was taken to the hospital and died later the same day from septic shock and heart failure. I was told her body couldn’t fight the infection, likely because her immune system was so suppressed. When I informed her GP of her death, he told me that he’d heard of these types of septic shock cases occurring more frequently with Enbrel patients. This was prior to the newer “upgraded” infection warnings being issued in 2008.
Comment by Terri on 7 December 2009:
After 8 injections of Enbrel I developed extreme pain and stiffness in muscles of left leg, couldn’t walk without a cane as leg would “give out” and I feared falling. Went to E.R. and a doppler showed I had a cyst behind my knee. I had arthritis pain before and this was not acting normal like usual arthritis pain, muscles in entire leg cramped and got stiff. Used Enbrel 2008-2009 8 doses.
Comment by Brad on 17 December 2009:
Just a heads up regarding dosage. My wife and I experimented with her Enbrel dose before getting pregnant and found that she could take just one 25 mg shot every other week with the same effect as two 25 mg shots every week. That’s one quarter the prescribed dose. You may be able to save a lot of money if nothing else. Of course the drug company makes a lot more if you just take the massive dose they recommend.
Comment by Jamie on 28 December 2009:
My husband was diagnosed with AS in January of 09. He is 30 years old and seems to have the body of a 70 year old. His onset of AS was very sudden and abrupt. He was immediately put on Enbrel by his rheumatologist. He has been on it for almost a year now. He also suffers from reflux (not related to the Enbrel) and takes Nexium twice a day. Last month we had to take him to the ER due to severe abdominal pain. They did a MRI and noticed thickening of his intestinal wall and started talking Crohn’s disease. His gastro then did a colonoscopy and said he had suffered from Ischemic Colitis. Basically his colon was dieing due to loss of blood. Our question was why? We then went to a hematologist and they did tons of blood tests. Ruled out cancer, Crohn’s and any clotting disorders, but revealed his triglycerides were too high, and LDLs/HDLs were off the charts. Also, for the last month and a half he has developed a severe skin problem. It orginally started on his hands and has now spread to his entire body. It starts with the development of a pustule and then it pops and the skin dries out and peels and goes away, but more pustules keep appearing. Today a dermatologist tells him he thinks he has Pustular Psoriasis!!!! WILL THIS EVER STOP???? Reading these previous blogs scares the crap out of my husband and myself and makes us want to stop the Enbrel. All we can think is that all the weird conditions he keeps getting are due to the Enbrel. Prior to Decemeber of last year he was a perfectly healthy 30 year old man and now we just don’t know what to think. Has anyone else developed or seen this similar problems after being on Enbrel?
Comment by Frank on 5 January 2010:
I am very interested in this issue, I suffer with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and take various different medications to alleviate the pain, In 2006 I was advised by my consultant to try a new medication ie Embrel (Etanercept) and after a number of medical checks started with the drug which I administerd myself. After 5/6 months I collapsed at home with severe abdominal & back pains. I was taken to hospital by emergency ambulance and ended in intensive care for 3 weeks with Acute Pancreatis. The Doctors blamed everything for this illness other than Embrel. I am convinced Embrel was the cause of my illness as I had never had any problems with my stomach in my life I was 65 at the time of my collapse. I now do not drink alcohol at any time and follow a strict dietary regime and have not taken Embrel since my collapse. Interestingly I had pointed out to the Doctors prior to going on this medication information that indicated there was a problem with this treatment but I was advised that everything was alright.
Comment by April on 5 January 2010:
Hi. I was 24 yrs old when I started taken enbrel. It had just come out and I was not responding to NO other treatments, that was around 2000 or 2001. It was my wonder drug and I didnt have any side effects that I remember being worth me coming off of enbrel. I was like anybody else, you wouldve never thought I had RA. Believe me before enbrel I had knee surgery’s etc. PAIN! is all I can say. In the early part of 2006 I notced a wart like thing on my elbow and tried to treat it. Time I saw my Rheumy I had several other places with small sore like things. He then thought it may be a good Idea to change to Humria, I agreed but thought it was odd seeing that I had been on enbrel for like 9 years and had never had any problems! That was not a good idea though I started taking Humria and it just exploded everywhere! I was pulled from that and was told that he thought that I was having a reaction to the TNF agent in them. I was then put on Orencia b/c it did not have the TNF agent in it, it worked off T-cells. My Rhuemy and my Dermatoligist worked on clearing me for 2 years! You name it and I tried it and nothing would work! THey were Very puzzled and finally told me I was in a small group of people who had done the same thing and because of that there was no research. I ooked like a leper and hurt and bleed it was the worst time in my life. Now the odd thing is what cleared me was something that shouldve hurt me, Remicade. It has the same TNF agent but for some reason it worked. It was the last straw, i had been on many things by then for my RA and my new Psoriasis condition. I agreed to try the Remicade under the agreeance that I would be put in the hosptial if I even looked like I was devloping a new spot. But it worked! I was thrilled and thought that my life was gonna go back to my normal! My skin cleared and is still mostly clear I do have scars that look like burns but the real isue is how my health is still out of control. I am almost 36 yrs old and in the last 2 years that I have been cleared I have had many other issues I feel is related to enbrel. My skin cleared but the rest of me has not. I now have Glacoma, and they think I have breast cancer. I was told by my surgeon too have double mastectomies, and that i could never really fight a cancer. Oh and I dont absorb vitamin D anymore my level is a 13. I am dark skinned, have a tanning bed and a pool so it is not from a lack of light. I would love to talk to anyone that is having the same problems. Thanks April
Comment by Leslie on 6 January 2010:
I statrted taking Enbrel in 1999, for Psoriatic Arthritis. In 2008 I was diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma. The canver was removed along with 22 lymph nodes, and then a year long interferon treatment. Now the doctors will not prescirbe Enbel because they say it will bring the cancer back… so I am receiving no treatment and am in a lot of pain. I am wondering if others have had this happen?
Comment by Rachel on 17 January 2010:
I have psoriatic arthritis I was in so much pain I couldn’t move my hands. I tried other medications before my doctor put me on Enbrel after a few weeks I felt great started going to the gym 5 days a week. Nine months later i was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, no cancer runs in my family and my symptoms only occur it 20% of cancer patients. I was immediately taken off Enbrel and told they would not prescribe it for me again. My cancer was caught early and at 45 I had to have a mastectomy I am doing well now but my arthritis is bad I can’t stand it. I would never go back on Enbrel is does cause the reoccurrence of cancer.
Comment by rdizzy on 17 January 2010:
Linda- you cannot get arthritis in your eyeball.
Comment by Ryan on 17 January 2010:
Susan- Ive had RA for the past year and a half and the anti-biotics did absolutely nothing for me except mess up my stomach badly. Id never reccomend them to anyone for Ra treatment.
Comment by lora on 19 January 2010:
I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis July 2008. In six hours time I became paraglegic. I was on Enbrel approx 2-3 yrs…weekly injection. I was not aware that neurological disorder could mean a healthy person could become paraplegic in six hours. I have psoriasis since age 12 and psoriatic arthritis age 29. Over the years my small joints (fingers, toes) have become mutated. Reumatologist suggested Enbrel. Transverse Myelitis is a very rare neurological condition. I have always wondered if anyone else had a similar story. I see that they do. What I have is very similar to MS, only without recurring attacks.
Comment by Brenda on 20 January 2010:
I am 51. I have RA which did not respond to even high doses of methotrexate, so my Rheumatologist put me on Embrel. It worked really well for my RA, but after about a year, I started having infections. I would quit taking Embrel until the infection cleared up, then after a dose of Embrel the infection would come right back or another one would develop. In effect, I wasn’t getting any benefit from the drug at this point. Also, I lost my ability to run a fever when I get an infection, which not only severely inhibits my ability to fight infections, it makes it almost impossible to be diagnosed with one since the first thing health care providers do is take a temp to screen for infection…no temp, no infection. I had a tooth infection that swelled the right side of my face to double its normal size with no fever, and the ER doc was reluctant to diagnose an infection because I had not fever. My PC has seen this enough times to finally believe me, but I have to keep telling other health care providers and they just don’t want to bellieve it.
After Embrel, I went on Humira for a month, but had to stop because I was developing severe allergic reactions to it. Since then I have been on Remicade with just a few minor side effects, but I would rather find a treatment form that does not list other major illnesses and/or death as its possible side effects. Anyone have any suggestions?
Comment by Jennifer on 20 January 2010:
My mom started using Enbrel for Psoriasis then developed Leukemia.
After many rounds of Chemo and months in the hospital, she died on
April 1, 2009. I just know this is related to Enbrel.
Comment by Dave on 22 January 2010:
Diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. People from work had a hard time dealing with the way my husband looked so we saught help and was prescribed Enbrel. Last may Dave was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. 7 grueling months later his Pet and Ct show no sign of disease. probable cause ENBREL. try other stuff first. Dave was able to get over his cancer but others are not so fortunate… Its so bad that a medicine that gave him such relief had to almost kill him…
Comment by Ingrid on 1 February 2010:
47 year old female, started taking ENBREL for my RA when other meds did not work. Started 11/05, by 5/06 I had severe anemia, new onset atrial fibrillation, endometrial hyperplasia (pre-cancer), had hysterectomy in 11/06. Had more heart problems due to the atrial fib. Was scheduled to have ablation and stage 3 NHL was found on the CT scan. Did R-CHOP chemo for 6 rounds. One day after finding out I was in complete remission, my heart gave out due to the chemo drugs. I had cardiogenic shock and was very fortunate to survive. Had to have pacemaker/defib put in. I am SURE all these problems are due to my taking ENBREL for 6 months.
Comment by Matt on 6 February 2010:
My dad (approx 70 years old) was prescribed embrel and took it for approximately 1 year. He developed MRSA about 2 years ago. This past week he was diagnosed with Trigeminal neuralgia (TN). I think we knew that infections could result but no one ever mentioned that MRSA was the most common ! (we had no idea how serious the infections can be). I also believe very strongly & with certainty that the Trigeminal neuralgia is directed related to Embrel. TN is a neurological disorder brought on by the deterioration of the myelin sheath protecting certain nerves. It has been put on record that Embrel can definately cause neurological problems…including deterioration of the sheath protecting the nerves. Certainly it would have been nice if we knew more about this earlier. While it’s been noted that TN is somewhat treatable (we’ll see), it does cause very sharp/electric shock type pain in the face and has also been labled “the suicide disease”. And what about his other nerves ? I hope you do not get it. After reading this page (I believe a lot of the conditions reported on this site/post are probably a result of taking Embrel), I’m shocked that this product has not been taken off the market – could part of this be that the drug companies are supporting our government the way they are? Everyone was begging for this product to come out sooner and now look… I don’t have RA (yet, & I pray that i don’t) and am sympathetic with the sufferers out there as you deserve to have good medicine and treatment, but I feel that good pain relief and going back to traditional medicine is the best way for RA. Keep your potassium levels and spirits up and ask your doctor about alternative medicines. I will continue to read the posts here.
Comment by Traci on 6 February 2010:
I took Enbrel on and off for several years for autoimmune vasculitis. It worked like a miracle at first, but then began wearing off quicker and we had to up both the dose and the frequency. Eventually I stopped taking Enbrel. Eight months later, after being rushed to the ER unconscious, I was finally diagnosed with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis niger, a common black mold fungus in the Southwest U.S.. (I live, however, in an urban area.)
In the ICU, I was kept sedated while the doctors battled my sepsis (multiple organ failure, muscle breakdown etc.) and discovered that the fungus had also spread to my brain. It took nearly a year of taking anti-fungal medicine and regaining strength to get better. Doctors said I had been in “grave” condition.
My recommendations? Before you go on any immunosuppressant, be checked for infections/fungus, get all vaccinations including flu and pneumonia, stop eating raw meats/seafood/eggs, and begin practicing germ avoidance. If you become very ill while on immunosuppressants, your doctor should be suspicious of possible fungal infection and treat with antifungals until the lab results come back.
I have been advised never to take any immunosuppressants, chemo, or prednisone again. Too bad the stronger black box warning by the FDA came one year after I nearly died.
Comment by Anne on 11 February 2010:
Released from hospital yesterday after 10 days of intense anti-biotic and anti-fungal therapy for what was originally suspected to be staph infection. It started in my elbow as bursitis and spread to all tissues throughout body. Infectious desease control team concluded it’s insidiuos and rapid rampage is directly linked to Enbrel. This and other products like it should be removed from the market ASAP!
Comment by DON on 13 February 2010:
taking enbel for 13 years for psoriatc arthritis 3 months ago had a cancer tumor removed from bladder going for a scope test in bladder in 1 week to see if there are anymore tumors if so doctor wants me to have keymo ??????
Comment by Anthony on 15 February 2010:
I was given Remicade and developed throat cancer. Don’t let them give it to you or your loved ones!
Comment by Linda on 17 February 2010:
took enbrel for 5 years, had surgery Dec 11 to remove a tumor on my left lung…..I’m sure it is from taking embrel.My body could not stop the cancer cells from developing.
Comment by Carolyn on 23 February 2010:
After trying every ra drug that came before enbrel, I reluctantly started it. That was January 2005. In summer of 2008, I got a terrible pain in the stomach area and under my left breast. It turned out to be fluid around my left lung, and after numerous tests and biopsies, I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. It was a terrible shock to me. I underwent six very agressive chemo treatments, and now have a year left on rituxan treatments. I was one of those people that never smoked, drank or was overweight. My dad died young from smoking cigarettes, so I was always a healthy person until ra. I only took a 25mg. injection of enbrel every other week, that was to cut costs, and I was praying it would be healthier too. That did not work for me, so to everyone out there, please be careful what you take. Sometime pain and suffering may be better!!