Enbrel Lawsuits

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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

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Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits are being investigated for individuals who suffered unnecessary shocks, burns or other problems, often resulting in the need for additional surgery to remove the SCS.

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Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit

Do You Know About…

Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits are being investigated for individuals who suffered unnecessary shocks, burns or other problems, often resulting in the need for additional surgery to remove the SCS.

Learn More
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION

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.

Tags: Enbrel, TNF Blocker, Tuberculosis
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241 Comments

Steve
I was on enbrel for 1 year because of plaque psoriasis and it cleared me up. It was on my legs, knees, elbows etc, About 10 percent of my skin. I couldn’t afford it so I had to stop taking it and my psoriasis came back at least 5 times worse than what it was. I am covered with psoriasis and it is because of enbrel. It completely DESTROYED my life.
Nancy
My son was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis 8 months ago his elbows are fused so he can’t strighten his arms his right wrist is fused (can’t bend) we think his ankles are fusing now he has trouble walking can’t stand for more then 30 min without having to sit , he has it in his spine can bend and touch his knee’s no further . He has been on Humera for 8 months has help withpain but that’s it now the Dr wants to change to Embrel , I am afraid for him . My son just turned 21. Is there anyone else that has fused joints his Dr is just shocked how fast the arthritis is damaging his joints.
Terri
My Aunt was on Enbrel for 1 year and was diagnosed with brain cancer and died 11 months later. Now I have another friend on Enbrel for 3 years in the hospital with brain cancer.
Radames
Is there any relationship between the use of Enbrel and incidents of hearth attacks. In 2001 I was started in Enbrel to control the symptoms of my RA and in 2004 I had a hearth attack at 39. I wonder if the early hearth incident could have been caused by the use of the drug.
Theresa
My mother just passed away on June 9th. In October of 2010 she was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma of the vagina. She had been taking Enbrel for about 2.5 years prior to this to treat psoriasis. She stopped taking the injections after the cancer diagnosis. . In December 2010 she had the tumor removed and endured 33 radiation treatments, only to learn this April the cancer had metastisied to the liver, lungs, spine, and brain. She died 6 weeks later. I believe that Enbrel was the cause. Other than an occasional cold or flu, she was never ill. She died too young at 69, leaving 6 beautiful grandchildren.
JoAnne
I was wondering if anyone had filed a lawsuit against the maker of Enbrel? My husband was put on Enbrel for the treatment of psoriasis. The doctors had used all the other meds for psoriasis. He was on Enbrel for a year or so. Then he was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma and was immediately taken off Enbrel. Before he was put on Enbrel, he was a very healthy 63 year old man who was still very active. He walked from 3-6 miles every day, rain or shine. I can’t understand why this med is still on the market. Both my husband and I are afflicted with psoriasis. I was the first to be put on it after all other meds failed to control it. My story is different than my husband’s story. I was on Enbrel for 3 or 4 years and my psoriasis cleared up completely then things began to change. I had a problem with my left shoulder after a fall in 2008. My humerus bone was deteriating and my rotator cup was completely gone. The doctors suspected Multiple myaloma and immediately took me off the Enbrel. I find it strange that when cancer is mentioned then the Enbrel is abruptly stopped. I was lucky, my shoulder did not have any cancer cells after a biopsy. My health has been bad ever since I was on Enbrel. And to this day I must be extremely careful about exposure to anything that may be going around. I spent 8 days in the hospital a couple of months ago and 8 weeks of antibiotics delivered through a pic line daily. The nurses taught my husband how to do this before they would let me leave the hospital. I believe that both his cancer and my autoimmune problems are directly due to the medication Enbrel.
candi
I agree with Kay about diet and nutrition. I started using Enbrel in 2002 as a test subject getting the drug approved for use against plaque psoriasis. I continued using it until Dec of 2010. I had asked my derm about cutting back dosage because my psoriasis was practically nonexistent. He told me not to because it could return even worse than before and would be difficult to treat. On Jan 3, 2011 I wound up in the hospital ER room due to severe septis infection which the doctors said was directly resulted from my suppressed immune system due to Enbrel. Thank God I was incredibly healthy at the age of 62 because I ate well and made sure that I consumed 15 fruits and vegetables each and every day. The doctors told my husband that if I survived I would probably lose my hands and feet because of lack of blood flow to the extremities. Now, 6 months later, I am almost fully recovered with only some pain in my feet and back. I have had more than one doctor tell me that my good health prevented almost certain death. I truly believe that good nutrition played a huge part in my recovery. Stay away from processed foods and fast food restaurants! Eat little if any meat and lots of fruits and veggies. Naturally, I would never recommend Enbrel to anyone, but understand that there are those of you who feel you can’t manage your pain without it. What a choice to have to make. When the side effects are more devastating than the benefits, I feel that the FDA should step in and demand answers from the pharmaceuticals. We haven’t decided whether will will file a lawsuit yet, but I will keep you posted in the future.
APOgle
A lot of the comments are fetched out of thin air by hypochondriacs, and some who are out to gain profit, by selling their stupid diets, or unproved methods for RA. There are medical doctors who have studied and have had 4 or more years of special training in rheumatic disorders. Those are the physicians a person with rheumatic diseases should see. When you take enbrel read all the information provided to you in the box with the self deliverable medication box. Educate your self, or have the attending physician do it for you. The physician always warns you not to use the medication, when you are sick. And don’t write stupid things, that show you ignorance.
MARK
I just started taking enbrel I just don’t understand why the FDA has approved this if so many people are suffering these terrible side effects this is a very scary thing for me and now I don’t know what to do this is my first week on the medication?
Kay
Hi, Ginny, My heart goes out to you. I am a former Enbrel user, now on Doxycycline AP (antibiotic protocol). There are doctors throughout the country who specialize in this treatment. Please check Roadback.org general discussion board. There is also a video of Dr. Thomas Brown discussing his theory of mycoplasma infection as the cause of arthritis. The book describing this protocol is by Henry Scammel. Check out the comments on Amazon. Alkaline diet and checking for food sensitivities can help also. Good luck to you.
Ginny
I started using enbrel about 4 years ago, then they chnaged to Raptiva and back to enbrel I have psorisis and arthitis, I just found out 4 days ago my liver is enlarged and I have been faling a lot in my house, and my imune system is very low now. I was doing shots twicce a week and I stopped 5 months ago. I still get very itchy and have no energy at all. I am very concerened about my health now. What happened to my liver and why do I keep falling so often. I was told that one of the effects of enbrel is liver dease. Now I am scared out of my mind since I was on it for more than 4 years. Now what do i do. Still have plaque and itch and enlarged liver , low imune system..This is not good at al. I have to have more tetst done on Monday to rule out anything else. I have Hepatitis also they found out which is also another cause from enbrel. What do I do now. I have no energy and going thru health issues now. When they changed to Raptiva it was a new shot suppose to be better than enbrel then they took it off market it causes cancer I took it for 1 year. I am so scared now . I noticed I can’t be around anyone with a caold, as soon as someone is around me with a cold I get sick right away, that is my imine system bieng so low. What to do. This medication has made me Ill now and I noticed the changes a year ago and never realized it could have been the shots. How do I seek help thru a lawyer about my health now.Can someone advice me in what to do please? Thank you so much!! God Bless all that are on this medication.
Katrina
I have used Enbrel since Sept 2000; and I have not became sick , and I have pass all of my physicals this year. I can’t say anything bad about the drug; its like I don’t have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I can honestly say that Enbrel gave me my life. The life I had before I was diagnosed with RA.
Dianna
I am heart sick over the suffering this drug has caused. My mom used Enbrel for RA for 3 years before being diagnosed with oral cancer. After surgery & radiation to treat the oral cancer, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. After chemo & radiation to treat the lung cancer, doctors are now testing her for kidney cancer. She is positive that these cancers are all caused by the Enbrel. We’ve only had one doctor state that she felt it very well could have been the cause & this was not the Rheumatologist that prescribed it! Anyone have information about the link of Enbrel to any of these cancers?
ROY
Was on Enbrel 50 mg injectable for 8 years for psoriasis and noticed it clear it up to a point and then decided that I see many side effects and wante dto be removed from Enbrel. Dermo said that my psoriasis would get very bad if I stop but it did not! I now have DDD on the L5-S1 Disc of my lower back and nerve damage in my right leg causing me to be house bound and not able to walk. How do I prove to Doctors that my problem is coming from the use of Enbrel. I never had any back or leg problems until I started using Enbre Thanks Roy
J Fernandez
I have been taking Enbrel for about 6 1/2 years. I was diagnosis with ankylosing spondylitis at the age of 16. I believe Enbrel is a God send, it has given back my life. Sorry for the ones who have suffered more, because of Enbrel.
kim
I started taking embrel around Nov 2010. Since January I have been having increased s/s of numbness and tingling in my arms which I attributed to work. In February 2011 Im woke up with sudden onset numbness on the right side of my face. I went to ER thinking I was having a stroke, was dx with Bells Palsy. This April 2011 I am now having severenumbness in bilateral legs and pelvic area. I am on embrel and fear that I am having side effects. I am making a decision to stop the embrel as i am having episodes of poor balance, bumping into walls when i think i am walking straight. Thoughts? RA appr in june
Kay
Hi Everyone, I posted my Enbrel story back in March 2010, but wanted to contribute something I’ve found that has helped me. The rheumy just looks at me like I’m some sort of nut and shakes his head, but I really think changing my diet has helped tremendously. Please reasearch a vegan diet and, more specifically, a mostly raw vegan diet. This has really helped me tremendously! If you do anything, stop eating dairy and meat. I’ve researched about “leaky gut syndrome” in which undigested particles of protein get through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream. Our bodies react to these particles in attack mode and create antibodies. Inflammation occurs which causes the pain and then deformity begins. Well, I’m simplyfing the process, but I have done some experiments with this where I can literally turn off/on the pain in some joints. I now eat TONS of green salads, banana smoothies with mangoes, blueberries, strawberries, whatever I have in the house with unsweetened almond milk. Just try to keep your body ALKALINE and eat clean. This will reduce the toxic load in your body and the inflammation and pain may reduce. Hmmm… reduce RA pain with nature’s food or take a poison medicine with DEATH as a side effect? It’s worth some reasearch time! 30bananas a day.com My heart goes out to all of you.
Mary
I don’t know how I stumbled on to this page. I am 49 and was diagnosed with RA in 1985 – I was 23 and had just had my first son. Chronic progression of course led me to Enbrel which I started before there was even enough to go around – I was on the first waiting list. I was able to quit taking Methotrexate, Plaquenil, Arava, Prednisone and Lodine I had been on for years. I have had a couple bouts of tooth infections and sinusitis requiring surgery, but other than that, I have not had any side effects. However, reading all of this is surely an eye-opener and scarey. I know it has given me my life, because the few times I’ve been off of Enbrel, in a matter of two weeks, all I can do is sit and cry – can’t even pull a sheet over my shoulder. What kind of life would that be? I wonder how many people out there are like me – gained 10+ years of functional pain-free normal life? It does lower your immune system; but isn’t RA and over-active immune system gone haywire? Doesn’t it need to be lowered?
Gayle
My friend Sherry took Enbrel for 2 years for RA. She had three bouts in 2009 of MRSA. Three weeks ago, Sherry went to emergency room for severe all over pain, and flu symptoms. Pain meds were given- go home rest. 5 hours later, incoherent, cant walk and to Er.again. renal failure, cirrosis of the liver, absesses in bowel. 104+ temp, inhabation… NECROTIZING FACIITIS! All tissure taken from left arm, chest, back. Now in the burn unit, cant breath on her own, will be there for 6 months before physical therapy can be tried. Survival possibilities 20% or less. we wait and Pray. Enbrel is one bad drug. I am sorry for your losses and your pain is close to my heart. Denea, I will pray for you and your family. IF Sherry lives her life will be forever changed and some how I know that to be face to face with God might be the blessing, Gayle
Denea
My father died Jan 18th from Enbrel. That is what his autopsy and death certificate say. He had a lung infection which nobody ever found. This spread through his body and he complained of back pain. SEVERE back pain. He went to the hospital and to a workmans comp dr they told him he pulled a muscle gave him opiates and a steroid med pack. HE did not pull a muscle. The muscle and tissue from his middle back to his lower back were ROTTING away. His organs were shutting down and rotting while he was still alive. He went paralyzed shortly before death. I thank god he went paralyzed so that the god awful pain he must have been in went away. I try everyday not to be mad at him for taking this medication. His body was 93% covered with psoriasis. He was a 44 year old man, he was taken far too soon and this medication took him from me and his grandkids. Realize that when they say this medication can kill you they mean it.
Laura
I took Enbrel in 2005 for a severe outbreak of psoriasis. Shortly after taking the medication, I developed double vision. The same day I went to the ER and had an MRI. The test indicated I had a 1 cm spot on the lower part of my upper brain stem. I was immediately referred to a neurologist in fear it was cancer. Within days I began having intense headaches, my speech slurred, and I started having night sweats. I endured more MRI’s and a spinal tap. The spot could not be biopsied due the spots location and the neurologist placed me on Dexamethosone and other medications to suppress my headaches and hopefully decreasie the mass in my brain. I was terrified. I had two young children and had always been healthy other than the skin disorder. Eventually the mass shrunk and my symptoms improved. The neurologist concluded that it was an infection and could not find any cause for it other than the Enbrel. Although the double vision left, I still have problems seeing things up close which I hadn’t had a problem with before. I feel lucky I’m alive and am glad I immediately stopped taking Enbrel. I still fear, however, that it may come back or has cause some other illness that I am unaware of at this time.
lyndy
I want to thank everyone for sharing the exp/tragedy abt taking enbrel or their loved ones had taken it and died from it. I just started to take Enbrel for abt two weeks. My friend begged me to stop this drug after I shared with him some of my symptoms. He guarantee me that I will suffer from heart attack or stroke and die or sit on a wheel chair. I started to get minor headaches, runny nose, then severe pain on my left arm.I called the Enbrel and they said no patient had reported this symptoms so I thought that pain just happened. I then started to feel the pain on my right thing.I try to hold the pain back and didnt report to the Doctor. Last night I felt sick and neasea. I could barely finish a small bow of soup and had to take a rest. I almost threw up and when I got up, I almost lost my balance and fell.I m a healthy person.I work out and dance 7x a week.I hardly get a cold or flue. I am hoping my skin will clear up and I m ignoring those symptoms. Certain part of my skin is cleared up. I still have psoraisis on my back and butt eventhough it mild compares to most people. I am hoping it will get better w/i three months. I m sorry again for those or their family members suffered some kind of infection and illness. I pray for all of you.
Deena
My husband was 44 years old and suffered from severe psoriasis. He was 93% covered when he started Enbrel injections. He did the injections for approx. 1 year and then went off. The psoriasis came back and he again started the injections. After approx. 4 months, he developed back pain, which he thought was from a miss step at work. He went to the ER and was given pain meds and sent to a Workers Comp. health clinic. They gave him steriods and sent him home to wait for an MRI. Two days later, he was paralyzed from the neck down, intubated and in renal failure! 14 hours after being admitted to ICU, he died. We do not have the autopsy report yet but the doctors have told us he died of Sepsis which caused multi-organ failure, which was from and infection caused by Enbrel. While the psoriasis was really bad, he did not want to die from the “treatment’. We are talkiing about a healthy, active 44 year old man with a skin disorder! He didn’t have to die. Please, if you are taking this drug and it is not a matter of life or death, please rethink your choice. Discuss your choice with your doctor. My husband did not think he was going to die from this medication. He thought it was some sort of miracle drug because it actually cleared his skin up. So now his skin is clear and he’s dead. That’s too high a price to pay.
Gladys
I don’t know if it’s my age or what, but i’ve been taking Enbrel for almost 7yrz now. I have been getting sicker, but also have been taking more precautions. I am well aware of the side effects and they are easy for me to work around. But reading all thse comments, they make me want to tell you my story and then maybe you will see why I chose to NOT have a lawyer review and contact me. I just had my son in June 2004. A few hours after giving birth, I felt whole body pain like I’ve never experienced. I complained about it, but it was pushed aside. Two weeks later, I was in so much pain I couldn’t hold my own son. I went to the ER and was told I was suffering from Post Pardom (sp?) Depression and that it was common in new mother’s. I was given a placebo that did nothing for my pain. Finally I went to anther Dr. out of network. He took a lot of blood samples and called me a week later. I had full bodied Rhuematoid Artheritis. I went through lots of tests, x-ays, pain meds, steriods, all with a baby on my hip. He kept me going. I would look at him and think, I’m not going to let history repeat itself. My mother had RA. Playgrounds and parks, she was a spectator. I wasn’t gong to let that happen with my son. I wasn’t going to be a spectator in his life. I began Enbrel in Oct. 2004. My son was 4 months old. It was that December that I realized that I had been off the steriods long enough to see that Enbrel was working for me. I did everything the Dr.’s said. My son’s going to be 7 this year. I’m going to be 29. I have a cpl of crippled toes, but I can still keep up with the best (him). When he was 2, they said that my feet and ankles would be so crippled, I would have to walk with a cane. I told my rhuematologist, how am I gonna keep up with him in a cane? You gotta be on 3 kinds of stupid to tell me that in front of my son! I’m still getting around on my own. Like I said in the beginning, I am getting sicker as the years go by. Little sinus infections have turned into pnuemonia over the years. I’ve had more sore throats than I can count. And i’m a pro at hiding from the Dr.’s hahaha. But you know what? I am well aware of the risks. And if anything tragic does happen to me, at least I can say, I was not a spectator in my son’s life. I participated. I was there. And no matter how great the pain is to me and other’s around me, at least they can say I laughed and smiled all the way through. I am well aware of the side effects of Enbrel. I have been using it for almost 7 years. And if I get cancer tomorrow, you won’t see me suing the company. Especially when the medication has kept my RA at a stand still all these years. But to everyone else, do what you gotta do to get your paper and retribution. I for one am thankful.
Richard
I took enbrel for approximately 2.5 years for arthritis and psoriasis. My dermotalogist recomended that I change to humaria and I was on that medication for approximately 2.5 years. I retired from the Department of corrections and my psoriasis improved greatly and I stopped taking any injectable medication for psoriasis and or arthritis around February of 2007. I have now August 2010 been diagnosied with: pancreatic cancer, this has spread to my stomack, kidney, liver,small and large intestine just to name a few areas of infection. Cancer does not run in my family and I can not think of any other reason for this deadly condition other than enbrel and or humaria. I was in perfect health for most of my adult life other than the arthritis and psoriasis. I think I would rather have the skin condition and pains from arthritis than this killer cancer I have now. I don’t want to sound as sour grapes as the enbrel and humaria treatment help greatly with my psoriasis and arthritis conditions but I do not recall being informed about side effects of cancer prior to starting the treatment. I was told of many side effect to include TB but we my doctor and I did simple blood checks and annual TB testing to keep that under control.
Julie
Does anyone know if there is a class action suit against the drug company
Carrie
Started Enbrel in May of 2006… had a pulmonary emboulism in March 2006 due to an accident (most likely that or poor hospital care). Took about 5 months for it to start working. In April 2010 developed Polymyositis. Stopped Enbrel immediately. Went on huge doses of steroids and Lyrica, and CellCept. My doctor feels Enbrel caused the Polymyositis which weakens large muscle groups and involves tremendous nerve pain. We hope it is an isolated incident. Weaning off steroids still and have cut back Lyrica. Please be careful everyone.
Sandra
My experience with Enbrel ended with OPEN HEART SURGERY after 3 months of infections that would not go away. Sure could use a lawyer.
Eisy
I took Enbrel for severe plaque psoriasis and painful psoriatic arthritis in 2006. Thrilled to be on something that finally “worked”, I was on Enbrel for almost three years. I became pregnant while taking Enbrel. I went to the emergency room four months into my pregnancy and was told there was no heartbeat. Then they told me that it was a molar pregnancy and that I had developed cancer of the placenta. I was told that I could not get pregnant for a year. During this time I became unbelievably depressed, never had another child like I had wanted to. After the cancer, my immune system was so repressed that I developed double pneumonia, tested positive for tuberculosis and before that I had numerous ear infections that caused a hole in my eardrum. To this day I have permanent hearing loss. I am writing this to let those of you who praise the positive effects of Enbrel to know that any of these stories posted here CAN HAPPEN TO YOU TOO. Watch out when you hear the monotone roll-off of multiple symptoms when you’re listening to a television ad. These side effects CAN happen to ANYONE at ANY time during their treatment. Of course it’s great when symptoms start clearing up and I am in no way debating the fact that these drugs do help with the symptoms of RA, psoriatic arthritis, etc. because they surely do “work”. But if side effects include DEATH, CANCER, INFECTION, do not doubt the severity of these “side effects” They are indeed real. Is your life worth losing because the FDA doesn’t care about you or your side effects? I’ve been involved in a class-action lawsuit with the makers of the drug for years now and the FDA just informed the attorneys that there is no link between Enbrel and cancer. Absolute corruption here! There are so many cases of sudden cancers and infections and tuberculosis that should blow the FDA out of the water! But no. They are there to “protect” us. Yeah, right.
JOHN
Enbrel is just another example of the ignorance and arrogance of the FDA and Wyeth. The won’t admit that the quacks are the Allopathics(doctors and Pharmas) who continue to poison people, lowering their Immune System, even risking other diseases and death in many cases. The American public are being treated with drugs from an Industry which is corrupt and greedy. They refuse to admit that herbs, vitamins and minerals, greens, correct waters, etc work towards correcting the Immune System. I recovered from Chronic Melanoma because I took a protocol recommended by my Holistic Nutritionist. No side effects and I am cleared of melanocytes!!
donna
Hi i just stared taking embreal for my ra so far no side afects but i do get brusing from it you people are scaring me this
Ethel
I started ENBREL in November 2009 started to fall then in April couldn’t climb the stairs.Dr took muscle Biopsy found out I have POLYMYOSITIS.I later had a migraine like headache.He took me off the Enbrel.I am not albe to walk with out a cane.I know the Enbrel had something to do with it because he stopped it right away.I just thank God for each day.Since june2010my life is changed.
Cindy
My son was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis Feb 2010. Dr perscribed Humira. He took 3 shots and broke out in small red spots. Humira was stopped. He then broke out with psoriasis on his arms and chest. Embrel was started and the psoriasis spread quickly all over his body. He took 7 shots of embrel. He has psoriasis on 95% of his body now. He has never had this nor anyone in my family until the Humira. The Embrel caused a worse outbreak after the 7 injections. I called Embrel and they told me in some rare cases the Embrel worsens this condition. He is now seeing a specialist who says in all his years he has never seen this before nor this severe. My son is 28 years old. The psoriasis is so bad it bleeds and hurts so bad he cant close his hands to make a fist. He sleeps very little because of the pain from the places all over his body. New places are breaking out daily. He is on another type of medication now that makes all his body feel like it is on fire. Anyone else ever had this happen??
Mike
I used Enbrel for 1 year. I experienced headaches for several months, and eventually double vision and MS sypmptoms and severe migraines. Thankfully I have almost recovered my vision, but still have some difficulties. Be careful if you take this drug.
Leslie
This post is for Michelle the RN who posted on 8 November 2010. I’ve had RA for 11 years. You write in your post you wish you could contact every person adversly touched by Enbrel and offer them an alternative solution to their physical pain. What a better way to start by posting some of those alternative solutions on this post! Or, is it because you are not an MD and the real solution is for each one of us to take an active role in our health and discuss all options with our MD.
Traci
I took Enbrel for over a year for autoimmune vasculitis and then stopped because my sinusitis wouldn’t clear up. EIGHT months later, no longer on Enbrel, I developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis niger (black mold fungus common to the U.S. southwest) that spread to my brain and nearly killed me. Doctors later told me I had been in grave condition. Prior to me being hospitalized and intubated in the ICU, I had had NO lung or breathing symptoms; only complaint was a bad headache and feeling flu-like. A dangerous fungal infection CAN spread through your body without warning if you are immunosuppressed or were previously on drugs like Enbrel. Treatment continued for six months and recovery took a year.
Michelle
Enbrel suppresses your immune system, plain and simple. It is difficult to fight any disease, illness or infection with a suppressed immune system in our toxic environment. I have been a nurse for 33 years and have seen this in the ICUs I have worked in and in the ER where I currently work. I wish I could contact every person adversly touched by Enbrel and offer them an alternative solution to their physical pain.
Jackie
I want to thank ALL of you to sharing your stories about Enbrel…I am 60 and recently diagnosed with RA…Have the pain, hate the prospects with RA…..But those prospects aren’t nearly as awful as the suffering discribed above….thank you for your honesty and suggested Alternitives….I’ll be trying those and NO ENBREL for me!!!!!
elizabeth
I was on Enbrel for nine years and developed a cough. I have been diagnosed with severe cronic asma . I never drank or smoked in my life.
Susanne
My husband began taking Enbrel for RA in the spring of 2004 and was diagnosed with lymphoma in Oct. 2008 – less than 2 months after the black box warning. He died in March 2009 at the age of 63. We were told at the cancer center that his cancer was caused by Enbrel. Although in 2004, we thought it was a miracle drug because we thought it gave him his life back, I now realize it is a drug from Hell. Had we known the adverse effects, we would have searched for alternative treatments and not been so blindly led by his physician. We were lulled into thinking that because his RA was responding to the Enbrel, that everything must be alright – when in fact, it was causing havoc beyond belief. No patient should have to endure what he did before his death. If considering this medication, ask yourself – are the risks worth it or is there something else that may be less risk? For us, the risk was not worth the cost we paid. I cannot change what happened, but I will do whatever I can to inform people about this hazards of this drug.
Tommy
I was diagnosed with RA in May of this year. I have taken six Enbrel injections so far and the injections seem to be working and I have experienced no side effects whatsoever. I had a long talk with my primary physician before taking and he says that I am young enough and healthy enough that I should not have any problems with taking Enbrel. I am 35 years old and would like to continue taking the medicine because I can see that it works but reading these comments makes me wonder if I should just quit while I am ahead or continue taking Enbrel and hope nothing goes wrong. I will surely speak with my doctor again about this issue.
mary
Suzanne, visit kickAS.com or SSA in alternative treatments. AS can affect the ribs, as well as just about any where else. SSA has a list of all that can be affected…
Suzanne
I have been taking Enbrel for 3 years to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis. For a little while now I have been considering coming off the treatment. Recently after a mamogram and U/S it was determined the pain in my ribs was from arthritis.I have a sense that we don’t know what’s really going on yet. I just wonder with increasing black box warnings that the pro’s don’t outway the cons. I am researching alternative and nutrional ways to control systemic inflammation. All this information just isn’t good. I’m 42 with 3 children and am inclined to trust my instinct. Any advice on alternatives would be great.
Paris
I have read over a hundred posts today. I am torn whether to continue with my treats. I too was diagnosed with a cancer. Squama cell cancer of the rectom. It’s been almost three years and i’m truly blessed. IT has not returned. My psoriasis soooooooooo painful and sore. The Embrel does make it better. I’ve been off Embrel for about 4 weeks and the psoriasis is getting in full bloom. I had to stop for TB test and Insurance approval. It seem that so many people end in tradegy. But what are we to do, live in pain so bad that you can’t stand it, or take the meds that end life quicker……….WHAT SHOULD WE DO!
Susan
Dawn, I did read somewhere that Enbrel users may contract MS but it also said that the symptoms usually subside when Enbrel use is discontinued. I hope that happens in your case.
Dawn
I just wanted to share something brief with everyone so you would be made aware: It’s not completely 100% possitive yet, but it just about is, but I am believed to have Multiple Sclerosis. I sure have all of the symptoms and I am SO sick! Anyway, I couldn’t swear to it yet but I’ve been doing a lot of research and I’ve learned that it’s a good chance that it could have happened caue of the Enbrel! I was amazed at how many other people out there were experiencing the same symptoms as me, and some had the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis Well that’s it, I just thought you all should know about this.
Ivania
My husband started on Enbrel on January of 1999 for Rheumatoid Arthritis and was on Enbrel until January of 2006. He was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2003. He stopped using Enbrel because he always said Enbrel made his lungs sick. He was diagnosed with a fungal disease called Aspergillosis in January 2007. I could go on for days talking about Pulmonary Fibrosis but all I want the world to know is that Enbrel took my husband’s last breath away. That devastating disease took the life of my husband, father of 3 and grandfather. I am not going to rest until Enbrel taken away from the market. Noone deserves to go through what my husband went through.
rjl
Does anyone have information on Enbrel and kidney cancer?
Bea
I’ve been taking enbrel since 2003. Before enbrel, I was in severe pain, could not walk or use my hands. Yes there are side effects, but who wants to live in a wheelchair? Who wants to cry everytime someone touches you or you need to get washed or dressed? Anytime you take any medicine it can cause trouble, but in the case of RA, you have NO CHOICE. Right now the enbrel has stopped working for me. I hope my RA doctor steps me up to Humira, yes even with all the possible problems it can cause. I don’t want to live this way,in constant pain. Frankly, it’s not living. I live with my son or I would not be able to live alone. He would never sue the drug companies for something I agreed to take. He knows it is the drugs, with or without side effects, that have given me some kind of a life and has reduced the pain to a level I can live with. You all need to stop complaining and face the facts…without these new drugs many of us would have no life at all. Cancer is a risk with lots of over the counter drugs…so may I suggest you take nothing…and end up in a nursing home…it’s your choice…take responsibility for it. No one gave you RA, so it’s up to you..grow up people.
Patricia
I feel bad about writing in on one hand because I am not in as bad shape as some of you are and yet I know how hard it has been dealing with my situation; so I know some of you have it so much worse. But this has helped me see that there is a problem with these drugs and it is definitely not just me. I also hope that by all of us sharing our experience that other people might have a little more information to make decisions about the medicines that they take. And even if you are not having trouble with enbrel or the other similar drugs at this time, be sure to go off of enbrel if you get an infection – also ask your doctor to check to see if your immune system is low. I am now 60 years old and I took enbrel for 5 years without any problems. I started taking enbrel for psoriasis in 2003. It was really bad in my scalp, on my legs, and beginning to be on my arms and torso. When I started taking it in 2003 they did not warn me – maybe they did not know yet – about the infection risks. It cleared the psoriasis up in my scalp and mostly on the rest of my body, but not on my legs – which I could live with. But in 2008 I got a sinus infection and it just would not go away. It caused a horrible coughing. My GP knew I was taking the enbrel but I guess he did not realize that it caused those problems. And I did not have an appointment with the Dermatologist until later in the year. After several months of antibiotics and not getting any better, my GP sent me to an ENT, pulmonologist, and allergy/asthma doctors; After about 8 months one suggested that I stop taking the enbrel. I then had a sinus surgery; more antibiotics and the cough and sinus infection would not go away. A year ago they finally did a culture of the sinuses and found that I had a staff infection (not mersa). More antibiotics, another sinus surgery and I still had the staff infection in my sinuses. About 9 months ago they found that my immune system was low and that was one reason that it would not get better, so I am now on an infusion of vivaglobin – blood plasma with antigens to build up my immune system. I give it to myself 2 times a week – it takes about 2 hours each time. I still have an infection; my cough is better – still there because of the drainage. I am now starting on a nebulizer for the sinuses that I will do 3 times a day – 5 minutes each- for 3 weeks. It has 3 meds that you put in it that will go directly into the sinus area. One is for the staff infection and one is for a pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and a steroid for the swelling. This sounds very promising since the antibiotics go right to the sinuses. So I have been dealing with this for 2 years and it is still on going. I don’t know how much enbrel had to do with my problems with sinus infections and coughing – but I do feel like there is a correlation, especially after reading some of your remarks.
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