Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications How long b4 Enbrel started working 4 you?

Thanks for your advice Janet. I've noticed already that my insomnia is getting worse. I've never been a good sleeper at the best of times!

I'm really looking forward to feeling better, (we haven't had a holday for years!), but not the reaction to the injections.....
Don't think I'll be allowed to "chop and change" about with it tho? Maybe I'd be better with the 25mgs twice weekly dose. Is that what you're on now?
I didn't know it stayed in your system so long either.

Good luck. Hope it works better for you this time. Have you got something to help you sleep?

Sue

Sorry Megan,

Just read your "Humiracle" posts. What a shame it hasn't started working for you yet

Hope it kicks in soon.

Hugs,
Sue

Hi Sue,
I take the 50 mg once weekly. I would be very surprised if your insomnia is from the Enbrel after one injection. I lready take meds for sleeping, so I really just have to deal th it. The fuuny thing I notice is how much more energy I have even though I sleep much less. I will only take it long enough to get this flare settled and then stop it. I was told this will also decrease my chance of antibodies building to this drug and then the drug no longer works. You nee to give yourself lots of time before you even think about wheather it is working for you. I really just forgot abot it for the firt three weeks, and t notice small improovements which kept getting better.

All the best Sue,
Janet

So far so good.

Hi Sue,

I was on it for 3 and 1/2 months with absolutely no results. I didn't notice a decrease in pain, however I also didn't have any side effects either. From what I understand it tends to vary for each person.

Hopefully you will be luckier with it than I was,
Jess

Hi Jess,

Sorry it didn't work for you....
I guess you've stopped taking it now? It definitely seems to vary hugely from one person to another!
Every day I seem to feel different - can't tell if it's Enbrel-related or not
I was awake most of Sunday night, in spite of sleep meds, but then spent half the following day, all last night and most of 2day asleep!
Weird!

Thanks for your reply.
Good luck,
Sue

Thanks for your advice, Janet
I take meds for sleeping as well. Now I can't stay awake, and I'm starving all the time!!! (Sigh....)
I've never heard of anyone using it the way you do, just to get thru a flare?! Was it your rheumy's idea?
Guess I'll just have to be patient....

Take care,
Sue

Hi Sue,
I am now 45 and I don't have nearly the severe pain I had in my 20-30's, but I sure get the fatique. I have the normal soreness in thenight etc,but do Ok most days. Since it causes me such insomnia, this is the apporch my docotr and I have taken. It also makes sense to only take it when I really need it ,because in most cases the effectiveness lessons due to our own bodies making antibodies . If I can take it twice a year for two month stretches I feel I win both ways. I can see when I was younger, I would have needed it all the time. I am grateful those days are over with. The last big flare was my feet about four years ago and I sure wish it had been available then. But even my feet settled on their own after a year and a half.

All The Best,
Janet


P>S
I take Neurontin at bedtime and Amit. just increased the Neurontin and I am sleeping, but then have side effects, sometimes fel like I can't win, but then think back to the years when I crawled to the bathroom, not able to stand due to S.I joints so inflammed.

Hi Janet,

Well - that all makes sense - thanks. If/when I start feeling some benefits from it I'll probably suggest cutting back on it as well 'specially if it means the effectiveness won't lessen so quickly (hopefully).
I guess the less you have to take any of this "poison" (?!) the better!? It definitely worsenes my insomnia the night I have the shot (had my 2nd last night and again didn't sleep b4 about 4.30am!) I had to inx my regular amount of Xanax (that's the only thing that seems to work for me). Not sure how long it took last time to get back to "normal". It's also difficult with the MTX, as that really knocks me around

I used to take Neurontin too but was falling asleep all the time (except at night!!)
I now take something similar called Avapro, but have to keep it to the very minimum as it does the same thing o/wise. Might try cutting it out all together soon to see if it's contributing to my daytime sleepiness. I don't think it's doing much to help anyway, the small amount I'm on.....
As you said, sometimes you just can't win

I've been having really bad probs with my feet and hands since my back surgery in Oct '05 - one of the reasons rheumy put me on Enbrel. Some days I can barely put one foot in front of the other....Hips, ankles, wrists etc. are also v sore. (Feels more like RA ATM, but apparently PsA can do that to you?) Makes driving/sitting difficult. (AS sucks!)

Good luck,
Sue

Enbrel worked for me one day after I took it.... I have just taken my thrid shot and yes I am having trouble sleeping and fatigue is sitting in, but nothing a few beers cant cure.... COCKTAILS!!!