Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications Enbrel - site reaction

It's been 2 days since my Enbrel injection and after about 24 hrs I developed a site reaction the size of my fist on my thigh. This is my 5th injection and it seems that with every additional injection I develop a more severe reaction. It's very hard and extremely hot to the touch. I called the Enliven support line and the nurse told me to trace around the swelling and see if it grows on the hour. She also told me to make sure there was no red line leading to a vein because if there were, It could mean sepsis. So far, it hasn't grown or spread in size but it's still quite big, uncomfortable, and hot to the touch.

I've been icing it and putting Benalyn cream on it (Can't take Benadryl orally because it gives me major heart palpatations - Great!) but it's not doing much.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice and wondering if anyone else has experienced this before. Should I bother seeing a doctor about it, or does anyone have any home remedies they could recommend?

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Sera.

Hi Sera, I'm sorry you're having a site reaction. I know others here have experienced something similar. I would consider checking with your rheumatologist about it, just in case. There might be something other than the benadryl you can do for it.

I hope it isn't toooooo uncomfortable.

Hugs,

the enbrel support line is overreacting a bit.

40 % of the people who do enbrel have injection site reactions...i had one that was really
really really really ugly...back in the beginning...lasted for about two months- purple,
red, blue, yellow, ochre.

and sometimes every old site lights up for some reason.

isr's are ugly but unless there is an infection of some sort inconsequential.

if you're doing the 50ml ONCE A WEEK shot...there is a slight chance you have
a sensativity to latex...the needles for the premixed 50 have a preservative and the
needles are latex coated, because the preservative is corrosive...the preservative
is also the reason the shot stings...
they still make the 25ml kits for TWICE A WEEK shots and you mix the stuff up
yourself---NO preservative, no sting, no latex coating.

my rheumy said two things about isr's: 1. amateur needle jockeys bruise themselves
with the needle until they get experience with the shots...and 2. it's a sign your body
is indeed reacting to the med.

good luck
keep shooting

Yeppers, I got those.
One word - AERIUS. Other antihistamines just knock me out or give me weird reactions. Try that one.
Also topical corticosteroid cream helped a bit.

I went to the doc's to get it looked at because it seemed to be getting worse. It turned out to be an infection so they gave me some antibiotics to take (joy...more meds to take!)

Megan, thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind for the next site reaction

Sera.

Oh jeez. That's no good. Good on you for getting it looked at quickly - good instincts. Did your doc recomment you skip a shot or two until the infection is under control?

Wow glad you got it checked out! I get reactions every week. Big ugly red blotches, raised, hot and itch so bad!!! Twice I must jabbed wrong because I got even uglier black and blues, well more black and yellow.

I plan on talking to my dr about it because on Friday last week I got three or four raised bumps before I got the red blotch. They went away quick but I'm worried about the latex now. Let us know how you're doing!

Sera, I'm glad you got it checked and are being treated. Good call on your part. Hopefully, going forward things will be easier.

Hugs,

Hello all,

Thanks for all your well wishes. After my last post and a hearty dose of oral antibiotics, my leg continued to worsen. My husband insisted I go back to get it looked at because I was feeling really off. Luckily, the hospital took me in right away because I was pale and running a temperature. The doctor said it was cellulitis, some kind of bacterial infection. They hooked me up with some IV antibiotics for about an hour and set me up with some home care for 5 days of IV infusion (thank God for Canadian health care!)It's been a rough few days, but tonight the nurse removed my IV (Yipee!). I can finally bath myself (although I must say, it was kind of nice having my husband do it!!) I have to resume the oral antibiotics and stop taking my Enbrel injections until I'm done with the other meds. I'm not sure that I want to continue with the Enbrel, I'm a bit nervous that the same thing will happen again. I'm waiting for my rhemy to get back and get his input. It's funny, while I was on the IV antibiotics, I felt no pain. It was the first time in a long while that I wasn't taking any form of pain relief; no nsaids, tylenol arthiritis, or percocet's. I wonder why that is but I think it's worth mentioning to the doc. Anyway, I've babbled long enough but I had Kick AS withdrawal and needed my fix!

Sera.

Sera, wise move on the Enbrel cessation and good idea to talk to your rheumy. As for feeling better on antibiotics, a few people have mentioned this before. It's definitely worth mentioning to your rheumy. This article in PubMed might be interesting for you.

Hugs,