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What is Enbrel?

Enbrel (generic name etanercept) belongs to a class of rheumatoid arthritis drugs that block a protein involved in the inflammatory process (tumor necrosis factor). Enbrel is used to treat the following chronic inflammatory diseases:

Ankylosing spondylitis (spine and sacroiliac joint):Reduces the signs and symptoms.

Plaque psoriasis (skin):Treat adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (joints):Reduce the signs and symptoms for patients who have had an inadequate response other arthritis medications.

Psoriatic arthritis (skin and joints):Reduces the signs and symptoms, and maintains remission.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA):Used in combination with methotrexate, reduces the signs and symptoms, stops the structural damage, and improves the physical function.

Enbrel is usually prescribed when other rheumatoid arthritis medications don't work or aren't well tolerated. Enbrel is sometimes prescribed with methotrexate, another rheumatoid arthritis drug,

Your doctor gives you Remicade by injection. The dose and frequency of your injections depends on your medical condition and how you respond to the drug.

Sources:
ENBREL Prescribing Information. http://www.enbrel.com. Last accessed 11/17/2007.
Drug Facts and Comparisons, Facts & Comparisons, 2006.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.
Bathon, Joan M. “A Comparison of Etanercept and Methotrexate in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis”.The New England Journal of Medicine. 343 (2000).
Mease, Philip J. “Etanercept in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis: a randomised trial” The Lancet. 356 (2000).
Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/. Last accessed 11/22/2006.

This answer prepared 1/25/2001.
This answer updated 1/15/2007.