Is Enbrel Safe?
Enbrel is the brand name of a prescription medication called entanercept. Despite its effectiveness at relieving the pain and inflammation of some types of arthritis, Enbrel poses a risk of side effects.
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Explanation
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While it is safe for many patients with rheumatoid, juvenile or psoriatic arthritis, Enbrel's possible adverse effects makes the drug unsafe for others.
Types of Side Effects
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Common side effects of Enbrel include abdominal pain, loss of energy, weakness, nausea, vomiting, burning in the throat and nasal congestion, as well as itching, pain or swelling under your skin where the injection was administered. While unpleasant, these side effects do not pose any long-term health threat.
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Risks
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The greatest risk associated with Enbrel is that of an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, which can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as sepsis. Other less common risks of Enbrel include the increased risk for the onset of nerve disorders such as multiple sclerosis, shortage of red blood cells and lymphoma or cancer of lymph nodes, according to RxList.
Drug Interactions
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The arthritis medication anakinra increases your risk of developing infections while taking Enbrel, according to RxList.
Considerations
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Because Enbrel has caused fetal harm in animal studies, doctors restrict its use in pregnant women to instances when there is no safe alternative to treatment. The drug is not approved for use in children under the age of 2. If you have a history of bone marrow disorders, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, inflammation of your optic nerve, psoriasis, seizures, cancer, diabetes, diseases that suppress the immune system such as HIV, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, inflammation of blood vessels or sepsis, it is unsafe for you to take Enbrel, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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