How to Treat Psoriasis With Enbrel
Psoriasis is a chronic disease of the immune system. It results in thick, red patches of scaly skin. For mild cases, patients can use over-the-counter topical gels or prescription gels. For moderate to severe cases, doctors can prescribe phototherapy, which is exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light. Enbrel is another choice. It is a biologic medication used in moderate to severe cases of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Bilogic medication blocks the action of overactive immune cells.
Instructions
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Talk to your doctor about Enbrel before starting the medication. Your physician will test you for tuberculosis and monitor you for infections. Enbrel is an injection you take under the skin once or twice a week. For plaque psoriasis, the starting dosage is 50 mg twice a week for 3 months. After 3 months, the dosage is 50 mg once a week. For psoriatic arthritis, the dosage is 50 mg once a week.
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Learn to inject Enbrel. Your healthcare provider will show you how to inject the medication. Choose a well-lit and clean place to prepare the needle. Keep all medication in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
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Choose an injection site on the front of the thighs or on the abdomen. Avoid any bruised, scarred or red areas. Wash your hands. Remove the prefilled Enbrel SureClick Autoinjector from the carton. Wipe the skin area with the alcohol swab. Pull off the needle cap and press onto the skin to unlock the safety guard. Press and release the purple button. Wait 15 seconds and pull out. Press the area with a cotton swab.
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Dispose of the needle. Use a hard plastic container with a screw lid so the needle will not puncture it. Laundry detergent bottles or large coffee containers work well. Mark the container and contact your health care provider to find out how to dispose of the needles.
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Watch for improvement. Enbrel takes about 2 to 3 months before major changes occur. According to their website, Enbrel improves the conditions of 3 out of 4 people who use it. If you experience fever, bleeding or an infection, stop using Enbrel and contact your doctor immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
The upper back of the arm is another area to inject if someone else administers the medicine. Lightly squeeze the skin to create a taut spot for the needle.
Do not inject the needle where there are stretch marks.
Resources
- Photo Credit ClickArt by Broderbund
