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ee-TAN-er-sept
Patients treated with etanercept are at increased risk for infections, some progressing to serious infections leading to hospitalization or death. These infections have included bacterial sepsis, tuberculosis, invasive fungal and other opportunistic infections. Evaluate for latent tuberculosis and treat if necessary prior to initiation of therapy .
Commonly used brand name(s):
In the U.S.
Available Dosage Forms:
Therapeutic Class: Immune Suppressant
Pharmacologic Class: Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor
Etanercept is injected under the skin to reduce signs and symptoms of active arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis, such as joint swelling, pain, tiredness, and duration of morning stiffness. etanercept may also slow the progression of damage to the body from active arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. It may also be used to treat plaque psoriasis or a condition known as ankylosing spondylitis.
Etanercept is used in children over the age of 2 years for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
etanercept is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in the product labeling, etanercept is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For etanercept, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to etanercept or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of etanercept in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis below 2 years of age and in children with psoriasis. Safety and efficacy have not been established for children younger than 2 years old.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of etanercept in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have infections which may require caution in patients receiving etanercept.
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | B | Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus. |
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Using etanercept with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of etanercept. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
etanercept is given as a shot under your skin. Etanercept may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you or your child are using etanercept at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is prepared and injected.
etanercept comes with a patient medication guide. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.
Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
The dose of etanercept will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of etanercept. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
If you miss a dose of etanercept, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that etanercept is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Your body's ability to fight infection may be reduced while you are being treated with etanercept. It is very important that you call your doctor at the first signs of any infection (such as fever or chills; cough or hoarseness; lower back or side pain; or painful or difficult urination).
While you are being treated with etanercept, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Live virus vaccinations should not be given for 3 months before or while receiving etanercept.
etanercept may cause a serious allergic reaction. Check with your doctor right away if you have a rash; itching; swelling of the face, tongue, and throat; trouble breathing; or chest pain after you get the injection.
The needle cap of the prefilled syringe of etanercept contains dry natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions. Do not handle the cap if you are sensitive to latex.
etanercept may increase your risk of having a lupus-like syndrome or autoimmune hepatitis. Check with your doctor right away if you have fever or chills; general feeling of discomfort, illness, or weakness; light-colored stools; nausea and vomiting; upper right abdominal pain; or yellow eyes and skin.
Serious skin reactions can occur during treatment with etanercept. Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while taking etanercept: blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; chills; cough; diarrhea; fever; itching; joint or muscle pain; red skin lesions; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots in your mouth or lips; or unusual tiredness or weakness.
A small number of people (including children and teenagers) who have used etanercept have developed certain types of cancer. Some patients also developed a rare type of cancer called lymphoma. Talk with your doctor if you have unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness; swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, or groin; or unexplained weight loss. Also, check with your doctor right away if your skin has red, scaly patches, or raised bumps that are filled with pus.
Do not change or stop using etanercept without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes anakinra (Kineret®) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®). Using any of them together with etanercept may increase your risk of having serious side effects.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More commonSome side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More commonOther side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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