Some etanercept warnings and precautions to be aware of include:
Etanercept can increase your chance of infections, including serious infections. You should not start etanercept if you have an infection (even a skin infection). While taking etanercept, tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you may have any infection. Etanercept may not be the best choice for people who get frequent infections.
In rare cases, etanercept has been reported to cause certain nervous system conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), seizures, epilepsy, and other conditions. Etanercept may also make these conditions worse. Talk to your healthcare before taking etanercept if you have MS, seizures, or any other nervous system condition.
In rare cases, etanercept has caused dangerously low blood counts (including aplastic anemia). You should tell your healthcare provider about any unusual bruising, bleeding, or paleness while taking etanercept.
Etanercept can increase your risk of lymphoma (a certain type of cancer). In clinical studies, people who took both etanercept and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®) had an even higher risk of lymphoma. In general, etanercept and cyclophosphamide should not be taken together.
Etanercept can cause certain infections (such as hepatitis B or tuberculosis) that are inactive in the body to become active again. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had hepatitis B or tuberculosis before starting etanercept.
Allergic reactions can occur with etanercept. These reactions include rashes, hives, itching, wheezing or difficulty breathing, and unusual swelling. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you think you are having an allergic reaction to etanercept.
Etanercept prefilled syringes and SureClick syringes contain rubber that can cause an allergic reaction in a person with a latex allergy.
In clinical studies, people with congestive heart failure (CHF) who took etanercept had an increased risk of death. Also, worsening of heart failure and new cases of heart failure (in people that did not already have CHF) have been reported in people taking etanercept. Talk to your healthcare provider about etanercept and congestive heart failure before starting the medication.
You should not receive live vaccines while taking etanercept. Talk to your healthcare provider before receiving any vaccines while on etanercept.
Rarely, etanercept has caused lupus-like conditions or autoimmune hepatitis. Symptoms of a lupus-like condition may include an unexplained rash across the nose and checks (known as a butterfly rash) or ulcers in the mouth or nose. Autoimmune hepatitis symptoms can include: abdominal pain (or stomach pain), yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or pale-colored stools. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should talk to your healthcare provider.
Etanercept is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby. However, the full risks of using etanercept while pregnant are not known. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking etanercept during pregnancy (see Enbrel and Pregnancy).
It is not known if etanercept passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about this. He or she can help you decide if taking etanercept while nursing would be okay for your particular situation.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print