What Is Etanercept Used For?

Some people may wonder, "What is etanercept used for?" Etanercept may be prescribed to help relieve the symptoms of several inflammatory conditions that affect the joints and skin. These conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Although etanercept cannot cure these conditions, it can help to prevent future damage from occurring.

 

What Is Etanercept Used For?

Etanercept (Enbrel®) is a prescription medication licensed to treat certain inflammatory conditions that affect the joints or skin. Specific etanercept uses include the treatment of:
 
Etanercept for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that for some reason the immune system mistakes a person's own cells as invaders and attacks them, causing damage. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, scientists still do not know the cause or causes of rheumatoid arthritis.
 
There are many rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, including chronic pain, along with tender, warm, and swollen joints. Etanercept is approved to treat the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, along with preventing future joint damage.
 
For rheumatoid arthritis treatment, etanercept is also approved to be used with methotrexate (Rheumatrex®).
 
Etanercept for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of rheumatoid arthritis that begins in childhood. In juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system begins to attack the body (including the joints), causing pain. Other juvenile rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include unexplained rashes, fever, swollen joints, and tiredness.
 
Etanercept is approved to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate-to-severe polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. "Polyarticular" means that the arthritis affects five or more joints.
(What Is Etanercept Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;