What Is Etanercept Used For?

Etanercept is used to help relieve the symptoms of several inflammatory conditions that affect the joints and skin. These conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, among others. Although etanercept cannot cure these conditions, it can help to prevent future damage from occurring. Possible off-label uses for etanercept include treating Wegener's granulomatosis and inflammatory skin conditions.

Etanercept (Enbrel)

Etanercept Uses: An Overview

Etanercept (Enbrel^®) is a prescription medication licensed to treat certain inflammatory conditions that affect the joints or skin. Specific uses for etanercept include the treatment of:

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.

When treating rheumatoid arthritis, etanercept is also approved to be used with methotrexate (Rheumatrex^®).

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of rheumatoid arthritis that begins in childhood. With this disease, the immune system begins to attack the body (including the joints), causing pain. Other juvenile rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include:

Unexplained rashes
Fever
Swollen joints
Tiredness.

Etanercept is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. "Polyarticular" means that the arthritis affects five or more joints.

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