Etanercept
Description
Etanercept is an immunosuppressive agent used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with active serious infections.
QUICK LINKS:
Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Etanercept
- Chills and fever
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Itching and skin rash
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Uses of Etanercept
What is it prescribed for?
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Chronic plaque psoriasis
Read More
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its effect is 1-2 weeks.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains effective in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before using this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to etanercept or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Active infections
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients who have an active infection or at risk of sepsis due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before using this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition
General warnings
Other medicines
Etanercept may interact with many other medicines and may cause severe adverse effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform the doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements before beginning treatment with this medicine.
Serious infection
Use of this medicine may affect the immune system making you susceptible to opportunistic infections from a wide variety of pathogens. It is advised to not use this medicine during an active infection. Use of this medicine should be discontinued after consulting the doctor if a serious infection develops.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation
Use of this medicine may increase the risk of reactivation of hepatitis b virus in patients who are chronic carriers. Close clinical monitoring is advised if the patient is identified as a carrier of the virus for several months after the use of this medicine.
Neurological reactions
Use of this medicine may cause neurological problems and exacerbate the symptoms of nervous system disorders. This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a preexisting nervous system disorder like multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome etc.
Serious allergic reactions
Use of this medicine may cause serious and life-threatening allergic reactions in some people. Discontinue the use of this medicine immediately if any allergic reactions occur.
Malignancies
Use of this medicine may cause malignancy or reactivation of a previously treated malignancy. Hence it should be used with caution and frequent clinical monitoring should be performed especially for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Autoimmunity
Use of this medicine may result in the formation of autoantibodies and may cause a lupus-like syndrome. Treatment with this medicine should be discontinued immediately in such cases.
Immunization
Use of live vaccines should be avoided while a patient is being treated with this medicine. Special precaution is advised for pediatric patients.
Hematological reactions
Use of this medicine may cause blood cell component disorders. Use of this medicine should be stopped if any serious blood cell component abnormality is identified.
Heart failure
Use of this medicine has been associated with worsening of congestive heart failure and new onset in some rare cases. This medicine should be used with caution and frequent clinical monitoring for patients who have heart failure.
Use in Children
This medicine is not recommended for use in children below 2 years of age for Juvenie idiopathic arthritis and 4 years for plaque psoriasis since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.
Missed Dose
Administer the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Corticosteroids
Live attenuated vaccines and related products
Ganciclovir
Adalimumab
Azathioprine
Disease interactions
Hepatitis B
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a history of hepatitis B infection since it causes reactivation of the infection. It is recommended to monitor patients with evidence of current or prior hepatitis B infection for signs and symptoms of reactivation. An alternative treatment option should be considered in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Infections
Use of this medicine may cause serious and life-threatening infections caused by a wide variety of pathogens. Hence, treatment with this medicine should not be initiated in a patient with an active infection. While taking this medicine, any signs and symptoms of an infection like fever, chills, sore throat, diarrhea etc should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Alcoholic hepatitis
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with alcoholic hepatitis since it may worsen the condition. Close monitoring of liver function is required in these patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Congestive heart failure
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with congestive heart failure since it may worsen the condition. Close monitoring of cardiac function is required in these patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Hematologic abnormalities
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with hematologic abnormalities since it may worsen the condition. Report any symptoms such as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, pallor to the doctor immediately. Close monitoring is required in these patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary in some cases based on the clinical condition. Discontinuation of therapy should be considered in patients with confirmed significant hematologic abnormalities.
Central nervous system disorders
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with an active central nervous system disorder as the risk of worsening of the condition is significantly high. Report any unusual symptoms to the doctor on priority. It is recommended to discontinue the use of this medicine if neurological disorders develop during the treatment course.
Tuberculosis
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients who have previously been treated for latent or active tuberculosis due to the increased risk of reactivation of the disease. Anti-tuberculosis therapy should be initiated prior to therapy with this medicine if an active infection is confirmed. Appropriate tests should be conducted for the presence of latent tuberculosis in patients.
Wegener's granulomatosis
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients who have Wegener's granulomatosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. The incidence of non-cutaneous malignancies of various types was significantly higher in patients treated with this medicine. An alternative treatment option should be considered in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
It is advised to administer this medicine under the supervision of a doctor or a trained healthcare professional. Your dose regimen and frequency of administration is likely to vary based on the condition being treated. Consult your doctor immediately if you develop any signs and symptoms of an infection.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by blocking the action of certain specific substances in the body that causes inflammation and other associated complications.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
TNF alfa inhibitors, Immunosuppressive agents, Antirheumatics
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Ebs.tga.gov.au. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 7 Jan 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.