How is it used?

Before taking

While taking

Warnings

Pending revision, the material in this section should be considered in light of more recently available information in the MedWatch notification at the beginning of this monograph.

Etanercept is used to relieve the symptoms of certain autoimmune disorders (conditions in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body and causes pain, swelling, and damage) including:

• rheumatoid arthritis (condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) alone or in combination with methotrexate (Rheumatrex®, Trexall®)
• psoriatic arthritis (condition that causes joint pain and swelling and scales on the skin)
• juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA; swelling of the lining of the joints that begins in children younger than 16 years of age)
• ankylosing spondylitis (a condition in which the body attacks the joints of the spine and other areas causing pain and joint damage),
• chronic plaque psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body)

Etanercept is in a class of medications called tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. It works by blocking the activity of TNF, a substance in the body that causes inflammation

Etanercept injection comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled syringe, an automatic injection device, and as a powder to be mixed with a provided liquid. Etanercept is injected subcutaneously (under the skin). It is usually injected once or twice a week. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use etanercept exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If you are using etanercept injection to treat chronic plaque psoriasis, your doctor may start you on a high dose of medication and decrease your dose after 3 months when your condition is controlled.

You will receive your first dose of etanercept injection in a doctor's office. After that, you can inject the medication yourself at home or have a friend or relative perform the injections. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you or the person who will be performing the injections how to inject etanercept. Read the written instructions that come with etanercept before you inject the medication.

You can inject etanercept in the front of your thighs, the outer part of your upper arms, or your stomach, except your navel and the area 2 inches (5 centimeters) around it. To reduce the chances of soreness or redness, use a different site for each injection. Do not inject into an area where the skin is tender, bruised, red, hard, or where there are scars or stretch marks. If you have psoriasis, do not inject into skin that is red, thick, raised, or scaly.

Always look at etanercept solution before injecting it. Check that the expiration date has not passed and that the liquid is clear and colorless. The liquid may contain small white particles, but should not contain large or colored particles. Do not use a syringe or dosing pen if it is expired or if the liquid is cloudy or contains large or colored particles.

Vials of etanercept injection may contain enough medication for more than one dose. You may store a vial of etanercept injection for up to 14 days after you mix it if there is enough medication remaining for a complete dose. However, you should not combine the contents of two or more vials of etanercept injection to make a complete dose. You also should not mix any other medications with etanercept injection.

Do not reuse needles, syringes, or automatic injection devices. Dispose of used needles, syringes, and devices in a puncture-resistant container. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to dispose of the puncture-resistant container.

Etanercept injection will help to control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to use etanercept injection even if you feel well. Do not stop using etanercept without talking to your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

This information being provided is copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., ASHP, Bethesda, Maryland.
©2009. All Rights Reserved.

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