Bonnie,

There have been several on the newsgroup lately that have started on Enbrel
and getting very good results.  Maybe they will be along to help you with
questions.

debbie m.
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/angels1/

Hi Bonnie,,,  If you have done Methx, Enbrel will be a breeeeze for you.
Nothing to it.  Just keep it cool in you frig and shoot on a 45 degree
angle.  You will do fine.   I do.
Harv

I never injected mtx, take the pills instead, but I have found the Enbrel
shots to be much easier than I expected from what I'd heard.  It does sting
less if you let it warm up for a few minutes first and if you inject slowly
over a few seconds, but otherwise the shots really aren't bad.  Then again,
maybe my opinion is tainted by years of allergy injections.

Hi Bonnie:
I was just prescribed Enbrel but I have not started it yet. I have,
however, given it frequently when I was still working as a nurse.
It is a simple injection, depending on your dose (25 or 50 mg usually)
it will either come as a pre-filled syringe (that is the 50 mg) or as a
bottle of powder with diluent that you inject into the bottle to make
the  solution and you then withdraw the contents from the bottle with
the needle included in the dose kit. It requires refrigeration but you
need to let the solution warm up in room temperature (naturally not in
hot water or microwave) otherwise the injection will be more
uncomfortable (burns).  The injection itself is just a simple
subcutaneous injection (sub-Q) which means the fluid is being delivered
to the layer of fat just under the skin. The needle given with the kit
is the newer short variety that makes placing the needle very easy, you
do not really need to be concerned with a precise 45 degree angle
(typical of a longer needle) with a short needle. But the information
that comes with the package or a talk with your nurse may be most
helpful.

Here is THE BEST though. If you go to the company website (Enbrel.com)
and click patient support services. Call the number (888-4Enbrel I
think)  when you call they will take your name and send you a whole kit
free of how to take the drug.
I just got mine and it included a detailed instruction manual, video,
placemat for preparing the meds (with detailed pictures of where to
place your tools) and a sharps container and a bunch of other things.
Now they are sending me a travel cooler for if I am going on vacation
and need to bring my meds.
Totally worth the 3 minutes I spent on the phone.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Hi Bonnie:
I was just prescribed Enbrel but I have not started it yet. I have,
however, given it frequently when I was still working as a nurse.
It is a simple injection, depending on your dose (25 or 50 mg usually)
it will either come as a pre-filled syringe (that is the 50 mg) or as a
bottle of powder with diluent that you inject into the bottle to make
the  solution and you then withdraw the contents from the bottle with
the needle included in the dose kit. It requires refrigeration but you
need to let the solution warm up in room temperature (naturally not in
hot water or microwave) otherwise the injection will be more
uncomfortable (burns).  The injection itself is just a simple
subcutaneous injection (sub-Q) which means the fluid is being delivered
to the layer of fat just under the skin. The needle given with the kit
is the newer short variety that makes placing the needle very easy, you
do not really need to be concerned with a precise 45 degree angle
(typical of a longer needle) with a short needle. But the information
that comes with the package or a talk with your nurse may be most
helpful.

Here is THE BEST though. If you go to the company website (Enbrel.com)
and click patient support services. Call the number (888-4Enbrel I
think)  when you call they will take your name and send you a whole kit
free of how to take the drug.
I just got mine and it included a detailed instruction manual, video,
placemat for preparing the meds (with detailed pictures of where to
place your tools) and a sharps container and a bunch of other things.
Now they are sending me a travel cooler for if I am going on vacation
and need to bring my meds.
Totally worth the 3 minutes I spent on the phone.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!