While I don't have personal experience with Enbrel, there is a 5 year +
study out there for Enbrel + Methotrexate, and the resuls are quite
positive for it. The ones given Enbrel + Methotrexate had less damage,
were felling better, and in some cases the damage was even partially
reversed.  If she can tolerate it, it's one of the best medications for
the rheumatoid arthritis available.

It's a very different set of results than with just Methotrexate alone
where you see a steady decline over the same period.

Probably very few people pay directly for this drug even in the USA. It is
paid by insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield or else by the
Federal government under the Medicaid or Medicare programs. Others of us
here would be out of luck or have to take some other medication.  Was there
any special paperwork to get your national health service to OK the use of
this medication?  8000 pounds a year is pretty cheap compared to what some
chemotherapy or HIV drugs can cost in America.

I took Enbrel for a year and half for rheumatoid arthritis.  I'd already
failed MTX and Arava, so my case could be considered moderately severe.
Up until the last six months, it worked great.  Then the drug started to
fade, which happens to some people.  Normally at that point, MTX or Arava
would be added back into the mix, but I can't take either.  I've just been
switched to Humira (adalimumab), probably on a once-a-week schedule as
it looks like the injections have been lasting about 10 days for me instead
of the full 14 days.  

The biggest pain with Enbrel is preparing it for injection.  It has to be
mixed on the spot and absolutely _cannot_ be shaken as that will cause
the antibodies to lyse.  The drug powder has to be gently swirled to
dissolve it (both the instruction booklet and the video strongly stress this).
The injection itself is just a subcutaneous injection.  You just have to
make sure you don't hit a blood vessel.  It's really no big deal at all.

The drug must be kept cold, but absolutely cannot be frozen.  That will
ruin it.  I suggest you get a thermometer for your refrigerator if there
isn't a digital one built into yours already.

Most of the patients who take monoclonal antibody drugs have found it's best
to buy a small refrigerator that's dedicated for their medication.  It's
easier to control the temperature because it won't be opened and closed
as often.  Here in the US, a small compact fridge can cost as little as
$100 for a good one that will hold a steady temperature.  It seemed worth
it to me for a drug that costs US$1100 a month, especially since I was
storing 3 months supply at a time in there.  The Humira obviously takes
up a lot less space, as there are half as many injections given, but the
small fridge is still a good idea.