Etanercept (Enbrel) is a TNF blocker used to treat plaque psoriasis,
rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or
polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in specific patients. Etanercept
works by decreasing tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein produced by the
immune system to help the body fight infections. In people with autoimmune
disorders, the immune system produces too much TNF and mistakenly attacks
healthy cells.

Etanercept is FDA-approved to treat specific types of:

  * plaque psoriasis in patients 4 years and older
  * rheumatoid arthritis
  * psoriatic arthritis
  * ankylosing spondylitis
  * polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years or older.

Etanercept became an FDA-approved medicine on November 2, 1998.





  * pain, swelling, itching, or redness where the medicine was injected;
  * headache; or
  * cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to
etanercept hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips,
tongue, or throat.

**Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur.** Call your doctor right
away if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, cough, sweating,
body aches, skin sores or redness, diarrhea, weight loss, burning when you
urinate, coughing up blood, or feeling very tired or short of breath.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

  * fever, chills, flu symptoms;
  * pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
  * pain, redness, or swelling where etanercept was injected (for longer than 5 days after injection);
  * **signs of lymphoma** \- fever, night sweats, weight loss, stomach pain or swelling, swollen glands (in your neck, armpits, or groin);
  * **signs of tuberculosis** \- cough, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, feeling very tired;
  * **new or worsening psoriasis** \- skin redness or scaly patches, raised bumps filled with pus;
  * **nerve problems** \- dizziness, numbness or tingling, problems with vision, or weak feeling in your arms or legs;
  * **signs of heart failure** \- shortness of breath, swelling in your lower legs;
  * **lupus-like syndrome** \- joint pain or swelling, chest discomfort, feeling short of breath, skin rash on your cheeks or arms (worsens in sunlight); or
  * **liver problems** \- right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, yellowing of your skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to
the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Etanercept side effects (more detail)