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Etanercept
What is Etanercept?
This medication is used to treat arthritis in adults and help reduce the pain in the joints that are caused by arthritis.
How to take this medication.
This medication is injected under the skin. You must inject 25 milligrams twice a week into the skin. When this medication is used on children the minimum amount to be injected into a child’s skin twice a week would be 0.4mg. It is not safe to use any larger dose them this on a child it could cause a serious reaction. This medication should not be used in children under the age of four. This medication can be injected in your thigh, stomach or upper arm, pick a different spot each time to prevent soreness of the skin. Do not use the same spot twice, and also do not use an in a spot that is tender or red. Never throw this medication in the trash put it in a puncture resistant container that you can get from your doctor or pharmacist. Before taking the meds be sure to clean the skin and wipe it with an alcohol swab.
Food and drug interactions with this medication.
There are no known food and drug interactions that have been accosiated with this medication. But it has been known to make your immune system weak and unable to fight infection. Although even if there are no drug or food interactions it is best to tell your doctor what medications you are taking may they be prescribed or none prescribed such as vitamins and herbal products as well. If you are pregnant or think you might become pregnant talk to your doctor and ask him if it is safe for you’re to take because it is not yet known if it will cause harm to an unborn baby. It is also not yet known whether or not this medication will pass through breast milk and how it may affect the baby if it dose. So be sure to talk to your doctor about breast feeding before you start.
Side effects of this medication
The side effects of this medication are very common and are not known to be life threatening or serious but if they become bothersome be sure to tell your doctor about them to see what can be done. The side effects are as follow:
- Mild pain or itching at he sight of injection
- Head ache
- Dizziness
- Sorethroat
Special warnings about this medication:
Talk to your doctor if you have had or have any of the following illnesses for it may not be safe to take this medication with them:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Low blood counts
It is not safe to take this medications with any of this conditions because when a person has multiple sclerosis the medication might affects the muscles and cause them to collapse or become weak. Also if a person has low blood counts the injections of this medication can cause the blood to thin out and cause your blood to become to thin or too low and cause you to need a blood transfusion. Also tell your doctor if you have allergies to latex and latex products.
Overdose
If you or anyone you know has taken an overdose calls poison control immediately or go your local emergency room right away. There is no known causes of this medication causing death if taken as an over dose but it could be possible. Call poison control and then an ambulance if this medication has been taken as an over dose in a child because in a child death is likely to occur.
How to store this medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in and keep it tightly closed away from children and animals. Store the powder in the refrigerator but do not allow it to freeze. Once you have added water to the powder you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. If any of your medication becomes outdated take it to your pharmacists and ask him to dispose of it for you.
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