Vial adapter vs. prefilled Enbrel

[nla]

After 3 1/2 years of being on the old "mix it yourself" 25 mg. 2 X a week of Enbrel, I changed last month to the pre-filled 25 mg. syringe (2 X a week also). I am on Enbrel for PA. A day or two after my first pre-filled shot I began experiencing neck pain and muscle spasms with a severe headache. I have spoken with my rheumy and Enliven Services about it....both assure me it is the same dose and there's nothing in the pre-filled syringe that would cause a reaction or increase my symptoms. While I am sure it is the most major COINCIDENCE I have ever had, I am still curious to know if anyone else has noticed any difference in how the pre-filled dose works as opposed to the old "original" method.

Thanks!
Nancy

[LoriASoCal]

Hi Nancy,
My personal feeling was that the prefilled was not as good. I think the preservative might be reducing the efficacy somehow. If I went back to enbrel I would insist on the mix it yourself, that's how strongly I feel that there was a difference. Also, the preservative stings.

[alli]

nla,
I used the mix-your-own for about 6 months before switching over to the pre-filled enbrel method. I didn't have any of the reactions that your experiencing, however, my pre-filled shots are the 50mg size. I also never noticed any change in how the medication worked for me.
Lori mentioned the preservative that is in the pre-filled ( many blame the 'sting' on this factor), and perhaps that's what is causing your problems. I would try and return to the mix-your-own......
Hope you find some answers.

[ouchyk]

Hi Nancy.

It could very well be that you had a reaction ( flare from h@ll) caused by a change in preperation...it HAS to be different otherwise the newer prep wouldn't have the sting factor..personally, I would think the preservative has something to do with it, and not so much the enbrel...or it could be your body figured out the E and it's time for an addition/subtraction or change.

Makes ya wonder doesn't it?

In any case I do hope that your feeling better. I'm always looking for reasons WHY I flare and have yet to find an answer...


Hang in there,
Karen

[nla]

Like I said, I'm sure my neck problems are just coincidental to changing my Enbrel. One of the women I work with actually mentioned the "timing" to me and it made me think. Thanks for everybody's input. Karen's right...I most likely will never figure out what caused this flare. I have been lucky thus far, I suppose...it's never hit me this hard, this quick.

Nancy