Etanercept is one of a group of medications called biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (biological DMARDs or bDMARDs), that is used alone or in combination with other immunosuppressant drugs such as methotrexate for the treatment of certain types of arthritis such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid psoriatic, and juvenile idiopathic.
This medicine blocks the natural substances, produced by arthritic tissues, named cytokines. These substances exist in excessive amounts in the blood and joints of patients with psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile arthritis.
The increased cytokines is responsible for causing inflammation, results in symptoms of pain, joint swelling and stiffness, and may lead to joint damage.
By blocking the cytokine called Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF), etanercept reduces the inflammation, lessens the signs and symptoms and helps stop further joint damage.
Unlike the standard antirheumatic medicines (DMARDs), etanercept 25 mg or 50 mg works relatively quickly. You may experience some relief of joint swelling, stiffness and pain within the initial 4 weeks of the treatment.
