TheJude.com - Enbrel - Costs and Cautions

Costs and Cautions

Costs

I had to buy Enbrel with a prescription from my physician as an 8-pack for $1300. I have read that some people can purchase it in a 4-pack for $650. Regardless, no prescription plan is going to cover it because this is considered to be off-label use. It would have been nice to find a rheumatologist who stocks it and just get the shots as needed but I was unable to do so. Alternatively, it would have been nice if I could find somebody else who was going to try this, and go in "halfsies" but again it was not to be.

In the end, I felt it was a small price to pay to be pain-free. At $150 per shot, I think it is a bargain. Enbrel will keep in a refrigerator for up to 6 months just in case I need another shot down the road.

I'd like to pass along a special thank you to Gus Pippis and Concord Pharmacy (484) 840-2600 for helping me work out the mechanics and financial details of ordering the Enbrel.

Cautions

Enbrel is a very powerful drug. It seriously compromises your immune system. It is no wonder that the number one side effect of prolonged usage is upper respiratory infections. There have been no studies on side effects of single shots. I got a pounding headache the first two times I received an injection. The second shot also caused an injection site reaction. The whole site was very sore to the touch and achy for two days.

If you think this will work for you, it will only do so if TNF-alpha is the cause of your pain. It will not help with weakness, tingling or numbness. If you have an anatomical abnormality such as stenosis or a herniated disk which is pinching a nerve and causing pain, Enbrel will most likely not fix that. If you have a biomechanical problem such as instability which is pinching a nerve, Enbrel may not work for you. If you have a herniated or a fissured disk like me, Enbrel may work for you.

Under no circumstances should you take my word for it. The links I have provided are only the start of research, not the end. Evaluate all the data and make a decision for yourself as to whether Enbrel is right for you. You can read about my plan of attack to see how I was able to get this treatment. (NEXT->)