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for Rheumatoid Arthritis 
About 1.3 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moderate to severe RA is a lifelong condition that causes your joints to hurt and swell. Take a few minutes to learn more about what moderate to severe RA is in the information that follows.
Your immune system is designed to help protect your body from many harmful things. But if your immune system doesn’t work right, it can make you sick. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, cells from your immune system move into your joints. These cells make several proteins that can cause swelling and pain. One of these proteins is called tumor necrosis factor, or TNF. Too much TNF may lead to inflammation. Inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis is what causes the pain, swelling, and damage of your joints over time.
See what ENBREL does in response.Most people with rheumatoid arthritis feel pain and stiffness in the morning. But there are other signs and symptoms of RA as well. Some people have joints that feel warm and/or feel swollen. Others notice that it gets harder to move around and do daily activities. In general, many people with rheumatoid arthritis also feel tired.
If you feel joint pain from your rheumatoid arthritis, it may mean your joints are being damaged. However, joint damage can also continue to occur even when your pain is controlled with pain medication. Without an appropriate treatment for RA, damage can get worse more quickly. Notice how a healthy joint compares to a damaged joint.
Learn how biologic treatments help stop further joint damage.Anyone can get rheumatoid arthritis, but more women do than men. In fact, women are 2-3 times more likely to have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis than men. RA usually begins between the ages of 45-64.
Rheumatoid arthritis can get worse quickly. If your joints hurt, it could mean your joints are also being damaged. However, joint damage can continue to occur even when pain is controlled. This damage cannot be undone. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor and find the best way to manage your condition.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis can be tricky because each person with RA is affected differently. It does, however, have some common signs and symptoms:
Joint stiffness—particularly in the morning (that lasts more than 30 minutes)
Joint pain
Joint swelling (often seen in the hands)
Weakness
Tiredness
Your doctor will look for these signs and symptoms to help diagnose you. He or she might also do blood tests and X-rays to look for other signs of RA. If you feel joint pain, it may be a sign of ongoing joint damage. Joint damage from RA is permanent and can’t be undone. When RA first starts, symptoms often affect the smaller joints, like the joints in your hands and feet. As time goes on, symptoms often move to your other joints—knees, ankles, spine, and jaw. Also, pain tends to affect the same joints on both sides of the body.
Track your symptoms.See our latest commercial, and meet Erin: living with moderate to severe RA and being her true self.
*Actor Portrayal
Living Well With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Brandy enjoyed an active lifestyle until her rheumatoid arthritis (RA) worsened as an adult. That’s when Brandy’s doctor prescribed ENBREL, which she’s taken for 20 years. Watch how ENBREL helped Brandy as a special education teacher, grandmother, and advocate for the RA community.
Brandy enjoyed an active lifestyle until her rheumatoid arthritis (RA) worsened as an adult. That’s when Brandy’s doctor prescribed ENBREL, which she’s taken for 20 years. Watch how ENBREL helped Brandy as a special education teacher, grandmother, and advocate for the RA community.
Use this simple guide to help your doctor understand how your moderate to severe RA is impacting your life, and ask whether ENBREL is right for you.
Download the Doctor Discussion Guide »
Joint pain can be a sign of permanent joint damage. Use the Joint Damage Simulator to see how joint damage can get worse over time.
View the Joint Damage Simulator »
STATWISE™ is a mobile-based symptom tracking tool designed for people living with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Discover STATWISE™ »ENBREL is a medicine that affects your immune
ENBREL is a medicine that affects your immune system. ENBREL can
lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections
have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and
infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria
that have
What is the most important information I should know about ENBREL?
ENBREL is a medicine that affects your immune system. ENBREL can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Your healthcare provider should test you for TB before you take ENBREL and monitor you closely for TB before, during, and after ENBREL treatment, even if you have tested negative for TB.
There have been some cases of unusual cancers, some resulting in death, reported in children and teenage patients who started using tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers before 18 years of age. Also, for children, teenagers, and adults taking TNF blockers, including ENBREL, the chances of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Patients with RA may be more likely to get lymphoma.
Before starting ENBREL, tell your healthcare provider if you:
What are the possible side effects of ENBREL?
ENBREL can cause serious side effects including: New infections or worsening of infections you already have; hepatitis B can become active if you already have had it; nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes; blood problems (some fatal); new or worsening heart failure; new or worsening psoriasis; allergic reactions; autoimmune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis.
Common side effects include: Injection site reactions and upper respiratory infections (sinus infections).
In general, side effects in children were similar in frequency and type as those seen in adult patients. The types of infections reported were generally mild and similar to those usually seen in children.
These are not all the side effects with ENBREL. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. ENBREL can be taken with methotrexate or used alone.
Psoriatic Arthritis
ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. ENBREL can be used with or without methotrexate.
Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
ENBREL is indicated for chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) in children 4 years and older and adults who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (ultraviolet light).
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
Moderately to Severely Active Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children ages 2 years and older.
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