Enbrel (etanercept) works by decreasing a certain protein produced by the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight infections. In people with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakes the body’s own cells for invaders and attacks them.
You should not use Enbrel if you are allergic to etanercept, or if you have a severe infection such as sepsis (infection of the blood). Some people using Enbrel have developed a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma (cancer). This condition affects the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and it can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young adults using Enbrel or similar medicines to treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. However, people with autoimmune disorders (including psoriasis) may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.
Before using Enbrel, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.
FDA pregnancy category B. Enbrel is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether etanercept passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Enbrel without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Children using this medication should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment with Enbrel.