Our body produces many substances which help in immunity. One such substance is TNF the acronym of Tuber Necrosis Factor. When the levels of TNF in our body rise Psoriasis could occur. Rheumatoid arthritis and Psoriasis arthritis are also known to have occurred due to high TNF levels. High TNF levels cause the inflammation and patches on the skin of people affected by Psoriasis. A biological drug called Enbrel checks the production of TNF and brings it down to manageable levels.

Treatment using Enbrel was seen to have given patients a more than three is to four chance of improvement within three months in studies carried out by FDA. Based on the studies FDA has accorded the approval for treating moderate to chronic Psoriasis. Enbrel is injected in the body. 50 mg twice a week is the recommended dosage for the initial three months. This has to be followed by a maintenance dose of the same quantity but once a week

Worries have been expressed in certain quarters of side effects of Enbrel. A higher dose and long term treatment could lower the ability to fight cancer and infections. The side effects observed in patients which were most common were:

• Stomach pain

• Dizziness

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Infection in the upper respiratory system

• Redness, itching, pain and swelling of the skin due to injection reaction

• Irritation of the nose or in medical terms its called Rhinitis

• Headache

Caution – Do Not Prescribe Enbrel To

• Patients with a recorded history of heart failure

• Elderly patients having an increased chance of infection

• People prone to infections with regular reoccurrence.

• Patients suffering multiple sclerosis or any other neurologic diseases

Pregnant women or nursing women should only be given Enbrel after mutual consultation between the patient and doctor.

Majority of patients have reported positively about Enbrel Treatment. However Enbrel is repoted to have caused serious infections or even fatalities in patients who were using other medications for the immune system. In an odd case even TB has been reported by patients using only Enbrel.