Friday, December 17, 2010 brian asks

Q: are there secondary /unusual uses for injectable enbrel.i just caught my wife of 17yr.abusing presc.pills.she also had injectable enbrel.she has no presc. or known ailment to take this drug.pleasehelp

she has lost 40lbs. in the last two mos. erratic behavior,violent mood swings.are there any stds enbrel may be used to treat?

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Answers (2)

ronie

12/17/10 1:24pm

Hi Brian,

Enbrel is used for list autoimmune, inflammatory diseases and is rather difficult to get without having known blood tests and diagnoses for one of those diseases. It is not given to just anyone. A lot of insurance companies will not cover it and it costs over $1000 a month without insurance. It is not used to treat STDs or Hep or HIV if that is what you are wondering. My question is how is she getting it and why is she using it.

It is sometimes easy to find a physician who with prescribe painkillers like vicodin, percocet, or oxycotin. They can be bought on the streets as well at a high cost.

Which pills did you find her using and how?

I know this is a touchy subject but you sound extremely concerned. The weight loss is indeed something to be concerned about. it is an extremely unhealthy to lose so much so fast. That in conjunction with rx med abuse can cause the erratic behavior.

My biggest concern is the Enbrel. It is not a feel good drug so without inflammatory symptoms what is the purpose of "abusing" it. Is she using the suringe for something else?

Please let us know of anyway we can help

Ronie

brian

12/17/10 1:44pm

the pills were oxycodone,flexaril.in improper containers.she is hangin out with a known drug dealer . i just dont understand the enbrel.however i just got out of icu from a very severe pneumonia and went into cardiac arrest 3 times.o2 levelwas 40. there is currently a pending investigation on this matter. im just hopin she had it for her own use for some reason that i didnt know.currently ksp seems to think that i was given the enbrel.i was hoping for a diff. answer

ronie

12/17/10 2:12pm

how could you be given the Enbrel without an injection. Enbrel comes in a powder form with saline to be mixed by the patient, or a premixed injectable pen that is not reusable (has a springe in it). I believe you would know if you were given an injection. The powder is not paletable

There are very few studies of Enbrel overdose, however, it is an immuno suppressant. Those of us with autoimmune disease that immune systems that are extrememly overactive and gone haywire. Taking an immunosuppressant with a healthy system can compromise a person's health, such as making you extremely sucseptible to the things we have to watch out for, ie.. infections, blood disorders, liver malfunction, You can look up the side effects of Enbrel on www.drugs.com.

If she is indeed abusing oxycodone, she will have to taken off the med slowly or with help of detox. It is not a med that you can just go cold turkey with, so I don't suggest you taking her meds away form her. If she is hanging with a known dealer, she can always get more anyway.

Please be careful. If your wife will talk to you about any of it, sit and listen without interfering. If she is not in pain physically, she is pain mentally. Find out what is going on in her head.

I know you are feeling like you have been lied to for years and do not know what is real and what isn't right now. Healling from a hospital visit then facing this is going to be hard. I certainly hope you two can get to the bottom of things and perhaps start a new with the New Year.

Please let us know what we can do.

Ronie