Enbrel vs. Remicade

• Are Enbrel and Remicade the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Enbrel?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Remicade?
• What is Enbrel?
• What is Remicade?
• What Drugs Interact with Enbrel?
• What Drugs Interact with Remicade?
• How Should Enbrel Be Taken?
• How Should Remicade Be Taken?

Enbrel (etanercept) and Remicade (infliximab) are tumor necrosis factor inhibitors used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Enbrel is also used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Remicade is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. Remicade is often used when other medicines have not been effective.

Side effects of Enbrel and Remicade that are similar include nausea, stomach pain, or headache,

Side effects of Enbrel that are different from Remicade include vomiting, diarrhea, redness or discomfort at the injection site, heartburn, weight changes, cold symptoms (cough, runny nose), or weakness.

Side effects of Remicade that are different from Enbrel include stuffy nose, sinus pain, skin rash, or flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Both Enbrel and Remicade may interact with anakinra.

Enbrel may also interact with cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids).

Remicade may also interact with abatacept, tocilizumab, any "biologic" medications to treat your condition, or any other medicines to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or psoriasis.

Common side effects of Enbrel include:

• Mild nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Redness or discomfort at the injection site
• Heartburn
• Weight changes
• Cold symptoms (cough, runny nose)
• Weakness

Serious side effects include:

• Seizures
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Skin changes (rash, pustules, blisters, patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped rash over cheeks and nose)
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Numbness and tingling, burning pain
• Vision changes
• Dizziness
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, confusion, neck stiffness, flu symptoms, itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing),
• Rapid weight gain
• Chest pain
• Ongoing cough
• Coughing up mucus or blood
• Black, bloody, or tarry stools
• Changes in mood or personality (in children)
• Joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizures (convulsions)

Common side effects of Remicade include:

• headache,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• stuffy nose,
• sinus pain,
• skin rash, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Remicade including:

• pain or swelling at injection site,
• joint or muscle pain,
• swelling of ankles or feet,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• vision changes,
• seizures,
• confusion,
• muscle weakness,
• numbness and tingling of arms or legs,
• butterfly-shaped facial rash,
• chest pain,
• pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs,
• shortness of breath, or
• fast/slow/irregular heartbeat.

Enbrel (etanercept) is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Remicade (infliximab) is a chimeric IgG1k monoclonal antibody used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. Remicade is also used to treat severe or disabling plaque psoriasis (raised, silvery flaking of the skin). Remicade is often used when other medicines have not been effective. Remicade blocks the action of a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Enbrel may interact with anakinra, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Other drugs may interact with Remicade. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

Enbrel is available in three preparations; 0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept, 0.51 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept and 25 mg etanercept. All are used for injection; only the 25 mg strength is available in a multiuse vial, the others are available in a prefilled syringe. Starting dose is often 50 mg injected twice a week in adults and 0.8 mg per Kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 63 Kg. Other doses may be used.

The dosing of Remicade varies, and depends on the condition being treated.