If you read the side affects for many of the drugs commonly in use it will make you seriously consider not taking it. My wife has rheumatoid arthritis and has been on Enbrel for 20 year now. The side affects of this drug are unbelievable. Enbrel, like all the rheumatoid arthritis drugs, suppresses the immune system in order to reduce the damage to the joints by the immune system. She recently suffered a dangerous bacterial lung infection that required a cocktail antibiotic to knock it out. It has taken 5 months to get it under control. Serious medical problems can happen with the use of this drug but you have to weigh the potential consequences with the benefits it provides to the patient. She has had 20 years of productivity and reasonably good health. Without this drug I have no doubt she would have been long in a wheel chair or confined to a bed due to the damage this disease causes. Because of this last infection we don't believe she will be allowed to use it anymore and has been off the drug for the five months now. She has been in nearly constant pain having to take huge doses of prednisone and pain medication to reduce the effects of the arthritis. If you take every drug off the market that has possible serious side affects we will be in serious trouble.
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