Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: Patients aged 18 years or older- 50 mg Etanercept per week administered either once weekly (as one subcutaneous injection using a 50 mg syringe or as two 25 mg injections given at the same time) or 25 mg Etanercept twice weekly (72 to 96 hours apart) as a subcutaneous injection. Methotrexate, glucocorticoids, salicylates, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or analgesics may be continued during treatment with Etanercept in adults. 25 mg once weekly gives a slower response and may be less effective.
Plaque psoriasis: The dose of etanercept is 50 mg syringe once weekly (as one subcutaneous injection using a 50 mg syringe or as two 25 mg injections given at approximately the same time) or 25 mg twice weekly (72 to 96 hours apart) as a subcutaneous injection. Higher responses may be achieved from initial treatment with a dose of 50 mg twice weekly for up to 12 weeks, followed, if necessary, by a dose of 50 mg once weekly or 25 mg twice weekly.
Adult patients may be treated intermittent or continuously based on physician judgment and individual patient needs. Treatment should be discontinued in patients who show no response after 12 weeks. With intermittent use, treatment cycles subsequent to the initial cycle should use a dose of 50 mg once weekly. No dose adjustment is required for elderly and or patient with renal and hepatic impairment. Patient weighs less than 62.5 kg should be accurately dosed on an mg/kg basis. Patients weighing 62.5 kg or more may be fixed-dose prefilled syringe.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Children (⩾2 to <18 years): 0.4 mg/kg (up to maximum of 25 mg per dose) twice weekly (72 to 96 hours apart). Glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or analgesics may be continued during treatment with etanercept in children. Etanercept has not been studied in children <2 years of age.
Pediatric plaque psoriasis: Children (⩾6 to <18 years): 0.8 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 50 mg per dose) once weekly for up to 24 weeks. Treatment should be discontinued in patients who show no response after 12 weeks. If retreatment of etanercept is indicated, the above guidance on treatment duration should be followed. The dose should be 0.8 mg/kg (up to maximum of 50 mg per dose) once weekly.
Administer etanercept as subcutaneous injections in the thigh, abdomen or upper arm. Given each new injection at least 3 cm from a previous site. Do not use in the area where the skin is tender, bruised, red or hard. The injection should be performed under supervision of qualified healthcare professional. Before injection, single-use prefilled syringe should be allowed to reach room temperature (approximately 15-30 minutes). The needle cover should not be removed while allowing the pre-filled syringe to reach at room temperature. Before disposal of blank PFS, please activate the needle guard to avoid any chance of needle-stick injury.
