Enbrel now comes as a new autoinjector, which can help you decrease medical waste. Today we’re going to learn how to give ourselves Enbrel with the Enbrel Mini.  This medication is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

How to give yourself Enbrel with the Enbrel Mini

Preparing for your injection

• Keep your medication stored in the refrigerator until use
  • Before injecting medication, take the cartridge out of the refrigerator.
  • Allow it to warm up to room temperature.
• Pick a place in your house that is clean and has room for your materials (such as the kitchen table).
• Wash your hands thoroughly with either:
  • Soap & water
  • Hand sanitizer
• Chose an area to inject – Thigh or Stomach.
  • Chose an area that is intact and clear.
  • It should not have any of the following:
    • Cuts
    • Scrapes
    • Bruises
    • Psoriasis patches
    • If you have extensive psoriasis, inject between patches
    • Moles
    • Scars
  • Please rotate area each time you inject (shown in picture below).

By British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Download this book for free at http://open.bccampus.ca [CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

• Cleanse chosen area
  • Cleanse chosen area with either of the following:
    • Alcohol swab
    • Alcohol and a cotton ball
  • Use the chosen alcohol material to “swipe” area
    • Can either use a circular motion or wipe in “strips”
    • Allow the area to dry

How to give yourself the injection

• Prepare the autoinjector.
• Choose how fast you want the medicine to be delivered: fast, medium, or slow.
• Press the tab on the autoinjector to open the cartridge site.
• With the blue facing down and with the sticker facing you, insert the yellow cartridge into the autoinjector.  It should slip in very easily.
• Close and remove the blue cap.
• Hold the autoinjector like a joystick and press it firmly onto your skin at a 90 degree angle.  The autoinjector will chime when ready.
• Press the button.  The time it takes to deliver the medication will differ.  The injection is complete when you hear the second chime.

What to do after the injection

• Lift the autoinjector up from skin.
• The autoinjector will open and release the cartridge.
• Place the cartridge into a sharps container
  • If you do not have a sharps container available, contact your pharmacy/doctor’s office about obtaining one
    • In the meantime, you may use an old coffee container with a lid
  • Some hospitals take full Sharps Containers for disposal. Here at the office we do not. Contact your pharmacy for more information about the disposing of your Sharps Container.
• Discard remaining materials in the trash (cap, alcohol swabs, etc.)

Need more information?

Please follow the link to connect with the manufacturer’s website.

If you have any concerns about your medication (e.g., excessive pain, swelling, redness bruising, bleeding, fever, breathing problems), please contact your rheumatologist.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is offered to educate the general public. The information posted on this website does not replace professional medical advice, but for general information purposes only. There is no Doctor – Patient relationship established. We strongly advised you to speak with your medical professional if you have questions concerning your symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.