From the Guidelines
Etanercept can cause headaches as a side effect in some patients, and if you're experiencing headaches while on etanercept, you should not discontinue the medication without consulting your healthcare provider. Headaches occur in patients taking etanercept, making it one of the adverse reactions to this medication. For mild headaches, over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours as needed) or ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours with food) may help manage symptoms, as suggested by general medical knowledge and not specifically mentioned in the provided studies 1. Staying hydrated, maintaining regular sleep patterns, and stress management techniques can also help reduce headache frequency.
Important Considerations
- If headaches are severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms like fever, vision changes, or neck stiffness, contact your doctor immediately as this could indicate a more serious reaction.
- Etanercept works by blocking tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which can affect various physiological processes including those that may influence headache pathways.
- Your doctor might consider adjusting your dosage or switching to another TNF inhibitor if headaches significantly impact your quality of life, based on the most recent guidelines for the management and treatment of psoriasis with biologics 1.
Management of Headaches
- The provided studies do not specifically address the management of headaches in patients taking etanercept, but general medical knowledge suggests that over-the-counter pain relievers and lifestyle modifications can help manage symptoms.
- It is essential to consult your healthcare provider before discontinuing etanercept or making any changes to your treatment plan, as they can provide personalized guidance and recommendations based on your specific situation and the latest evidence 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Etanercept and Headache
- Etanercept is a subcutaneously administered biological response modifier that binds and inactivates tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine 2.
- The most commonly occurring adverse effects of etanercept included injection site reactions, infection, headache, rhinitis and dizziness 2.
- Etanercept was generally well tolerated in children and adults in clinical trials, with common adverse effects including injection site reactions, infection, and headache 3.
- The safety profile of etanercept during short- and long-term treatment was consistent with the approved product labelling, with adverse events being of a predictable and manageable nature, including headache 4, 5.
- Etanercept may be associated with an increased risk for infection, the development of malignancy, demyelinating disease and congestive heart failure, but headache is listed as a common adverse effect 5.