Epidural steroid injection for patient on Enbrel

[deleted79235]

Not sure if this topic has been covered before on SDN. A brief search failed to reveal a similar thread regarding epidural steroid injections in patient taking enbrel.

Concerned about the increased infection risk secondary to immune suppression associated with Enbrel.

Want to know if others avoid epidural injections in patient on enbrel or simply emphasize that there is a greater risk of infection when explaining the procedure/obtaining consent.

Thank you.

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[olafa]

Not sure if this topic has been covered before on SDN. A brief search failed to reveal a similar thread regarding epidural steroid injections in patient taking enbrel.

Concerned about the increased infection risk secondary to immune suppression associated with Enbrel.

Want to know if others avoid epidural injections in patient on enbrel or simply emphasize that there is a greater risk of infection when explaining the procedure/obtaining consent.

Thank you.

Thats a good question. I would ask the treating rheum for the status of their autimmune function. Which is probably variable for ea individual patient on these drugs and there's prob not a single recc for all Embrel takers. For surgery dont they stop taking their meds during the pre-op/post period? maybe something similar for pain procedures depending what your doing?

 

[SSdoc33]

its safe

 

[Tenesma]

haven't had any issues....yet... but i do check w/ rheum whenever they are on some weird new immunosuppressant if adding corticosteroids would be an issue... they always say not a big deal (but that's because they love steroids as much as we do).