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Is it PMR (and/) or Osteoarthritis?

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Apr 10 2:54pm | Replies (51)
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@elleninz

Hi. Hope you are doing well. I am wondering what biologic are you on? My ruehmy wants me to go on kevacrz. Thanks Ellen

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Replies to "Hi. Hope you are doing well. I am wondering what biologic are you on? My ruehmy..."
walkamok | @walkamok | Apr 6 3:46pm

I am on Kevzara, a 200 mg injection every 2 weeks. I have now been off prednisone for about 2 weeks. No PMR symptoms. No side effects to date for the Kevzara.

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DadCue | @dadcue | Apr 6 5:52pm

I'm doing monthly infusions of Actemra (tocilizumab) for refractory PMR. Actemra is FDA approved for GCA but a waiver was granted so I could receive Actemra. I was able to taper off prednisone.

Kevzara shares the same classification as Actemra. Kevzara is FDA approved for PMR.

Kevzara and Acterma are IL-6 inhibitors. IL-6 is the cytokine implicated in both GCA and PMR.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7178926/
I haven't had any serious side effects from Actemra. I have taken Actemra for more than 3 years. I have been prednisone free for 2 years. I was on prednisone for 12 years and I was unable to taper off prednisone. My rheumatologist didn't want me to be on prednisone for the rest of my life.

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