"I read the other day that someone received Actemra for PMR. According to our rheumatologist, it's safer, less side-effects and can be quickly stopped unlike prednisone."

My first dose of Actemra was January 1st, 2019 and it was used for "refractory PMR." I haven't ever been diagnosed with GCA but I was diagnosed with PMR in 2007. I had 12 years of PMR before Actemra was tried. Actemra is not FDA approved for PMR but my rheumatologist sought a waiver to get it approved for me. I wish a waiver was sought much sooner because I was able to taper off prednisone in 1 year after Actemra was started. My prednisone doses for refractory PMR averaged approximately 25 mg for 12 years.

I have been on Actemra ever since except for a couple of "interuptions." One interruption was because of a suppy chain problem during Covid. Whenever Actemra is stopped my symptoms have returned. I now do monthly infusions but I have gone 5 weeks between infusions. I'm currently going for 6 weeks between infusions because of a tranAtlantic cruise with some time spent in Europe before returning to the States. I wouldn't have dreamed of doing this trip before Actemra was tried.

All my mornings are without pain as long as I am on Actemra. I did go through a stage where I lost all hope of ever getting off prednisone. That was worst I ever felt during the whole ordeal so never, ever lose hope!

I haven't had any serious side effects from Actemra. Besides being off Prednisone, I'm also off many of the medications I was on that were primarily used to treat prednisone side effects.

Kevzara is a similar medication that is now FDA approved for PMR. Kevzara and Actemra are both IL-6 receptor blockers.