I have been on Actemra for 5 years. I started with injections every 2 weeks. I was switched to weekly injections after 18 months. For the last 2 years, I have done monthly infusions. I have had minor lab abnormalities but not anything serious.

I was able to taper off prednisone in 1 year after starting with the Actemra injections. PMR was diagnosed more than 15 years ago and I had many relapses. I was on prednisone for 12 years to treat PMR so getting off prednisone was like a miracle to me. I have been completely off Prednisone for the past 3 years.

I had various problems crop up after I tapered off prednisone. The various problems were attributed to long term prednisone use or were idiopathic. When things happened a workup was done and medical specialists didn't think Actemra caused any of the problems

Subjectively, it seems to me that monthly infusions work the best for me. I have stopped the injections but my symptoms returned. I recently stretched the time to 7 weeks between Atemra infusions but my inflammation markers increased to slightly above normal. I had slightly more pain but nothing severe. When I do Actemra infusions every 4 weeks, my inflammation markers are negligible or practically zero. My rheumatologists wants me to continue with Actemra infusions every 4 weeks and not stretch the time between infusions.