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History of PMR -- Interesting video presentation from past to present.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Aug 4 5:22pm | Replies (12)Comment receiving replies
This is an amazing video with great info near the end about treatment options to help patients get off prednisone and particularly about Kevzara, a IL 6 inhibitor that was approved recently by the FDA for PMR. Thank you so much for sharing it.
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I'm more partial to Actemra (tocilizumab) but Kevzara would likely be equally as effective for me.
I started Actemra on January 1st, 2019. I will never forget this day after 12 years on prednisone for refractory PMR. I was off prednisone one year later. I would have been off prednisone sooner except for having adrenal insufficiency as a result of long term Prednisone use.
Prednisone was okay for the first two years. After a couple of years, I was having classic signs of steroid toxicity. I would encourage people to explore other options to Prednisone after a year or two.
IL-6 inhibition wasn't an option for me 15 years ago. I'm very excited that this option currently exists. However, I'm getting somewhat nervous about being on Actemra for more than 5 years.
Since Prednisone was discontinued, at least 5 more medications were discontinued that were being used to treat Prednisone side effects. No other additional medications have been added for Actemra side effects.