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What justifies an increase in prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Aug 8 6:17am | Replies (45)Comment receiving replies
My dr said nothing about actemra only methotrexate and kevzara. Can you provide a clearer picture of what they’re for and what they do?
My dr is never clear on it and just gives me paperwork.
Replies to "My dr said nothing about actemra only methotrexate and kevzara. Can you provide a clearer picture..."
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Methotrexate is an older conventional medication that is frequently used by rheumatologists for many autoimmune conditions.
Both Kevzara and Actema are biologics. Both of these biologics work the same way and have been used in the past for many years to treat RA. They aren't that new but they have only recently been shown to work for PMR and/or GCA. Actemra and Kevzara are IL-6 receptor blockers.
https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/cch/role-of-il6-receptor-antagonists-for-ra-management/
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Actemra (tocilizumab) was FDA approved for GCA in 2017 but my rheumatologist felt that it should work for PMR too. I started Actemra in 2019.
Kevzara (sarilumab) was recently FDA approved for PMR last year
My rheumatologist thinks biologics are safer than long term Prednisone. My rehumatologist had to document that methotrexate didn't work before Actemra was tried. I actually tried several conventional medications before Actemra was tried. I was taking Prednisone for PMR for more than 12 years before Actemra got me off Prednisone completely. Since I was treated with Prednisone for 12 years, PMR was considered to be "refractory" and may never burn itself out. My rheumatologist said Actemra was my best hope of ever getting off Prednisone.