← Return to PMR savvy doctors in Portland Oregon
DiscussionPMR savvy doctors in Portland Oregon
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Dec 2 11:59pm | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Thank you. When I first was diagnosed with PMR I was treated at OHSU and they..."
Kevzara is now an option for me since it was FDA approved for PMR in February 2023. However, I'm not on Kevzara (Sarilumab).
https://investor.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kevzarar-sarilumab-approved-fda-first-and-only-biologic/#:~:text=TARRYTOWN%2C%20N.Y.%20and%20CAMBRIDGE%2C%20Mass,who%20cannot%20tolerate%20corticosteroid%20taper.
----------------------------
There weren't any biologics that were FDA approved for PMR when I was offered treatment. When I started on Actemra (Tocilizumab) in January of 2019, Actemra was FDA approved for GCA. An authorization request was submitted and approved for me with the stipulation that I be treated "as if" I had the diagnosis of GCA. The other indication for Actemra was my being unable to taper off Prednisone and that all other alternatives to Prednisone had failed.
I took Prednisone for 12 years. The rheumatologist that I was seeing felt strongly that staying on Prednisone for the rest of my life wasn't a good option. The belief at the time was that Actemra was my best hope that I would ever get off Prednisone. My PMR was called relapsing and refractory. Now my PMR is said to be in remission. I have been off Prednisone for 4 years and my quality of life is much better than when I was on Prednisone.
Both Actemra and Kevzara are IL-6 receptor blockers. Either one should work for PMR but maybe not for everyone with PMR. It feels good to be off Prednisone.
https://www.actemra.com/gca/considerations/gca.html#:~:text=ACTEMRA%20is%20the%20first%20prescription,ACTEMRA%20is%20not%20a%20steroid.
you may find an endocrinologist better at helping below the 5mg. Dadcue would know at what point they take over.