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Polymyalgia Rheumatica treatment options
Has anyone experienced complete management of symptoms at onset of disease with Prednisone and then experienced a major setback while decreasing the dosage? If so, what treatment plan was used? Also, has anyone had any success with any other prescribed medicines in the treatment of the disease? My husband was diagnosed three months ago and with first major dose of Predison (60mg) he improved 100% with symptoms totally subsiding. The symptoms returned when the doseage was reduced to 20mg. He is currently taking 40 mg but his symptoms have never completely subsided again. His rheumatologist started him three weeks ago on Methotrexate as well in hope to use this med as treatment and take him off the Predisone. Thus far the treatment plan does not appear to be working. My husband is also experiencing most side effects from the use of long term Predisone which is also a reason for considering an alternative treatment.
Thanks and appreciate any information provided.
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I have PMR and am currently feeling very well! I have not used prednisone, but have been on Low Dose Naltrexone for 4 months. It was prescribed by a naturopath. There has been a steady improvement.
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2 ReactionsI was diagnosed with PMR in July 2024 along with suspected GCA. I was on 60 mg Prednisone for a month and then began my taper. The body/joint aches went away within a couple of days of beginning on 60 mg. It was not an aggressive taper. By the time I got to 8 mg. on Decenber 1, 2024, my initial symptoms had returned. I tried to tough out the month of December on 8 mg., but my pain increased to the point I increased my Prednisone up to 13 mg. Been on 13 mg for a week or so and note an improvement. My rheumatologist order Actemra infusions for me. I will start that next week. Once every 4 weeks. I'm hoping that the Actemra is my silver bullet.
Wow Tx for that feedback. I will look into that.
I am on the site trying to introduce myself and I cannot find how to post. I was diagnosed with PMR in the last three weeks and I am on 10 mg prednisone and have an appointment with rheumatologist in the next couple of weeks. I have been on the Mayo site to get education concerning PMR.
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1 ReactionWelcome @chacha83, I think you just figured out how to post but if you want to see a good list of "how to" for Connect, the Help Center is the place to go. There is link at the top of every Connect page but here is a direct link - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/help-center/.
If you haven't seen these two discussions, I would take a look at the video on the first one and the references linked on the second one.
-- Comprehensive Overview Of PMR: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/comprehensive-overview-of-pmr/
-- How to Slowly and Safely Taper Off Prednisone but ... no set rules.:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-slowly-and-safely-taper-off-prednisone-but-no-set-rules/
Let us know how your upcoming appointment with your rheumatologist goes.
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2 ReactionsThanks, John
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1 ReactionHow was your PMR diagnosed?
My ANA was just positive for an autoimmune disease.
My symptoms disappeared after one round of Prednisone for 7 mos.
Now after second round symptoms appeared in 2 days. I am very active and pain is mostly at night