← Return to Adjusting to life with temporal arteritis

Discussion

Adjusting to life with temporal arteritis

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (254)
Comment receiving replies
@artron9

I was diagnosed in Sept 2024 with GCA. I started off with 60mg of Prednisone after the temporal biopsy was positive. Over the next few months I tapered down to 5mg per day. Then the headaches started again and have been continuous daily. I upped to 7 then 8 and then to 10mg per day. Today I started taking 12 mgs. It is too early to see any difference so we will see? What are your thoughts? My only symptom are the headaches which are bearable but constant! I am also injecting Actemra weekly!

Jump to this post

Replies to "I was diagnosed in Sept 2024 with GCA. I started off with 60mg of Prednisone after..."
jdoezema | @jdoezema | Feb 27 9:26am

You have to worry about vision loss. Are you getting blood tests regularly for inflammation?

VIEW AND REPLY
jeff97 | @jeff97 | Feb 27 9:31am

My experience is very similar to yours. I was diagnosed in late June 2024 with PMR and GCA. I started at 60 mg prednisone and stayed there for 6 weeks. I started weekly Actemra injections in August. I will step down to 7 mg prednisone tomorrow. My rheumatologist was a little conservative with my treatment because I had had vision problems from the GCA. I haven't had any problems so far. It sounds to me like your GCA is flaring. Could you get advice from a doctor about what dose of prednisone you should be taking?

VIEW AND REPLY
artron9 | @artron9 | Mar 2 6:47pm

I'm artron9 and today"s update has me moving up to 20mg for the next 2 wks. My dr is suggesting this dose since I developed headaches when I got down to 5mg. I worked myself up to 12 mg and the headaches were gone. When I picked up my next Pred prescription, I saw that the dr wants me to up dose to 20. So today I started 20mg for the next 2 wks and then drop down to 15 for the following 2 weeks. I may have been ok at 12mg but for now

VIEW AND REPLY