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I’m just wondering how old most of you are with PMR

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 10 7:46am | Replies (81)
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@sasserb3

So what are you using now? Anything? I couldn’t stand that pain any longer. I am very slowly trying to titrate down the methotrexate.

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Replies to "So what are you using now? Anything? I couldn’t stand that pain any longer. I am..."
Mike | @dadcue | Apr 28 2:24pm

Methotrexate was tried about 10 years ago. Leflunomide came next. There was sulfasalazine and multiple NSAIDs prior to Methotrexate and Leflunomide. That doesn't count the muscle relaxants and the medications for nerve pain. All those medications helped to a certain extent but not as well as Prednisone did.

I have been prednisone free for about 4 years. In 2019, my rheumatologist decided it was time to try a biologic after studying the new research that was happening back then. Actemra was FDA approved for GCA and my rheumatologist said "should work" for PMR.

After 12 years of taking Prednisone for PMR, along with many of the associated side effects from long term Prednisone use, I finally tapered off Prednisone within a year after starting Actemra. I still do a monthly infusion of Actemra with nothing else for pain. I'm not "pain free" but the pain probably is as good as it gets. I don't seem to have any serious side effects from Actemra.

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