← Return to GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)

Discussion

GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (314)
Comment receiving replies
@randersonccc

Thank you. Your summary here is very helpful to me as I just did my third injection of Actemra. No issues so far and I’m at 4 mg prednisone. I like the adequate cortisol level comment. Gives me a guideline and possible timeline of my next year. 👍🏻☺️

Jump to this post

Replies to "Thank you. Your summary here is very helpful to me as I just did my third..."
Mike | @dadcue | 6 days ago

I think it mostly depends on the duration of time you have been on Prednisone. I was on Prednisone for 12 years to treat PMR. I lost hope of ever tapering off Prednisone. I got conflicting advice about taking prednisone for the rest of my life. I mentioned this to my rheumatologigist who said I was "too young" to take prednisone for the rest of my life and 12 years was already too long.

The endocrinologist I saw said nobody should take Prednisone for years like I did. However, if I needed Prednisone to treat my autoimmune conditions there was nothing she could do.

I still needed 15 mg of Prednisone the first time I saw the endocrinologist. She referred me back to the rheumatologist to see what could be done. It was approximately a year later that Actemra was tried.

I hope Actemra works for you. I haven't been able to stop Actemra yet but I feel like I will be able to stop Actemra eventually. At least I'm off Prednisone. Actemra is easier to stop as long as PMR stays in remission. Actemra doesn't suppress my adrenal function.

VIEW AND REPLY