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Infusion vs injection of tocilizumab (Actmera)
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 20 1:07pm | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
It would depend on your insurance first of all. I have straight Medicare and a Part D plan. No Part D plan sold in my county will cover Actemra injections. The $2000 cap does not help if the drug isn't covered at all. I am on Actemra infusions and I was on Kevzara, a similar drug, injections. Kevzara was not particularly effective. I did not mind too much giving myself the injections but so far the infusions are more pleasant and the Actemra is working. I have not gotten a Medicare statement yet but my research indicates that it will be fully covered, no copays with the supplement I have. The clinical trials for Actemra showed around 50% of patients with GCA were off prednisone and Actemra after a year. I told that to the nurse who gave me the infusion and she said, "We won't talk about the other 50%". In any case, I'll take those odds after almost 4 years on prednisone!
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"We won't talk about the other 50%". In any case, I'll take those odds after almost 4 years on prednisone!"
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The other 50% have a relapse and remain on Prednisone because Actemra doesn't seem to work for them. A 50% response to a medication can be considered a positive sign, particularly for conditions that are difficult to treat or have limited treatment options.
The side effects from Actemra alone are hard to determine when people are still taking Prednisone. Serious infections are possible but that risk is there for people on Prednisone too.
My rheumatologist was worried whenever I needed more than one medication to suppress my immune system. I would have complications and she wouldn't blame either medication. She would say my immune system was being suppressed too much.
I don't seem to have any problems with side effects from Actemra alone. One of the goals for trying Actemra was to get me off of Prednisone. My doctor flat out said, "I couldn't take Prednisone for the rest of my life." She didn't mean I had to stop taking Prednisone ... She just felt lifelong prednisone wasn't that good of an outcome.