Actemra also has a boxed warning from the FDA and the wording is almost identical to the boxed warning for Kevzara.

After 12 years on Prednisone, I felt like there wasn't much that could happen that didn't already happen to me when I took Prednisone. I was at rock bottom and I felt like there wasn't much for me to lose by trying Actemra.

I worry that patients aren't adequately screened for pre-existing conditions before starting these biologics. My rheumatologist asked me about diverticulitis, tuberculosis (TB), and other health problems and thoroughly reviewed my medical records.

My biggest worry was that I might never get off prednisone because of permanent adrenal insufficiency. I raised this concern to my doctor and the response was that Actemra represented my best hope of ever getting off Prednisone.

After Actemra was started, I had some mild neutropenia which was new but that was transient. My other lab abnormalities were all present when I was on Prednisone so nothing new.

What was new was how many of my lab abnormalities improved over time after I was able to taper off Prednisone. I also had some conditions like hypertension, peripheral neuropathy and "metabolic syndrome" which have also improved. Not only did I discontinue Prednisone, at least 5 other medications have also been stopped during the years since I discontinued Prednisone. These other medications were mostly treating Prednisone side effects.