That’s a very good question.

My first round with Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) lasted from 2018 to 2021. Unfortunately, I experienced a relapse in 2024. After three failed attempts to taper prednisone at 7 mg, my rheumatologist recommended starting Actemra alongside a rapid taper from 15 mg of prednisone.

While my GCA/PMR symptoms remained unchanged and my quality of life was good during this period, the quick taper failed again at 7.5 mg. At that point, my rheumatologist suggested discontinuing Actemra. However, I believed the issue was with the tapering speed—not the medication itself—and asked to continue Actemra. Thankfully, he agreed.

I returned to 15 mg of prednisone and did a quick taper down to 10 mg. From there, I began a more gradual tapering plan: reducing by 1 mg per month with the goal of reaching 5 mg. I’ve now been at 9 mg for two weeks, and my quality of life is excellent.

It’s worth noting that I receive an Actemra infusion every four weeks. On one occasion, I had to wait five weeks between infusions, and many of my GCA/PMR symptoms returned during that final week (I was at 10 mg at the time). I also tend to experience minor symptoms during the last 2–3 days of each four-week cycle.

I wish you well in your battle with PMR, and I hope this post has answered some of your questions