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Any experiences with Kevzara (sarilumab)?

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Aug 24 4:42pm | Replies (30)

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Profile picture for ginnysiegel @ginnysiegel

I can't thank you enough for your input. I'm new to this, having been recently diagnosed. I had a spinal fusion surgery before I knew I had PMR. I am not allowed to take prednisone because of it. So if the Kevzara doesn't work out,, I don't know what I will be able to take. Do you take any vitamin supplements like B12? I am just trying to do all I can to get to remission. Thank you again!

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Replies to "I can't thank you enough for your input. I'm new to this, having been recently diagnosed...."

It doesn't matter if you are new or not. Your experience is unique and I would be very interested if Kevzara works for you.
I take a multivitamin but that dates back to when I was on Prednisone. Kevzara isn't known to deplete vitamins in the way Prednisone does.

I was able to taper off Prednisone about 4 years ago after Actemra was started. Kevzara should work in the same way that Actemra works. Neither Actemra or Kevzara work as fast as Prednisone works. It sometimes takes a few injections before you start to notice less pain.

How is your pain? What type of spinal fusion did you have? I was supposed to have a lumbar spinal fusion many years ago. At the time, the spine surgeon said the surgery would be very risky because I was taking so much Prednisone and I wasn't able to stop prednisone. Pain was going to be the "deciding factor" for going ahead with a lumbar fusion.

Now that I'm off Prednisone, the spine surgeon says I can do surgery whenever I'm ready. I honestly think Actemra is keeping the pain and inflammation in my lumbar spine under control. I don't want to do the lumbar fusion. However, I still have severe spinal stenosis.

The following link has some information that compares Kevzara to Prednisone.
https://www.drugs.com/compare/kevzara-vs-prednisone#:~:text=Kevzara%20has%20an%20average%20rating,17%25%20reported%20a%20negative%20effect.