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If you have tapering problems below 5 mg this might explain why.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 10 10:38am | Replies (110)Comment receiving replies
I suppose Actemra and Kevzara can also disrupt the inflammation network and immune system but hopefully not to the extent that Prednisone does. At least my rheumatologist thinks so and neither Actemra or Kevzara suppresses the production of cortisol by the adrenals.
According to artificial intelligence:
"The statement is accurate: Neither Actemra nor Kevzara directly suppresses the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Instead, they are interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors that help reduce inflammation, which can allow patients to gradually reduce or stop their use of corticosteroids (like prednisone)."
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I just get a chuckle with some of this stuff. When I was on another PMR forum, a "self proclaimed" PMR expert who was "entitled to know" because of having PMR and taking Prednisone for a long time said "Actemra was dangerous" because of the potential side effects compared to prednisone and "cortisol had nothing to do with it." This person also said my rheumatologist was ignorant and was breaking the rules for prescribing Actemra to me.
It is hard to know what to believe. My rheumatologist was right to say I wouldn't know unless I tried Actemra to see if it works or not.
Replies to "I suppose Actemra and Kevzara can also disrupt the inflammation network and immune system but hopefully..."
Fascinating about the view that exists out there about Actemra being high risk with dangerous side effects. It seems to scare people more than others, yet methotrexate seems to be thrown at people by doctors as a very good drug for PMR (in some countries, at least). But research suggests that methotrexate can more dangerous and less effective than Actemra.
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I do think that Actemra and Kevzara are dangerous. I mentioned recently on this forum that on my patient chart at my rheumatologist, under problems it lists "use of a high risk drug Actemra". You have to assess the risk of Actemra or Kevzara against the benefit to your quality of life of getting off of prednisone. Since I will need to be on a medication for several years to treat my GCA, it makes sense to take Actemra and not take prednisone. But if you're on a relatively low dose of prednisone and hope to be off of it at some point, it might make more sense to not take a biologic drug.