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Kevzara and Prednisone Tapering before and during Kevzara
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 28 11:02am | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
Diagnosed with PMR in 2011. . Because of a flare in late fall of 24 my rheumatologist raised my prednisone. When I got to 10mg I started KEVZARA. I held at 10mg for a few weeks then tapered 1mg/week. to 3and held for a while then dropped to 0. That was the first of June. I had also had a morning cortisol test at 3mg and I was in the normal range. After the test is when the rho rheumatologist told me to continue with the taper.
So if concerned about adrenal issues ask for a morning cortisol test.
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I had the same experience with Actemra. I was instructed to stay on 3 mg when my morning cortisol level was low. An endocrinologist took control of my Prednisone taper and said I needed to stay on 3 mg for "as long as it takes" for my cortisol level to improve. I stayed on 3 mg of prednisone for 6 months for a morning cortisol level to be "adequate." After that the endocrinologist said I could drop from 3 mg to zero.
Actemra made tapering easier. I called my taper the "depends how I feel taper" because my rheumatologist said to take that approach. At first I tapered from 10 mg to 7 mg by decreasing 1 mg per month until I felt like Actemra was working.
After I reached 7 mg, I tapered by 1 mg per week from 7 mg to 3 mg because I felt cocky and wanted to get the "inevitable flare" over with.
I called going from 3 mg to zero a "countdown taper" because I dropped by 1 mg every couple of days. I went from 3 mg - 2 mg - 1 mg - zero in a week. I felt afraid to drop from 3 mg to zero all at once even though the endocrinologist said I could.
My cortisol level was adequate with no PMR pain so I took the plunge to zero Prednisone. I will leave it here because things got crazy after that.