What's a good anti inflamation drug (not prednisone) for PMR?
I'm currently on celebrex and want to ask if anyone uses something they may have had more success with. I understand celebrex is safer than ibupropen but have heard there are some "stronger" anti-inflam drugs as safe as celebrex. Please respond. thanks much
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Yes, a big thank you to the group, who are some of the most compassionate and brave people I know. In my situation, it's my legs that seem to still have PMR when my arms seem back to normal. Makes me wonder if the different parts of the body can't respond at different rates to steroids. Wouldn't that be something?! I think I feel a PubMed search coming on....
And no, celebrex didn't help.
Hi @davebaker, Welcome to Connect. You will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion on the same topic so that you can connect with other members.
-- What's a good anti inflamation drug (not prednisone) for PMR?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recommended-anti-inflamation-drug-not-prednisone-for-pmp/
I see that you already have had 3 replies from @flymetothemoon, @mary4 and @suetex so you are definitely not alone with your symptoms. I've had 2 occurrences of PMR and the second time around was much easier due to doing a little research and making a few changes in my life. Not sure if anyone has discussed the topic with you but thought you might find this article helpful.
-- What to eat if you have polymyalgia rheumatica:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683
Have you tried making any changes to see if they may help with the inflammation?
My PMR (Sept 2019) began in my hands and wrists, then shoulders and neck. My physician started me on 10mg, and that made a huge difference except for my hands. She told me “feel free to double the dose,” and at 20mg my hands were fine. Stayed there 3 months; first taper to 15 and thumb/wrist pain cane back - but tolerable. I tapered with no problem to zero in Feb. 2021. After 1 month pain free, my 2nd COVID vaccine brought everything back, and I was on 20 mg again by April 2021. I’ve been tapering very slowly since (now on 7.5 mg), but with any dose lower than 20 mg, I have non-functional, painful thumbs (actually the joint below the thumb, bilateral). I really want to get off prednisone, so I’m tolerating that amount of pain. I’m thankful that it’s the only pain I still gave.
PMR pain in the wrists, hands and fingers may be uncommon but it is not abnormal. I've had the same going on two years now. I've had no luck with any alternatives to Prednisone yet, but I try to keep an open mind and not give up. Good luck to you.
I too have PMR. But I also have severe Oseoarthritis and had it for years before I developed the PMR. When I first started taking Celebrex I was delighted. I was on it for years before realizing it can (and did} damage the heart. Please look into this on google before continuing it too long.
I've found Actemra won't be prescribed for pmr, you need to use Kevzara (basically the same med) as kevzara is the only biologic approved for pmr in the US. I'm comming up on my 4th shot,and I believe it is starting to help. Suppose to take 3 months for full effect. Hopfully this happens.
@ronludington
Kevzara is FDA approved for PMR.
Actemra is FDA approved for GCA.
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Some patients have both PMR and GCA.
Some patients have PMR and "presumed GCA."
For both of these situations Actemra can be prescribed for PMR. Otherwise, you are right, Actemra might be harder to be prescribed for PMR and Kevzara is usually prescribed. Both biologics should work with similar results for PMR. Both of these biologics are effective in approximately 50% of the patients with PMR.