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← Return to Kevzara (sarilumab) to treat PMR
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Kevzara (sarilumab) to treat PMR
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Feb 10 7:53am | Replies (187)Comment receiving replies
@dadcue Thank you very much. This is very helpful. I've been on prednisone a year and just reduced back down to 6 mgs after having to increase back up to 10 due to a fast taper. Hopefully, I won't need to increase the dose again. I am hurting, but I hate prednisone, so it's a delicate dance as everyone who has dealt with this knows.
Replies to "@dadcue Thank you very much. This is very helpful. I've been on prednisone a year and..."
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@cheraloha
It is amazing how often people experience flares at or about 7 mg of Prednisone. For me, it was the same and I called it my "7 mg barrier."
The "7 mg barrier" was a challenge for me because my symptoms always recurred at this dose. It didn't matter how slowly I tapered because I always flared. This dose is critical because it is the point where the body's natural adrenal function needs to ramp up the production of cortisol again. However, the adrenal glands have often become suppressed (or "slept") during higher-doses if prednisone. Taking more Prednisone at this dose put my adrenals back to sleep again.
That was the difference I experienced when a biologic was started. A biologic controlled my symptoms and didn't suppress my adrenal function. I was able to bust through the 7 mg barrier without a flare.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adrenal-insufficiency-and-tapering-prednisone/