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Kevzara (sarilumab) to treat PMR

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Feb 10 7:53am | Replies (187)

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@stonewheel

I learn stuff all the time and by no means am I qualified to give medical advice.

Most of these autoimmune conditions defy any rational explanation. There isn't any rhyme nor reason for prednisone tapering either no matter what anyone tells you.

Imagine how shocked I was by what an endocrinologist told me when I was still on 3 mg. She said as long as my cortisol level was adequate that 3 mg was a very low dose so there was no need to taper off that low of a dose. She said as long as Actemra was controlling PMR and I didn't need Prednisone anymore for my other autoimmune conditions that I could simply stop taking 3 mg of Prednisone without tapering with an adequate cortisol level.

I was too terrified to stop Prednisone that way but I did a fast taper from 3 mg to zero.. So much for all the ultra slow tapering strategies. My endocrinologist was amazed that my cortisol level rebounded somewhat quickly while I stayed on 3 mg of Prednisone. It still took 6 months on 3 mg and slightly more than a year after Actemra was started. Considering I was on Prednisone for more than 12 years, my endocrinologist was worried that I might not be able to discontinue Prednisone.

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Replies to "@stonewheel I learn stuff all the time and by no means am I qualified to give..."

@dadcue i also was on Prednisone for about 10 years and was on about 7 mgs at the time I started Kevzara. Was able to get off easily in several months. No cortisol tests or issues. (Unfortunately the prednisone masked underlying osteoarthritis. So now I’m working that with Meloxicam)