@randersonccc

Just my opinion about Actemra along with some personal experience. Actemra is a "targeted" biologic that seems to work well for PMR/GCA. Many people on this forum seem to concur that Actemra works well for them but results depend on the individual.

My personal experience with several other autoimmune conditions and other medical conditions that aren't autoimmune is that Actemra doesn't work well for "everything." My rheumatologist and ophthalmologist both said that Actemra might not work so well for my other conditions. Actemra was only targeting PMR. I was asked to pick between 2 different biologics that were tried. A different biologic that targeted a different inflammatory pathway didn't work as well as Actemra did.

Sometimes it is said that PMR/GCA involves several inflammatory pathways although the IL-6 inflammatory pathway is implicated the most. Multiple pathways may be true but patients must also consider that they might have other conditions that involve a different inflammation pathway and come with different set of problems.

What I'm trying to say is PMR/GCA is a diagnosis that doesn't exclude other conditions from occurring and co-existing with PMR/GCA. My assertion that other, parallel, or co-existing conditions can exist with PMR is supported by clinical evidence in my case.

Having little energy or stamina makes me think about the adrenal insufficiency I had when I was coming off prednisone. That side effect from prednisone pops up on lower doses of prednisone and can persist after prednisone is stopped. Secondary adrenal insufficiency can manifest during low-dose tapering and can persist for months after cessation of prednisone. That fatigue was overwhelming.