Connect
← Return to How does Kevzara help with PMR symptoms and pain? I am being weaned
Discussion
How does Kevzara help with PMR symptoms and pain? I am being weaned
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Mar 30 11:10am | Replies (104)Comment receiving replies
@kjoed53 Hi. I think that you may need more mgs. of Prednisone per day, at least to begin with. My PCP diagnosed me and started me on 40 mgs. per day. (I’m a male, age 68, 177 lbs.) 20mg in the morning and 20mg 12 hours later.
In two days, I felt like Superman. PMR and all other arthritis pains magically vanished.
My PCP wanted me to begin taper down to 20mg per day, (that’s by half) which I was able to do within 3 weeks.
Note: I developed a side effect which I blame on Prednisone, a blood clot, and had to be hospitalized on 1/1/2026. Now I’m told that I must be on a blood thinner twice a day for the rest of my life.
That reaction hastened approval for Kevzara and I’m down to 7.5mg Prednisone and using Kevzara.
You might talk with your doctor about increasing a bit more Prednisone to see if it calms your PMR. If it does, after a week do your best to taper back down to the dosage that you are currently taking now. From there, consult with your doctor again about a plan for tapering down further.
I’m not a doctor so take my advice with a grain of salt. I’m saying what I would do if I were experiencing what you are experiencing, based on my experience.
PMR will respond to Prednisone. The amount of Prednisone required is different for everybody. I’ve seen here that some respond and start at 10 mg/day and others need 60 mg/day.
Best of wishes.
Replies to "@kjoed53 Hi. I think that you may need more mgs. of Prednisone per day, at least..."
@stonewheel
I'm having side effects from the prednisone including PVCs, HR of 10-15 more bpm, high BP, and high glucose. My cardiologist is increasing my meds to deal with the cardiac issues temporarily. I'd be okay to increase my pred to 30mg or adding methotrexate, which is sometimes used to help wean off prednisone.
Connect
@stonewheel
I had multiple blood clots in both of my lungs that were documented as a massive pulmonary embolism (PE). The event was called "unprovoked" and I was told that I was lucky to be alive. I heard whispering outside my ICU door about prednisone being a factor for why I had such a massive PE. Did your doctors say prednisone might be a contributing factor for your blood clot?
I usually say "long term" prednisone increases the risk of side effects. I'm beginning to think that "short term" prednisone isn't any better.
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/shortterm-corticosteroids-increase-risk-for-range-of-conditions
I guess the overall risk is still very low but when a patient is one of the "unlucky ones" to have a serious side effect then the overall risk doesn't matter.
--------------------------------
I remember a self proclaimed "expert" on another forum saying that prednisone side effects are easy to manage. Obviously that expert never did patient care in a hospital.
It was also said that if I needed Prednisone for the rest of my life that was okay if it improved my quality of life. My life could have been shortened by 20 years when I had the PE. I have to admit my quality of life was pretty good on prednisone up until I had the PE.
Since my PE was so massive and unprovoked, I was told I would need to be on warfarin for the rest of my life. I took warfarin daily for about 15 years along with all my other cardiac medications.
A few years ago I was evaluated to see if I could switch to Eliquis instead of warfarin. I told my doctors that I was on high dose prednisone at the time of my PE but Actemra allowed me to taper off Prednisone. I was already off all my other cardiac medications. That was when it was decided that I didn't need any blood thinning medication anymore. Warfarin was stopped so my treatment wasn't lifelong. I have been able to survive 3 more years without warfarin and I haven't had any blood clots.