GLP-1 Drugs Effects on PMR

@sandiw77 thank you very much - I think I’ll try it being you’ve injected 3 times. And no issues. Quick question- do you notice if you are feeling better or are the same. I know high cholesterol is silent but you know, if nori is normal and high is not normal I just wonder. Thanks again r

@kathleendw thank you. I appreciate any Repatha comments. My insurance Medicare Advantage plan covers this with the exception clause so I will try it now that Ive heard from 2 of our group with good outcomes. Thanks again r

Very interesting thread. I would like to try a GLP-1, but unfortunately Medicare doesn't cover it and I cant afford it.
I also have reservations about any gastrointestinal side effects. I already have issues I believe are from prednisone and Rinvoq. I was already overweight but losing, slowly then diagnosed with PMR and later with GCA. I find it almost impossible to lose now despite low calorie, low carb diet, but at least I'm not gaining.
I've read that GLP1 drugs can also help with inflammation, and wonder at some point would that help to get insurance coverage.

This sounds very intriguing! I’ve now been on pred for 1 yr. I’m trying the alternating days of 4 mgs/3.5mgs in March. Tomorrow I’ll go to 3.5 & see how it goes. I’m still on methotrexate & have been for 10 months With my middle section thighs gut growing, etc., thanks to Pres I wonder if I could try zepbound.
I have appt w/Rhumy next week. I’ll see what he thinks!!
Excited for you !

@randersonccc, I have definitely not felt any different physically. Unfortunately, my pain is still pretty constant. Praying to turn the corner soon. Good luck with Repatha!

Yes. My rheumatologist actually told me there were indications it might help, but not enough studies to make it something he could prescribe. I'd been considering it to help shed the weight post-prednisone. So I tried it. My insurance won't cover it, so I take a compounded daily dose.
I've forgotten three times and when I have, I am aware of both inflammation pain all day and crashing blood sugar in the afternoon.
For reference, the only thing I am on for PMR now is Kevzara.
I suspect if I just bit the bullet and paid for Terzepatide it would make a bigger difference -- I'm considering it.

I was dx with PMR about a yr ago and put on prednisone long term (about 1 yr). Within about a month I had gained about 15# IYKYK...so I asked my primary if I could try Zepbound. Since I already have sleep apnea I believe that qualified me for a glp 1 with my insurance. I was extremely grateful to have that dx. I've been on Zepbound for almost 1 yr now, off the prednisone and down 50#. Although it's hard to say if the wt loss helped with the aches and pains because how would I know unless I stopped it. Between the prednisone and Zepbound I was pretty pain free while on both. After my taper of the prednisone the aches came back within a week. I will be going on Kevzara in the next few weeks. What I can report is that I am very happy with the weight loss and can't imagine being back to square one with the pain and fatigue as well as 50# overweight. My rheumatologist said that at a recent nationwide conference they talked about the fact that if they are the ones prescribing prednisone shouldn't they also be the ones prescribing glp 1's? It will be interesting to see where this all goes as the benefits of glp 1's are rapidly stacking up. A friend who couldn't get insurance to cover it found a local highly regarded pharmacy that is compounding it and she was able to get Zepbound for about $400 for 3 month supply. Her primary ok'd it and gave her a prescription after considerable and thoughtful discussion. My best to everyone on this journey!

@emrose my Medicare plan does cover it, for diabetes, the Mounjaro which has an added agonist. It depends on how your doctor writes it. Aetna coverage started with a large co-pay of over 500$ but you reach the max quickly. I’m now on Select Health and my portion is 47$. My husband was put on Zepbound for sleep apnea and his cost 100$. He also heard that come June it goes down to 50$. Try…it really helped my inflammatory markers.

I have found Mounjaro to be helpful for inflammation (brain doing better) and less pain. I’m at a stall for weight loss for over 3 months while on prednisone but my muscle mass has increased vs losing muscle mass and that’s a win. When I saw my rheumatologist she suggested my endocrinologist raise my dosage, which I’ll discuss next visit. I originally was put on it because I gained 45# in 3 months after cancer treatment and scorched earth solumedrol infusions. 3x1000mg iv. It was bad and started a cascade of issues. Now I’m on a weekly tapering (currently 10mg) and shall see if I can get off prednisone. The odd part of the glp1 journey was that when I was on lower dose I saw greater improvement in the PMR and GCA symptoms. But I think my body acclimated and the flares felt rougher on higher dose glp1…I could chalk that up to getting relief so the flares felt tougher. I’ve noticed, for myself, that when I’m in chronic high pain I push through and deal. When I get relief I find that when pain returns I don’t deal as well.

@cbriamaya
Thank you. Unfortunately I don't qualify because my A1C technically isn't quite 'diabetes' range by a few points.