@mech I have been on Kevzara for two years. It is a wonder drug for me. No apparent side effects except for my white blood cell count is pretty low but not alarming to my doctors, but could have the effect of lowering immunity.
I’m on Kevzara and so grateful to be rid of prednisone!
I don’t feel any side effects from the injections, thankfully.
Just had cataract surgery because the prednisone accelerated the need. Now I can see more clearly! 😀
@caroljeand I’m down to 4mg methylprednisolone from 32mg. I am so happy. I’ve had many side effects from the steroids, most recently AVN ( Avascular necrosis) of my knee.
@stonewheel
Started Kevzara March 2025 @ abt 8 mg prednisone.
Off all prednisone by 7/15/2025
11/5/2025 chged Kevzara to every 3 weeks because of low WBC.
Jan 2026, blood work normal, stayed at Kevzara 3 week intervals.
Last Kevzara shot 2/22/2026…….stopped cold and no side effects.
Note: I was not, and am not, on any other medications for any other conditions .
I am now 2 months since last shot, blood work shows elevated CRP (10.8). I am not feeling it, 🤞, Dr wants me to restart Kevzara, I’m asking to retest in another 2 months. Wait and see, if a problem reach out to him. Note, I have not heard back yet. 🤞
@stonewheel
Started Kevzara March 2025 @ abt 8 mg prednisone.
Off all prednisone by 7/15/2025
11/5/2025 chged Kevzara to every 3 weeks because of low WBC.
Jan 2026, blood work normal, stayed at Kevzara 3 week intervals.
Last Kevzara shot 2/22/2026…….stopped cold and no side effects.
Note: I was not, and am not, on any other medications for any other conditions .
I am now 2 months since last shot, blood work shows elevated CRP (10.8). I am not feeling it, 🤞, Dr wants me to restart Kevzara, I’m asking to retest in another 2 months. Wait and see, if a problem reach out to him. Note, I have not heard back yet. 🤞
@stonewheel
Started Kevzara March 2025 @ abt 8 mg prednisone.
Off all prednisone by 7/15/2025
11/5/2025 chged Kevzara to every 3 weeks because of low WBC.
Jan 2026, blood work normal, stayed at Kevzara 3 week intervals.
Last Kevzara shot 2/22/2026…….stopped cold and no side effects.
Note: I was not, and am not, on any other medications for any other conditions .
I am now 2 months since last shot, blood work shows elevated CRP (10.8). I am not feeling it, 🤞, Dr wants me to restart Kevzara, I’m asking to retest in another 2 months. Wait and see, if a problem reach out to him. Note, I have not heard back yet. 🤞
@tweetypie13
I wish I could say I’m not on any other meds! You are truly lucky.
Hope you don’t have to return to the injections. I’m looking ahead and hoping to be injection free.
@stonewheel
Started Kevzara March 2025 @ abt 8 mg prednisone.
Off all prednisone by 7/15/2025
11/5/2025 chged Kevzara to every 3 weeks because of low WBC.
Jan 2026, blood work normal, stayed at Kevzara 3 week intervals.
Last Kevzara shot 2/22/2026…….stopped cold and no side effects.
Note: I was not, and am not, on any other medications for any other conditions .
I am now 2 months since last shot, blood work shows elevated CRP (10.8). I am not feeling it, 🤞, Dr wants me to restart Kevzara, I’m asking to retest in another 2 months. Wait and see, if a problem reach out to him. Note, I have not heard back yet. 🤞
@tweetypie13 Kevzara has a half life of 10-14 days. That means that only half of a drug is in your system at the end of every half life. Doctors consider 5 half lives to be "completely out of your system" mark. Meaning 50-70 days for Kevzara. You are in this window.
Your CRP being up can be expected to continue going up without drug therapy intervention. I suspect this is why your doctor wants to start you back on Kevzara now and not later.
Ask your doctor about taking injection every 2 or 3 weeks rather than every week and getting 150mg rather than 200mg dose injectable.
Take care and know your doctor is there to keep you out of the ditch and not just help you get out of the ditch.
@tweetypie13 Kevzara has a half life of 10-14 days. That means that only half of a drug is in your system at the end of every half life. Doctors consider 5 half lives to be "completely out of your system" mark. Meaning 50-70 days for Kevzara. You are in this window.
Your CRP being up can be expected to continue going up without drug therapy intervention. I suspect this is why your doctor wants to start you back on Kevzara now and not later.
Ask your doctor about taking injection every 2 or 3 weeks rather than every week and getting 150mg rather than 200mg dose injectable.
Take care and know your doctor is there to keep you out of the ditch and not just help you get out of the ditch.
@jabrown0407 Thx for your input. Truly appreciate it.
I’m a bit confused, easily….soo…
I was on a 200mg shot every 3 weeks for 4 months, when we stopped Kevzara.
No side symptoms etc. Last shot was 2/22/2026.
Would you mind reevaluating with this info in a more simplified way.
(I’m easily confused with half-life etc.)
Th K you
I'm not medically trained so I'm going to decline your request. An AI tool would be where I would start.
Since you were on a three week schedule I have no idea but the fundamental answer will be the same, 10-14 days since your last injection times 5. At the end of the first 14 days you have 50% of med in you (1 half life), then 25% in you at the end of the 2nd 14 days - half of 50% is 25%. To get it down you need 5 half-lives.
The variable days allow for individual metabolisms which has to do with age, lifestyle choices, other drugs, hydration, diet, organ function, etc.
Hope this helps.
@jabrown0407 Thx for your input. Truly appreciate it.
I’m a bit confused, easily….soo…
I was on a 200mg shot every 3 weeks for 4 months, when we stopped Kevzara.
No side symptoms etc. Last shot was 2/22/2026.
Would you mind reevaluating with this info in a more simplified way.
(I’m easily confused with half-life etc.)
Th K you
There is no simplified way to explain it other than to say the effects of Kevzara will wear off in a few weeks after stopping the injections. Then it depends if PMR stays in remission after the injections are stopped and when Kevzara isn't in your system anymore.
Half-life is only part of it. There is also something known as being at "steady state"
"7.7 Biological Half-Life
The half-life will depend on the administered concentration. At 200 mg every 2 weeks, half-life is up to 10 days in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at steady state. At 150 mg every 2 weeks, half-life is up to 8 days in patients with RA at steady state. After the last steady state dose of 150 and 200 mg, the time to reach nondetectable concentration is 28 and 43 days, respectively." https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sarilumab
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@howardgm I’m starting to see improvement
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2 Reactions@caroljeand I’m down to 4mg methylprednisolone from 32mg. I am so happy. I’ve had many side effects from the steroids, most recently AVN ( Avascular necrosis) of my knee.
@stonewheel
Started Kevzara March 2025 @ abt 8 mg prednisone.
Off all prednisone by 7/15/2025
11/5/2025 chged Kevzara to every 3 weeks because of low WBC.
Jan 2026, blood work normal, stayed at Kevzara 3 week intervals.
Last Kevzara shot 2/22/2026…….stopped cold and no side effects.
Note: I was not, and am not, on any other medications for any other conditions .
I am now 2 months since last shot, blood work shows elevated CRP (10.8). I am not feeling it, 🤞, Dr wants me to restart Kevzara, I’m asking to retest in another 2 months. Wait and see, if a problem reach out to him. Note, I have not heard back yet. 🤞
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3 ReactionsWow! Thank you so much. I hope you dont need to go back on anything!
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2 Reactions@tweetypie13 I pray it’s all good.
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2 Reactions@tweetypie13
I wish I could say I’m not on any other meds! You are truly lucky.
Hope you don’t have to return to the injections. I’m looking ahead and hoping to be injection free.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@tweetypie13 Kevzara has a half life of 10-14 days. That means that only half of a drug is in your system at the end of every half life. Doctors consider 5 half lives to be "completely out of your system" mark. Meaning 50-70 days for Kevzara. You are in this window.
Your CRP being up can be expected to continue going up without drug therapy intervention. I suspect this is why your doctor wants to start you back on Kevzara now and not later.
Ask your doctor about taking injection every 2 or 3 weeks rather than every week and getting 150mg rather than 200mg dose injectable.
Take care and know your doctor is there to keep you out of the ditch and not just help you get out of the ditch.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jabrown0407 Thx for your input. Truly appreciate it.
I’m a bit confused, easily….soo…
I was on a 200mg shot every 3 weeks for 4 months, when we stopped Kevzara.
No side symptoms etc. Last shot was 2/22/2026.
Would you mind reevaluating with this info in a more simplified way.
(I’m easily confused with half-life etc.)
Th K you
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI'm not medically trained so I'm going to decline your request. An AI tool would be where I would start.
Since you were on a three week schedule I have no idea but the fundamental answer will be the same, 10-14 days since your last injection times 5. At the end of the first 14 days you have 50% of med in you (1 half life), then 25% in you at the end of the 2nd 14 days - half of 50% is 25%. To get it down you need 5 half-lives.
The variable days allow for individual metabolisms which has to do with age, lifestyle choices, other drugs, hydration, diet, organ function, etc.
Hope this helps.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@tweetypie13
There is no simplified way to explain it other than to say the effects of Kevzara will wear off in a few weeks after stopping the injections. Then it depends if PMR stays in remission after the injections are stopped and when Kevzara isn't in your system anymore.
Half-life is only part of it. There is also something known as being at "steady state"
"7.7 Biological Half-Life
The half-life will depend on the administered concentration. At 200 mg every 2 weeks, half-life is up to 10 days in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at steady state. At 150 mg every 2 weeks, half-life is up to 8 days in patients with RA at steady state. After the last steady state dose of 150 and 200 mg, the time to reach nondetectable concentration is 28 and 43 days, respectively."
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sarilumab
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions