Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in regards to anti-inflammatory-power

Good article but I would be cautious. The use of GLP-1 in anti-inflammation treatment of autoimmune diseases is, by the article's account, still in trial. Getting a Dr to prescribe for PMR might be hard to find, as well. Looks promising, however. If you have a weight problem that warrants a GLP-1 then maybe you could get a two-for or additional benefit.(?).

I would suggest trying Kevzara for PMR in order to help taper and get off the prednisone ASAP. Being at 9 mg, you probably did not start long ago (3-4 months). My pred taper was 9 months and I had a prescription for Kevzara but never filled it due to doing well (no flares) with my pred taper. You have options.

@petermccarville
I'm in my final stages of tapering, at 1.5 mg. Started at 60mg last October. I found right abound 3mg that little 'signs' (or my hyper-sensitivity due to fear) were flaring. Not PMR tho, like lower leg pain, feet numbness....weird stuff. That's when I slowed down to a .5 decrease every 3 weeks. This slower pace seems to have calmed things down. I have not used any other drugs to assist the taper. I will say it is really hard to know if prednisone related or other. I have GCA and no signs of PMR yet. Now that you are off steroids, are you using any maintenance drug? Did you have steroid side affects? I have gained weight and so wish I had my old self back. Maybe GLP1 would give me that? A1C is elevated but Doc tells me its the prednisone. Are you back to your old self PeterMcCarville??

@bettsgca I to had little weird pains )not PMR) that started around 4-5 mg. That is when I too started my .5 mg decrease every 2 weeks, rather than the 1 mg every three that I was doing.

I am not using any maintenance drug but occasionally try Arthritis strength tylenol when I am having one of those days. For example, my pains, post prednisone, seem to come on when I do lots of work. Yesterday I tilled a 2500 square foot garden, did some moving of lumber, and worked on a garage remodel (carpentry) that I started a couple of weeks ago. I had just spent the prior two days doing similar amounts and types of work. I noticed that I am getting more and more sore all over my body when I do this kind of stuff, unless I take a break or slow down. I also notice that if I do not get enough sleep the pain can be worse. the tylenol helps a bit but not really that much in these circumstances.

So, no, I am not back to my old self but it is getting a bit better whenI come off of a few days of this kind of physical output.

Other than thin skin, I did not have many side effects of pred. I did get gastro problems whenI was tapering off, strangely but that subsided when I really made sure to take the pred while eating, not after. No weight gain , but then I started on 15 mg (not 60), and tapered to 12.5 in one month, then to 10 in the next month, etc.

Read my posting of a week ago where I asked others about the post prednisone adrenal insufficiency problem.

@petermccarville and all... Well, my goodness... Geez and Crackers! Jiminy Crickets! Peter C Carville... I'd say you are doing pretty well with your activity level! Wow! I'm thrilled with being able to move my legs and feet. With only arthritis pain increases as I taper Prednisone... If I go below 14mg, I become paralyzed again, hips and legs, quit working, feet won't lift or move. I have serious pain throughout my body.

So, wisely, I am holding indefinitely at 14mg daily. However, I do have increased joint pain, sometimes severe. Extra strength Tylenol is what I use for that. With if needed a kenalog cream I use for Sarcoid flares with rash or pain. The Tylenol takes the edge off, helps but there continues to be an underlying pain, discomfort.

I accept that as just fine in order to stay at 14mg and not go back up to 15 mg where the pain is reduced. I will not risk paralysis or muscle freezing, that still happens if I have an active day... that night I awake about 2-3 a.m. with increased muscle tightness and pain, and take an extra Robaxin muscle relaxer, and a Tylenol. That gets me through to my a.m. pills without a paralysis flare. My own discovery out of fear. Living alone, it's not a good thing to wake up in the morning and not be able to move my muscles, legs/hips or full body. So, I figured I'd hit it head on and this works well.

I have steroid induced diabetes that sent me to the ER last year with coma level glucose. This episode was caused by Oxympic. I took Oxympic to control diabetes for over a year and loved it. No weight loss, but excellent glucose control. Then, I developed every side effect known and was extremely ill with no diagnosis. Immediately off Oxympic and symptoms reduced. Then, glucose went crazy and I was in ER. That began my year from Hell...

I now work with Endocronology to control diabetes with insulin, for life. Started with 5 daily insulin shots plus a long acting shot with Prednisone pills. The doctor put me on Mounjaro, after extreme caution, many, many, questions and fears put to rest... as it is well tested and different than Oxympic. I just increased the dose to 7.5 after several good months at 5mg with no side effects. It actually helps reduces the amount of insulin daily I must have to keep the glucose controlled.

Now, on 7.5mg, I am down to one insulin shot daily, and one long-acting insulin shot with Prednisone pills. That's a dream for me. No weight loss. Pooh. I do need to reduce the Prednisone pounds, but not sure will happen. Probably not level at 14 mg Prednisone. Too bad, as my additional pounds are not healthy. But, I take my wins...

Enjoy your carpentry, and your wonderful activities! You are blessed indeed.
Elizabeth

Sorry to hear about your struggles @ess77 and the darn diabetes. Sound like you have really had the year form hell. I am 64, male. I got PMR around my 63rd b-day. Fun Fun. I have always been extremely active and an athlete. Went from skiing hard to the next week could not dress myself. As far as I know, I do not have any other underlying issues (co-morbidities). I do have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS is a genetic disorder) that is inherited. I have a "mild" version of it (there are 13 different types) but it could play a role in PMR. It could have also played a role in the gut pains that I had for 4 years prior to PMR (and some overlap). That was finally diagnosed as hypersensitive viscera. It seems that I have pain with digesting food that others do not notice. My gut-brain axis (communication system) was screwed up. This too could be informed by Ehlers Danlos (EDS). So, life has not been a bowl of cherries. In fact, I have suffered from major depression and anxiety for much of my life, as well. In addition, EDS also contributes whole body aches and pains that seem to have no rhyme or reason.

@petermccarville and all... It seems you really bounced back nicely, Peter. That may well be due to your prior activity level and health. Even with the issues you mention, you were active - skiing, moving a bunch and getting good muscular activity? I wasn't. I haven't for several years, as at age 40 I developed the 1st auto-immune illness, Sarcoid. That was the 1st stint with Prednisone and since those years, I've had a few relapses of Sarcoid. It hit my lungs. I was pretty sick for a long time. It wasn't a nice illness and set me up for today, I suppose.

I got a bunch of pulmonary infections and bronchitic, even a couple of pneumonias, but wasn't really disabled until my balance became a problem. So, in my 50s, I began using a walking stick for balance. Even then, I still did a bit of ballroom dancing, which I adored... wasn't very good, but loved the whole thing... music is in my bones, beauty, feeling wonderful, grace, and of course, the dancing itself was simply fantastic. I do miss those times...

But, I will tell you it appears once a body gets an auto-immune disease. like PMR. another one follows. Must have to do with changes in the immune/auto-immune system, obviously. After 2 bouts with Covid in 2023, July I recovered on the pills and low Prednisone dose with the supplements and respiratory treatments most of us received.

The 2nd Covid was in October that year and I was a very sick puppy. I received the 3 IV Remvesidere infusions at Mayo, was sent to the ER before the last IV as I was getting worse. I had Covic pneumonia and negotiated my way out of admission to the hospital by promising to treat myself at home using my Bi-pap for severe sleep apnea, I use nightly with O2! I kept my O2 level above 90 most of the time staying on the Bi-pap 24/7 for 5 days, and have used it often during the day since.

I came out of that Covid infection alive, but damaged forever. I developed PMR within weeks of Covid, very serious attack. Then, soon GCA. Both treated with increased Prednisone. GCA was then treated with Methatrexate.

Then, more severe and frequent infections, lung/UTI/injury and diabetes of course.

So, you see, my journey has been pretty long and progressively worsening since my mid years. I was fairly athletic though, playing daily tennis during my 20-30s, working long hard hours, running a business, caring for my ill mother, then caring for my ill and disabled son. Now, caring for myself and assisting my son as I can. We help each other now...

I hope you continue to improve, keep up the great activity level you do now and ward off any health issues along the way. Blessings, Elizabeth

@petermccarville Thank you Peter. It gives me hope. I have always been active and a skier too. Hoping the prednisone doesn't weaken my bones and I can continue. Read your other posts too. I appreciate that you spend the time telling your journey. It helps. I know we all have different struggles but the gift of this PMR/GCA is to appreciate the good days! Take care.