Connect
← Return to Find a rheumatologist in Northern Colorado
Discussion
Find a rheumatologist in Northern Colorado
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 4 hours ago | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
@petermccarville Thanks for your response…my research for Methotrexate, Kevzara and Actemra indicates that all of these take weeks to months before they begin to work and longer for full effects plus the side effects are way more toxic than prednisone! Plus you would be subjected to double side effects while taking both… PBK
Replies to "@petermccarville Thanks for your response…my research for Methotrexate, Kevzara and Actemra indicates that all of these..."
@pbk128
Hi. I have bad side effects from Prednisone (which did stop my PMR pain immediately.) I can count my bad side effects on two hands and one foot. And, one of the Prednisine side effects hospitalized me for 5 days and caused me to be dependent on 5 additional prescriptions, plus 4 OTC supplements. Because of that, my insurance readily approved Kevzara (hospitalization experiences with prescribed specialist referrals tend to speed up that process.)
Kevzara has been safe for me and the only side effects noticed is the typical low white blood cell count (WBC) and low absolute neutrophil count (ANC).
They hover around the bottom of the low normal and immediately after my injection they go slightly below normal for about a week. The risk of infection is actually low with Kevzara looking at their data and data from other sources that I researched before starting it. I’m very happy with it. It is far safer for me than Prednisone, which almost killed me. I am down to 3mg/day of Prednisone now and intend to be off completely by August. I don’t know where your research came from, but like dadcue’s doctor told him, you won’t ever know until you try it. Look for other Kevzara and Biologics comments, replies and reports on Mayo and others. Kevzara is expensive, but my insurance makes it possible for me. Prednisone won’t break the bank (it’s cheap) but Kevzara might (so that may be considered to be a bad side effect.)
Good luck and best wishes with whatever you decide is best for you. We are all different. Keep us informed.
Connect
@pbk128 When my taper got to 10 mg. I had a flare. I asked my rheumatologist if I was a candidate for Actemra, since my dx was GCA and PMR. I started Actemra infusions in Jan. 2025. I was able to continue my taper, without any flares. The last time I took Prednisone, was early Nov. 2025. I have felt so much better being off of prednisone. I had side effects that you could count on 2 hands. I am aware that Actemra has side effects, but it was 'pick your poison'. I chose Actemra and am glad I did. I did get a couple of respiratory infections that each lasted a month. My doc lowered my Actemra doseage and I haven't had any issues since. I will be on it until Jan. 2027, when I start tapering off of it.