Rheum wants Kevzara but Methotrexate much cheaper, work as well?

@abd
Thank you very much for this information. My Rheumatologist said that Kevzara could leave a "mark" or something, so thanks. Is the name of the most current medication you were told isn't available "Acetemra"? Is it the specialty pharmacy saying it isn't available? My Rheumatologist said you get Kevzara from a "specialty pharmacy" or something. It seems like it can be a problem, especially if you've been taking a "biologic" type drug that can be so helpful and then suddenly can't get it. I'm sorry this has happened to you. It's hard enough having PMR and taking Prednisone, trying to taper without horrible flares, and then having RX issues on top isn't our idea of fun!! Thanks again for your help. I hope you can get the most recent one ASAP. Blessings.

@abd
Thank you very much for this information. My Rheumatologist said that Kevzara could leave a "mark" or something, so thanks. Is the name of the most current medication you were told isn't available "Acetemra"? Is it the specialty pharmacy saying it isn't available? My Rheumatologist said you get Kevzara from a "specialty pharmacy" or something. It seems like it can be a problem, especially if you've been taking a "biologic" type drug that can be so helpful and then suddenly can't get it. I'm sorry this has happened to you. It's hard enough having PMR and taking Prednisone, trying to taper without horrible flares, and then having RX issues on top isn't our idea of fun!! Thanks again for your help. I hope you can get the most recent one ASAP. Blessings.

@boomermeg Yes Kevzara comes from specialty pharmacy….needs constant refrigeration etc. Had not been a problem for me.

@boomermeg Kevzara website is very helpful……best you read it and side effects, rather than totally relying on our word. It is all individual. Yes, I had a couple of injections in my belly that left a “red mark”. Nothing to get excited about, and stopped after a couple of months.

@jeff97 Thank you so much for all this info. I really appreciate it. I don't take any other expensive drugs, so I'll look at what my total drug max for year is. Really can't afford such high costs per year due to my husband's and my ages but probably make too much to qualify for help, but I'll check that as well for Kevzara and Actemra. This PMR support group is so helpful. I've learned so much from each post. Thank you again and Blessings on your journey.

Getting insurance to approve coverage and getting the medicine from manufacturers is indeed a problem. Seems these people want doctors to try other medicines. My experience anyway.
With Kevzara, the cost was covered after my annual deductible for that tier of drug.
Check with your doctors office on the cost.
I was on Kevzara but after the second and third had welts at injection site so my Rheumatologist took me off. I do believe it was helping and noticed a difference right away. I have not been on Methotrexate- from word of mouth and reading it seems to have more risks to it.
Right now I have been on another injection every two weeks but now when I reordered was told it wasn’t available.

Oral metho made me sick. Injected metho also made me sick. Best price for Kevzara thru insurance was $2500/month but considered outside normal drug tiers so annual max doesn’t apply. Could purchase direct for $1800/month but almost $22k/yr still too much.
Now taking Leflunomide which has enabled me to get down to 5 mg pred daily for first time in over 2 yrs. 🤞🏻 (PMR over 12 yrs)

Good luck whichever way you decide to go. I was diagnosed last November and put on prednisone at 40 mg. Tapered down to 15 mg in April. Rheumatologist added Methotrexate, mainly due to the cost. Within 4 weeks I had breathing problems. To cut this short, I had acute respiratory failure, in a coma, on life support for 10 days and subsequently in ICU, and spent a total of 70 days in the hospital.
I am hesitant to try anything that warns of lung issues now.