What to Expect After Kevzara?

I'm on kevzara but I'm one of the unlucky ones who doesn't get enough relief from it. I've seen some posts mentioning just stopping kevzara, while others mentioned stretching out the dosing to 3 weeks first, and then maybe 4 weeks. If kevzara works for you, that is the approach I would want to try. If you stop and then need to restart, is there a build up period again? That's what I would ask your rheumatologist.

I would like to know too. I may be going off soon so I would like hear about some others who have stopped Kevzara. I know there isn’t much track record to go on.

@caroljeand Hi.
I’m off Kevzara.
And, I’m doing fine.
I began Kevzara mid-Jan. ‘26.
I was on Prednisone 35mg/day.
(I was started on Pred. at 40mg/day in Nov. ‘25.)
I started Kevzara 2 months after PMR diagnosis and after 2 months of Pred.

I took Kevzara for 8 months, 15 injections. The last two injections were 3-weeks apart, instead of 2.
My rheum. then said to stop Kevzara until my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet count increased (they were below acceptable per Kevzara guidelines.)

I had tapered down to 0.5mg/day of Pred., so I actually stopped Kevzara before stopping Prednisone.
I stopped the Prednisone 10 days later, after my last Kevzara injection.

My rheum. got Cosentyx approved for me (6 weeks ago) and I can start anytime I feel the need.
But, I’m in no hurry because I feel well enough and better every day. Maybe I don’t need Kevzara or Prednisone anymore. I’m hoping the PMR is over. I’ve tolerated a little PMR shoulders and neck pain but almost no hip pain, and the shoulders and neck pain is fading fast.
I’ve been off of Kevzara for 10 weeks and off of Prednisone for 8 weeks.

We believe (my rheum. and I) that along with PMR I also have Psoriotic Arthritis.
That could explain the itchy scalp and the sore and slightly swollen fingers, and the palm and foot pain that I had (which ceased while I was taking Kevzara) has increased again after stopping Kevzara.
If these annoying symptoms continue to get worse, I’ll start the Cosentyx. I’m hoping that I won’t have to, that they’ll go away, or that they remain tolerable. I’m able to do everything I was doing before PMR. A tad slower, but I’m a year older.
I walked my youngest daughter down the aisle 2 weeks ago (out-of-town, a 5 hour drive each way, I drove) and my body didn’t fail me. It was a busy weekend.

I had a complete bloodwork done last week and my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet counts are back in the normal range. So, they were low because of the Kevzara.

I eat right, sleep enough, exercise a lot, and took meds and supplements to counter the Prednisone negative effects. It all seemed to have worked in my favor. I’ve stopped the extra “other meds” too.

Like Dadcue said above, Kevzara stays in your system for a while after being on a maintenance level. How long? I’ve read vastly different time frames, from so-called experts (medical professionals) who should know, ranging from 1 month to 6 months. For me, I think 2-3 months, which is where I am now. Maybe that is why the OP’s (cwbf’s) doctor says that there is no need to taper off of Kevzara. Kevzara apparently tapers itself via half-life length.

My game plan was to use Kevzara to stop Prednisone.
And I did, but I was forced to stop the Kevzara before I had fully tapered off of the Prefnisone. But still, Kevzara helped me get off Pred. faster.

If my blood levels had been better, I would still be on Kevzara, no Pred., and wondering if I should start tapering off of the Kevzara.

I was thinking (and my rheum. let me be help decide my treatment options) that I would taper from 2 week intervals, to 3 week intervals and then change from the 200mg to the 150mg injections at 3 week then 4 week intervals, then stop. And, hope not to have any severe PMR pains return. There don’t seem to be any rules or guideline by the manufacturers or distributors, not really.

I feel that we are the lab rats, so to speak.
It is new territory. I think I have read maybe one person on here that has stopped Kevzara permanently.

I’m looking forward to reading responses from others who have successfully stopped Kevzara permanently and how they went about stopping. Even you caroljeand, when you do. I’m going to celebrate when you do.

I want to add, like kjoed53, I don’t feel that Kevzara completely alleviated the PMR pain for me. Probably 80%-90%. But, I was tapering Prednisone fairly rapidly and my adrenal system was restarting during that timeframe. So that could be why I still felt PMR slightly while I was taking Kevzara. Maybe if I had tapered Pred. slower, the Kevzara would have felt like it was providing 100% pain relief.

Best wishes when you go off.

@caroljeand Hi.
I’m off Kevzara.
And, I’m doing fine.
I began Kevzara mid-Jan. ‘26.
I was on Prednisone 35mg/day.
(I was started on Pred. at 40mg/day in Nov. ‘25.)
I started Kevzara 2 months after PMR diagnosis and after 2 months of Pred.

I took Kevzara for 8 months, 15 injections. The last two injections were 3-weeks apart, instead of 2.
My rheum. then said to stop Kevzara until my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet count increased (they were below acceptable per Kevzara guidelines.)

I had tapered down to 0.5mg/day of Pred., so I actually stopped Kevzara before stopping Prednisone.
I stopped the Prednisone 10 days later, after my last Kevzara injection.

My rheum. got Cosentyx approved for me (6 weeks ago) and I can start anytime I feel the need.
But, I’m in no hurry because I feel well enough and better every day. Maybe I don’t need Kevzara or Prednisone anymore. I’m hoping the PMR is over. I’ve tolerated a little PMR shoulders and neck pain but almost no hip pain, and the shoulders and neck pain is fading fast.
I’ve been off of Kevzara for 10 weeks and off of Prednisone for 8 weeks.

We believe (my rheum. and I) that along with PMR I also have Psoriotic Arthritis.
That could explain the itchy scalp and the sore and slightly swollen fingers, and the palm and foot pain that I had (which ceased while I was taking Kevzara) has increased again after stopping Kevzara.
If these annoying symptoms continue to get worse, I’ll start the Cosentyx. I’m hoping that I won’t have to, that they’ll go away, or that they remain tolerable. I’m able to do everything I was doing before PMR. A tad slower, but I’m a year older.
I walked my youngest daughter down the aisle 2 weeks ago (out-of-town, a 5 hour drive each way, I drove) and my body didn’t fail me. It was a busy weekend.

I had a complete bloodwork done last week and my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet counts are back in the normal range. So, they were low because of the Kevzara.

I eat right, sleep enough, exercise a lot, and took meds and supplements to counter the Prednisone negative effects. It all seemed to have worked in my favor. I’ve stopped the extra “other meds” too.

Like Dadcue said above, Kevzara stays in your system for a while after being on a maintenance level. How long? I’ve read vastly different time frames, from so-called experts (medical professionals) who should know, ranging from 1 month to 6 months. For me, I think 2-3 months, which is where I am now. Maybe that is why the OP’s (cwbf’s) doctor says that there is no need to taper off of Kevzara. Kevzara apparently tapers itself via half-life length.

My game plan was to use Kevzara to stop Prednisone.
And I did, but I was forced to stop the Kevzara before I had fully tapered off of the Prefnisone. But still, Kevzara helped me get off Pred. faster.

If my blood levels had been better, I would still be on Kevzara, no Pred., and wondering if I should start tapering off of the Kevzara.

I was thinking (and my rheum. let me be help decide my treatment options) that I would taper from 2 week intervals, to 3 week intervals and then change from the 200mg to the 150mg injections at 3 week then 4 week intervals, then stop. And, hope not to have any severe PMR pains return. There don’t seem to be any rules or guideline by the manufacturers or distributors, not really.

I feel that we are the lab rats, so to speak.
It is new territory. I think I have read maybe one person on here that has stopped Kevzara permanently.

I’m looking forward to reading responses from others who have successfully stopped Kevzara permanently and how they went about stopping. Even you caroljeand, when you do. I’m going to celebrate when you do.

I want to add, like kjoed53, I don’t feel that Kevzara completely alleviated the PMR pain for me. Probably 80%-90%. But, I was tapering Prednisone fairly rapidly and my adrenal system was restarting during that timeframe. So that could be why I still felt PMR slightly while I was taking Kevzara. Maybe if I had tapered Pred. slower, the Kevzara would have felt like it was providing 100% pain relief.

Best wishes when you go off.

@caroljeand Hi.
I’m off Kevzara.
And, I’m doing fine.
I began Kevzara mid-Jan. ‘26.
I was on Prednisone 35mg/day.
(I was started on Pred. at 40mg/day in Nov. ‘25.)
I started Kevzara 2 months after PMR diagnosis and after 2 months of Pred.

I took Kevzara for 8 months, 15 injections. The last two injections were 3-weeks apart, instead of 2.
My rheum. then said to stop Kevzara until my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet count increased (they were below acceptable per Kevzara guidelines.)

I had tapered down to 0.5mg/day of Pred., so I actually stopped Kevzara before stopping Prednisone.
I stopped the Prednisone 10 days later, after my last Kevzara injection.

My rheum. got Cosentyx approved for me (6 weeks ago) and I can start anytime I feel the need.
But, I’m in no hurry because I feel well enough and better every day. Maybe I don’t need Kevzara or Prednisone anymore. I’m hoping the PMR is over. I’ve tolerated a little PMR shoulders and neck pain but almost no hip pain, and the shoulders and neck pain is fading fast.
I’ve been off of Kevzara for 10 weeks and off of Prednisone for 8 weeks.

We believe (my rheum. and I) that along with PMR I also have Psoriotic Arthritis.
That could explain the itchy scalp and the sore and slightly swollen fingers, and the palm and foot pain that I had (which ceased while I was taking Kevzara) has increased again after stopping Kevzara.
If these annoying symptoms continue to get worse, I’ll start the Cosentyx. I’m hoping that I won’t have to, that they’ll go away, or that they remain tolerable. I’m able to do everything I was doing before PMR. A tad slower, but I’m a year older.
I walked my youngest daughter down the aisle 2 weeks ago (out-of-town, a 5 hour drive each way, I drove) and my body didn’t fail me. It was a busy weekend.

I had a complete bloodwork done last week and my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet counts are back in the normal range. So, they were low because of the Kevzara.

I eat right, sleep enough, exercise a lot, and took meds and supplements to counter the Prednisone negative effects. It all seemed to have worked in my favor. I’ve stopped the extra “other meds” too.

Like Dadcue said above, Kevzara stays in your system for a while after being on a maintenance level. How long? I’ve read vastly different time frames, from so-called experts (medical professionals) who should know, ranging from 1 month to 6 months. For me, I think 2-3 months, which is where I am now. Maybe that is why the OP’s (cwbf’s) doctor says that there is no need to taper off of Kevzara. Kevzara apparently tapers itself via half-life length.

My game plan was to use Kevzara to stop Prednisone.
And I did, but I was forced to stop the Kevzara before I had fully tapered off of the Prefnisone. But still, Kevzara helped me get off Pred. faster.

If my blood levels had been better, I would still be on Kevzara, no Pred., and wondering if I should start tapering off of the Kevzara.

I was thinking (and my rheum. let me be help decide my treatment options) that I would taper from 2 week intervals, to 3 week intervals and then change from the 200mg to the 150mg injections at 3 week then 4 week intervals, then stop. And, hope not to have any severe PMR pains return. There don’t seem to be any rules or guideline by the manufacturers or distributors, not really.

I feel that we are the lab rats, so to speak.
It is new territory. I think I have read maybe one person on here that has stopped Kevzara permanently.

I’m looking forward to reading responses from others who have successfully stopped Kevzara permanently and how they went about stopping. Even you caroljeand, when you do. I’m going to celebrate when you do.

I want to add, like kjoed53, I don’t feel that Kevzara completely alleviated the PMR pain for me. Probably 80%-90%. But, I was tapering Prednisone fairly rapidly and my adrenal system was restarting during that timeframe. So that could be why I still felt PMR slightly while I was taking Kevzara. Maybe if I had tapered Pred. slower, the Kevzara would have felt like it was providing 100% pain relief.

Best wishes when you go off.

@caroljeand Hi.
I’m off Kevzara.
And, I’m doing fine.
I began Kevzara mid-Jan. ‘26.
I was on Prednisone 35mg/day.
(I was started on Pred. at 40mg/day in Nov. ‘25.)
I started Kevzara 2 months after PMR diagnosis and after 2 months of Pred.

I took Kevzara for 8 months, 15 injections. The last two injections were 3-weeks apart, instead of 2.
My rheum. then said to stop Kevzara until my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet count increased (they were below acceptable per Kevzara guidelines.)

I had tapered down to 0.5mg/day of Pred., so I actually stopped Kevzara before stopping Prednisone.
I stopped the Prednisone 10 days later, after my last Kevzara injection.

My rheum. got Cosentyx approved for me (6 weeks ago) and I can start anytime I feel the need.
But, I’m in no hurry because I feel well enough and better every day. Maybe I don’t need Kevzara or Prednisone anymore. I’m hoping the PMR is over. I’ve tolerated a little PMR shoulders and neck pain but almost no hip pain, and the shoulders and neck pain is fading fast.
I’ve been off of Kevzara for 10 weeks and off of Prednisone for 8 weeks.

We believe (my rheum. and I) that along with PMR I also have Psoriotic Arthritis.
That could explain the itchy scalp and the sore and slightly swollen fingers, and the palm and foot pain that I had (which ceased while I was taking Kevzara) has increased again after stopping Kevzara.
If these annoying symptoms continue to get worse, I’ll start the Cosentyx. I’m hoping that I won’t have to, that they’ll go away, or that they remain tolerable. I’m able to do everything I was doing before PMR. A tad slower, but I’m a year older.
I walked my youngest daughter down the aisle 2 weeks ago (out-of-town, a 5 hour drive each way, I drove) and my body didn’t fail me. It was a busy weekend.

I had a complete bloodwork done last week and my white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and platelet counts are back in the normal range. So, they were low because of the Kevzara.

I eat right, sleep enough, exercise a lot, and took meds and supplements to counter the Prednisone negative effects. It all seemed to have worked in my favor. I’ve stopped the extra “other meds” too.

Like Dadcue said above, Kevzara stays in your system for a while after being on a maintenance level. How long? I’ve read vastly different time frames, from so-called experts (medical professionals) who should know, ranging from 1 month to 6 months. For me, I think 2-3 months, which is where I am now. Maybe that is why the OP’s (cwbf’s) doctor says that there is no need to taper off of Kevzara. Kevzara apparently tapers itself via half-life length.

My game plan was to use Kevzara to stop Prednisone.
And I did, but I was forced to stop the Kevzara before I had fully tapered off of the Prefnisone. But still, Kevzara helped me get off Pred. faster.

If my blood levels had been better, I would still be on Kevzara, no Pred., and wondering if I should start tapering off of the Kevzara.

I was thinking (and my rheum. let me be help decide my treatment options) that I would taper from 2 week intervals, to 3 week intervals and then change from the 200mg to the 150mg injections at 3 week then 4 week intervals, then stop. And, hope not to have any severe PMR pains return. There don’t seem to be any rules or guideline by the manufacturers or distributors, not really.

I feel that we are the lab rats, so to speak.
It is new territory. I think I have read maybe one person on here that has stopped Kevzara permanently.

I’m looking forward to reading responses from others who have successfully stopped Kevzara permanently and how they went about stopping. Even you caroljeand, when you do. I’m going to celebrate when you do.

I want to add, like kjoed53, I don’t feel that Kevzara completely alleviated the PMR pain for me. Probably 80%-90%. But, I was tapering Prednisone fairly rapidly and my adrenal system was restarting during that timeframe. So that could be why I still felt PMR slightly while I was taking Kevzara. Maybe if I had tapered Pred. slower, the Kevzara would have felt like it was providing 100% pain relief.

Best wishes when you go off.