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GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 25 10:20am | Replies (277)Comment receiving replies
My rheumatologist says I have PMR with "presumed" GCA. I was diagnosed in Feb 2023, and originally was given 20 mg//day of Prednisone.
However, I experienced severe inflammation that resulted in an emergency room visit, after which the ER doctors upped the dosage to 60 mg/day of Prednisone.
I am now being treated with weekly shots of Actemra and tapering off Prednisone. I'm currently taking 35 mg/day. If there are no relapses, I will be down to 10 mg in June, then completely off of Prednisone in October.
Before treatment, the pain was excruciating, so Prednisone was very helpful, but the side effects are very difficult.
Replies to "My rheumatologist says I have PMR with "presumed" GCA. I was diagnosed in Feb 2023, and..."
Quick question, were you put on an antibiotic by your doctor until your dosage of prednisone gets below 20mg? I was told this is due to the increased risk of a very serious but rare infection (i can't remember what it was). I was put on Bactrim and it increased my liver lab tests while on ACTEMRA. Went off of it and everything was fine.
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You are doing great in your taper. I have been on actemra since mid October for my first infusion. I have had a total of 7 so far. I too started at 60mg when my omr morphed into gca in September. I was down to 10mg but had to go back up to 12.4mg and i might have to increase it. I'm not sure if the infusions are working as it should but it has elevated my cholesterol to very high so m thinking of stopping. M talking to my dr on Friday about this. I wonder if there is a difference between getting it by infusion or self injections. Hope you continue feeling better🤞