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(Male, 68 y) PMR started one and half year ago very suddenly, was healthy till then. Two days of high fever (42 !!) Pain and stiffness neck, shoulders and hips. RF 140. CRP 45. Anti CCP neg. Got Prednisone, wich worked after a few days. One year later at 10 mg Prednisone and Metotrexate 15 mg, as an steroid sparing. I am not able to taper Prednisone less then 10 mg. So i will start biologic (injections) treatment with Kevzara (Sarilumab) which is allowed by FDA for PMR.
I am interested to connect to patients whom are treated with Kevzara (Sarilumab).
Replies to "(Male, 68 y) PMR started one and half year ago very suddenly, was healthy till then...."
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Good luck. Let the group know how that works for you.
Cah
how are the Kevzara treatments going? My Rheum wants me to start since Methotrexate isn't ok for me to take due to warnings of seizures. I would love to hear how the Kevzara does for you?
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I'm not on Kevzara but I do take Actemra (tocilizumab) for PMR along with some other autoimmune problems. Actemra is in the same classification as Kevzara. Both Kevzara and Actemra are IL-6 receptor blockers.
I took prednisone more than 12 years for PMR. I was 52 when diagnosed with PMR but I'm currently 68 years old and still a male.
I'm so pleased that your doctor is considering Kevzara for PMR. Being on 10 mg of prednisone after a year and a half is a lot of prednisone. I was still on 10 mg of prednisone after more than 12 years. Methotrexate didn't contribute much steroid sparing benefit for me.
Let's hope Kevzara will work well and maybe you will get off both prednisone and methotrexate. Some doctors give methotrexate concurrently with any biologic but my rheumatologist didn't think it was necessary in my case. I had already tried methotrexate twice during more than 12 years of PMR.
I'm very pleased that your doctor is considering Kevzara. My rheumatologist has said Kevzara may be an option for me in the future. I have taken Actemra for 4 years. Initially, I was able to taper off prednisone in less than a year. There were some ups and downs but I have now been completely off prednisone for over a year. For the first time in many years, PMR is on my medical problem list but it now says "in remission" after it.
I wish you luck with Kevzara.