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← Return to PMR and Methotrexate
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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Nov 27 11:03am | Replies (231)
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First I'd like to say I do not have PMR but GCA. However, I have two friends in who have PMR and could not take prednisone. One gal, I'm not sure how much she takes each week, tablets, she doesn't feel the greatest the next day. She just anticipates that kind of day and takes it easy. She is in England.
Another gal developed GCA and is in the States. She used to take weekly injections of Actemra and now takes them every two weeks. Hopefully, the option of an alternate medication will become available for PMR patients soon.
Neither of these women has sleep issues. Can you take Tylenol to help you sleep? Would that help do you think? I'm not too much help, but some thoughts. My best💞
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There already is an alternate medication available for PMR patients.
Kevzara (Sarilumab) was recently FDA approved and currently is available in the USA for the treatment of PMR. Kevzara is an IL-6 receptor blocker just like Actemra. Kevzara studies were promising for PMR just like Actemra was for GCA.
https://www.news.sanofi.us/2023-03-01-Kevzara-R-sarilumab-approved-by-FDA-as-first-and-only-biologic-indicated-for-patients-with-polymyalgia-rheumatica
Kevzara probably won't be available in the UK anytime soon. Prednisone is still the only option and the best option in the UK. I was told my experience with Actemra to treat PMR wasn't relevant to the good people in the UK who have PMR only.