One would hope PMR patients of the future will have better options than prednisone. I took prednisone for more than 12 years for PMR and never could taper off. I read stuff about prednisone being the only option for PMR and GCA. I'm just happy that my rheumatologist kept trying to find a way for me to get me off prednisone.

The solution for me at least was Actemra which is similar to Kevzara. I was able to taper off prednisone in a matter of months as compared to years. It made me wonder why Actemra wasn't tried sooner. As it it was, my rheumatologist said getting Actemra approved for me to treat PMR was no easy matter.

I'm a nurse who stuck needles in other people all the time. I was squeamish to about injecting myself. I asked me wife to do it for me She was a nurse as well.

I have now opted for doing monthly infusions in part because I was getting tired of doing injections. I don't mind someone else starting the IV for the infusion. My rhematologist is my hero and was happy to order the infusions for me since it works so well for me.

My rheumatologist was reluctant to order Actemra after he sought approval for it. He talked about doing monthly infusions first, then switched it to weekly injections. Ultimately, he decided to go with injections every two weeks to "play it safe." It made me wonder what I was getting myself into. Now that I'm off prednisone, I'm very pleased with Actemra.

I wouldn't mind stopping Actemra just to see if remission is sustainable. So far, that hasn't been the case. When I did stop Actemra once, the pain gradually returned but it was more subtle and only after a long time. My rheumatologist said that was consistent with biologics that are given for other autoimmune conditions.