← Return to Starting treatment with Kevzara: My journey

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@wilmingtonemperor

So now have 3 doses of Kevzara on board. Next dose is Dec 5. Absolutely no adverse side effect or adverse reaction. Down to 10mg of prednisone and depending on labs Friday, expect Doc to drop me to 5 mg. Feel as good as I have felt through this whole thing. Can't attribute it all to Kevzara at this point. Expect to go off prednisone entirely next month(fingers crossed). Good luck.

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Replies to "So now have 3 doses of Kevzara on board. Next dose is Dec 5. Absolutely no..."

Hi ... I really hope Kevzara works for you. Are you doing weekly injections? I'm not sure what the dosing schedule is for Kevzara. I assume you have PMR.

I shouldn't compare my experience with Actemra with your experience with Kevzara. You and I are different too so other variables to consider.

I get my medications from the VA so we do have the military in common. I currently have zero copay for Actemra but the VA does get some reimbursement from my Medicare supplement.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could go from 10 mg to 5 mg in one shot! However, 1 mg per week might be better. You are heading into the adrenal zone and that is another beast to slay.

I went with a 1 mg per week reduction from 7 mg to 3 mg until my rheumatologist intervened and told me to stay on 3 mg until I could be evaluated by an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist didn't clear me to go to zero prednisone for another 6 months until my cortisol level was in the low end of normal. My endocrinologist said it would be okay to go from 3 mg to zero but I should be prepared to take prednisone again "if I felt the need."

My first attempt at zero didn't go as planned. Unexpected things can and do happen.

There are other factors to consider like how long you were on prednisone and the cumulative dose of prednisone for the duration of time you took prednisone.

Good luck and I hope things continue to go well. I have been off prednisone for a couple of years. I currently do Actemra infusions monthly with minimal if any side effects.