Treatment with prednisone for more than 5 years is common in the United States too. I think the majority of people diagnosed with only PMR are able to taper off in less time. At least I hope that is true. If there are additional things going on besides PMR it takes longer to taper off. My rheumatologist identified a "full range" of things but PMR was my primary diagnosis.

My rheumatologist had no qualms about me taking prednisone for 12 years but tried everything to get me off prednisone. It wasn't a failure on her part. She never suggested it was my fault that I needed prednisone that long.

I think treatment with a biologic is becoming more common. A biologic isn't the first treatment that is tried for PMR. I felt like a pioneer when Actemra was tried 4 years ago. My rheumatologist had to jump through some hoops to get it approved for me. The goal wasn't to get me off prednisone entirely. Before I tapered off prednisone, I stayed on 3 mg of prednisone for a long time.

An endocrinologist decided when it "might be safe" for me to go to zero prednisone. My endocrinologist wasn't that optimistic that I would ever be able to taper off. She said I may need a "maintenance dose" for the rest of my life. My endocrinologist thought 12 years was an extremely long time to be on prednisone especially at the dose I was taking.

If my dose was only 3 mg or less, neither my rheumatologist or endocrinologist would have cared that much. They said I was an overachiever to be able to get off prednisone after 12 years. I was probably an underachiever for taking prednisone for more than 12 years.

I'm still being prescribed prednisone on an "as needed" basis. However, I have not needed prednisone for a couple of years.