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How does Kevzara help with PMR symptoms and pain? I am being weaned
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jan 13 7:45am | Replies (54)Comment receiving replies
Both Kevzara and Actemra (IL-6 inhibitors) are FDA approved for the treatment of RA.
Remicade belongs to the class of TNF-inhibitors and is more commonly used for RA.
No biologic is FDA approved for Reactive Arthritis (ReA) because of lack of research. TNF inhibitors are usually used because ReA and RA have similar characteristics.
In my case, Actemra was used to treat PMR and it seems to work for ReA too. I got lucky because it is difficult to "optimally treat" both ReA and PMR.
I tried Humira and it didn't seem to work for PMR.
You might have the same problem with both RA and PMR. What works for one doesn't usually work for the other.
Replies to "@pb50 Both Kevzara and Actemra (IL-6 inhibitors) are FDA approved for the treatment of RA. Remicade..."
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I knew you’d have intel 🙂
I’ve just been hearing about the skinny side effect profile for these new drug entries. I can’t say I’m beset with side effects - thinning hair, etc, but I do believe and can’t prove that my “non smokers” lung cancer was a RA or RA treatment “gift”.
But what grabbed my attention was the question about whether it is a decent substitute for Presnisone. You may remember I had a 20mg Prednisone a few weeks ago, tapering over 16 days. It was the first time in 40 years I had any steroid because I had a psych reaction to that dose for ruptured disc. But this time. Wow. Pain free - even my rib pain from the lobectomy and my knee pain from life. . Energy.. Euphoria. As a child of the 60’s and 70’s, I will just ask how they missed prednisone.? 🙄 but it turns bone to sponge. So when I saw the question of whether Kevzara and Actemra were questionable subs for prednisone, my question is whether it delivers similar benefits?