Kevzara experiences?

Posted by margedoc @margedoc, Sep 25 10:34am

I have been on a combination of prednisone and methotrexate for PMR and because of relapses when I get to 5 mg. of prednisone plus methotrexate side effects (fatigue, hair loss), I am being started on Kevzara with the goal of tapering off the other drugs. I'd be interested in others' experiences with Kevzara.
Marge

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tweetypie13 | @tweetypie13 | Sep 25 6:02pm

Look for my previous posts. 79 yo woman, PMR diagnosed April 2024.
I was stuck at 8 mg prednisone.
Love Kevzara……28 wks into it. No side effects. 11 wks off prednisone. Overdue the adrenal suppression, back to most activities and sports. Walk golf, bike hike etc.
I do occasionally take Tylenol for Arthritis as an OTC back up with the humid weather, or excessive exercise. 2 at bfast.
Good luck

tweetypie13 | @tweetypie13 | Sep 25 6:04pm

In reply to @tweetypie13 "Look for my previous posts. 79 yo woman, PMR diagnosed April 2024. I was stuck at..." + (show)

@tweetypie13
Correction…..adrenal suppression is back to normal.

elleninz | @elleninz | Sep 26 10:46am

In reply to @tweetypie13 "Look for my previous posts. 79 yo woman, PMR diagnosed April 2024. I was stuck at..." + (show)

@tweetypie13
Great News! Would like to ask, will you always be on Kevzara?

tweetypie13 | @tweetypie13 | Sep 26 12:01pm

In reply to @elleninz "@tweetypie13 Great News! Would like to ask, will you always be on Kevzara?" + (show)

@elleninz
My Rehumy told me the goal was to wean off prednisone and then wean off Kevzara. I have read a few posts where people are on an extended taper/dosing with it.

richardab | @richardab | Oct 14 5:15pm

I’ve been on Kevzara since June. It has successfully allowed me to go down to 2 mg Prednisone daily, with further reductions planned. However, I just did blood tests for the first time since starting it. Both White Blood Cells and Absolute Neutrophils have crashed. My rheumatologist is ordering the blood tests to be repeated in a couple of weeks to see if the results are repeated, improve, or get worse. Neutropenia is common when using Kevzara.

richardab | @richardab | Dec 11 4:41pm

An update on my Kevzara experiences. I take an injection every 2 weeks. I have reduced to 1 mg Prednisone daily for December, will go to 1/2 mg in January and then see if I can go Prednisone free in February. Mostly good days. Some days upper body aches even after few hours after taking Prednisone early a.m. so I take a few Advil. Rheumatologist wants to continue Kevzara every 2 weeks for a year and then she’ll decide if we can stretch the interval out. Considering I was on 30 mg daily several years ago, I’m quite pleased.

tweetypie13 | @tweetypie13 | Dec 11 8:50pm

In reply to @richardab "An update on my Kevzara experiences. I take an injection every 2 weeks. I have reduced..." + (show)

@richardab
Kevzara a hit with me…..good luck

mlz | @mlz | Dec 12 10:43am

In reply to @richardab "An update on my Kevzara experiences. I take an injection every 2 weeks. I have reduced..." + (show)

@richardab

Caution...Advil and Kevzara are not a good combination. Tylenol is better.

tweetypie13 | @tweetypie13 | Dec 12 3:40pm

In reply to @mlz "@richardab Caution...Advil and Kevzara are not a good combination. Tylenol is better." + (show)

@mlz
Ask your dr……..My Rehumy suggested Tylenol for Arthritis…….and am having no side effects with Kevzara.

jfannarbor | @jfannarbor | Dec 12 6:43pm

I started Kevzara a year ago October. I was on 15 mg of prednisone (P) and got down to 2.5 a year later without any problem. When I went to 2mg P I had some pain and then on to 1 mg P I had a lot of pain and rheumatologist put me back on 2.5 mg P. Not sure if I will ever be off P