On Kevzara pain coming back

Posted by kass8174 @kass8174, 2 days ago

Have been on Kevzara since March. Did well after 12 th dose. In the past 2 weeks pain in shoulders upper arms and neck have returned. Not on Prednisone and do not want to go back on it (developed diabetes while on pred) Discouraged at this point. Rheum said on highest dose of Kevzara. I have appt on Sep. 15. Any suggestions of treatment would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kass

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Mike | @dadcue | 2 days ago

At first, 200 milligrams (mg) of Kevzara is injected under your skin once every 2 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. I think the dose is always the same but the frequency of injections can be changed.

I started Actemra about 6 years ago. First I did injections every 2 weeks, Then I switched to weekly injections. Now I do a monthly infusion. My infusion dose is adjusted to what my rheumatologist deems to be appropriate. Both the dose and time interval between infusions have been adjusted. The lowest effective dose still applies to Actemra.

I'm not discouraged yet but Actemra seems to be less effective than it was. I worry that I might be developing antibodies against Actemra.

"It is possible to develop antibodies against Actemra (tocilizumab), and this phenomenon is known as immunogenicity. When a patient's immune system identifies a therapeutic monoclonal antibody like tocilizumab as a foreign substance, it can produce its own antibodies to neutralize the drug."
https://ard.bmj.com/content/76/6/1078