Painful Kevzara Injection

Posted by kwahearn @kwahearn, Jul 13 5:12pm

I'm a 73-year-old female in otherwise good health, but was diagnosed with PMR in August 2024. After tapering down from 20 mg/day Prednisone to zero, then taking methotrexate (8- 2.5 tablets weekly), I had my first Kevzara injection last week. I was pleased that the self-injection pen needle did not hurt very much, but I was shocked at how painful the medicine was as it entered the subcutaneous layer of my abdomen. (I had set it out from the refrigerator for 2 hours prior to injection.) Has anyone else had the same pain?

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tweetypie13 | @tweetypie13 | Jul 13 5:49pm

None whatsoever. Try leaving it out overnight.
Also, make sure you are 2” away from your belly button.

dmfulton | @dmfulton | Jul 14 10:01am

It seems to get better with each shot. I use my legs.

jeff97 | @jeff97 | Jul 14 10:35am

I've taken 47 injections of Actemra, and I haven't had any problems. I use my abdomen because I don't think I have enough fat on my legs. Occasionally I feel a little discomfort from the needle, but it only lasts for a couple of seconds.

kwahearn | @kwahearn | Jul 14 12:28pm

In reply to @tweetypie13 "None whatsoever. Try leaving it out overnight. Also, make sure you are 2” away from your..." + (show)

Thanks for replying. I'll try setting it out overnight next time!

kwahearn | @kwahearn | Jul 14 12:29pm

In reply to @jeff97 "I've taken 47 injections of Actemra, and I haven't had any problems. I use my abdomen..." + (show)

Thanks for sharing! Hopefully, it will get easier for me.

kwahearn | @kwahearn | Jul 14 12:30pm

In reply to @dmfulton "It seems to get better with each shot. I use my legs." + (show)

That's encouraging. Thanks!

randersonccc | @randersonccc | Jul 15 8:59pm

I do the injection of Actemra. But must be similar. My first injection I did mid thigh. I got a huge bruise so maybe got a vein. But that was only once as I do the abdominal injections now only. My leg still has a dark spot where drug infiltrated and that was 3 months ago. !

linda7 | @linda7 | Jul 15 10:23pm

I didn't have any problems with Kevzara injections. I left the syringe out for 30 minutes as instructed. I pinched some abdominal fat and put the needle in at a 45 degree angles. When I first did it I put it straight in but read the directions more carefully and it said 45 degree angle. I think that's to make sure it goes into fat and not muscle.

kwahearn | @kwahearn | Jul 22 10:30am

In reply to @tweetypie13 "None whatsoever. Try leaving it out overnight. Also, make sure you are 2” away from your..." + (show)

I left it out overnight in a warm room and had negligible pain this time! Thanks for the suggestion.

kwahearn | @kwahearn | Jul 22 10:32am

For my second injection, I left it out overnight in a warmish room and had little to no pain this time. Thanks to all who left comments and suggestions!