Any stories with Sarilumab/Kevzara?

[Natbat87]

Any stories with Sarilumab/Kevzara?

I started this biologic on Thursday due to etanercept not making much difference at all. Just seeing if anyone has been on it and any experiences?

I know we are all different but with it being relatively new, I can't seem to find much info about it.

I also found I was really really exhausted the day after having it and just seeing if that's a regular thing?

So far so good though, just hope it works this time x

[skinnycappuccino]

Heya, I started Kevzara in July this year (before that I was on Olumiant and before that on Simponi 😅). Don't worry too much if it doesn't start working right away: for me it's just started working, i.e. it took about 4 months! My other two previous biologics both worked very fast but I think that's the exception, it's more normal for them to take a few weeks/months to kick in. I don't have any side effects from it at all, no exhaustion either. I know it's hard but you need to give it time and maybe ask for steroids/NSAIDs/painkillers to tidy you over? That's what I did and could now stop my NSAID and painkillers and am hoping to taper the Pred soon.

I wish you all the best and hope Kevzara will work for you! Christine xx

[Natbat87 in reply to skinnycappuccino]

Hi Christine, Thanks for your reply, so pleased you are seeing the benefits from it!

I am on steroids at the moment due to reoccurring chest infections and asthma so that is helping my joints to some degree.

Just hoping that I can come off them soon and actually see a big improvement as life has been pretty miserable these last few years.

Hope it continues to get better for you 🙏 xx

[ColinRR]

I’ve been on Kevsara since February this year after trying Imraldi (Adalimumab) which had no effect for me. Both in addition to 20 mg oral Methotrexate. Kevsara seems to be working for me but it took about 2 months to notice much difference. No side effects from Kevsara or Methotrexate that I’ve noticed. Hope it is successful for you x

[L-DL]

I've been on Kevzara for nearly 2 years now and it's been a game changer. I think I was one of the first on it after it was licensed. Everything else prior to this made me ill or gave me horrible side effects. The Kevzara took a few months to kick in. The first thing I noticed was the gradual disappearance of the chronic fatigue. I've had no side effects and only a couple of very minor flares. Stick with it. It's been worth it for me. I don't like doing the injections, but I got used to it very quickly. It's pretty much returned me to normal life. I'm aware that I have to be very careful about infections and get anything treated promptly to avoid complications. You just need to be aware that you are immuno supressed and act accordingly.