Pray and ra

[Buddyk]

What are your concerns about actemra infusions?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't understand why you are asking this question here. There are perhaps a few patients on the PMRGCA forums who are on Actemra, to my knowledge they usually use the injections not the infusions for GCA. The rest of us haven't been offered it to have any concerns.

[Buddyk in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry did not realize that.

[Nitrobunny]

Actually the FDA in the US has recently approved Actemra for GCA and PMR. I've been taking Actemra in an infusion every four weeks since last September with remarkable results prior to the recent approval because I also have RA. I was originally Dx with PMR in 2004 and the GCA came along in 2015. The Actemra has allowed my to cut my prednisone from 80 to 10 since last September and my lab results are the best they've been in over a decade.

The concerns are the same for both injection and infusion and for that I'd consult the information on their website as some of the side effects can be quite dangerous. As always it's up to the individual and physician to weigh the risk vs the reward.

[christine2715]

I tried actemara by tablet but did not get on with it and had to stop.

[Buddyk]

Wondering what kind of side affects they are having? The only one I have is fatigue but it is big time fatigue...sometimes can hardly walk

[Buddyk]

I'm wondering if it makes others so tired and fatigued or is it the arteritis itself doing that?

[Klah]

There are a few people on this forum who are on the Actemra. I have had 3 infusions. You don't want to read about the side effects!!...just like almost any drug! The jury is still out as far as Actemra for PMR. It is approved

in the last few months for GCA...has been around a while for RA, at least in the USA. As usual, results vary, just like the prednisone.