PMR treatment

Anyone with PMR that did not have good results with prednisone and take hydroxychloriquine?

[SnazzyD]

Hello there, can you say what happened with you and PMR? There is a lot of experience here which might shed some light on why plan A didn’t work. Pred is the best medication for PMR and usually there are reasons why it didn’t go well with it that are surmountable. Results from using disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs haven’t been consistent enough to make it the routine drug of choice but sometimes it is used to try to reduce the amount of Pred. They also come with their own problems. You might get some replies though most who use DMARDS seen to be put on Methotrexate.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for replying. My specialists and I are trying to figure out what's wrong with I have had every test know to man and they all come back normal. It started with a left sided plural effusion that drained twice for 1600ml. within 3 days I had an autoimmune response which left me immobile and hospitalized. Did a 4 month course of prednisone slowly regained my mobility and strength. Was back to normal no medication no joint damage and went on with my life for a year. Then everything started again except no plural effusion. Prednisone was tried again, did 3 different tapers and each time within 2 days I was immobile at that time we decided to try hydroxychloroquine 200mg per day within 4 weeks I was 90% back to normal. The only lingering problem is neck pain and muscle weakness after researching more thought maybe I have PMR but after reading the numerous responses I have got not so sure now because I did not have the results on prednisone that other have had. Thanks again for your help.

[SnazzyD in reply to Hidden]

Golly gosh, you have been through it. Sounds like there is more going on even if it all comes under the autoimmune umbrella eventually . PMRPro has answered better than I can. Pred can cause muscle weakness and loss of bulk. I suffered from neck pain from pulled ligaments and tension in the sternokleidomastoid muscles when my muscles started to disappear and I didn’t even have the PMR bit (GCA).

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

I will check PMRPro out. This all happened 6 weeks after I retired, I have been healthy no medications my whole life and over night this happened. I'm just trying to get my life back. Thanks again hope your health improves.

[SnazzyD in reply to Hidden]

I mean the PMRPro in the below replies. It is a common lament on here that people have been fit, active, some never ill, working etc etc before this. Usually there is a history of stress, emotional trauma, infection, or something that tips the balance, but not always. Wanting one’s life back right now is common to all but having to accept there isn’t a set path with an end date is the hardest. Accepting the current new order whilst not feeling you are losing you is the name of the game.

[Longtimer]

My sister tried it for RA, have you been offered it?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

One of the definitions of the PMR we talk about here is a good response to low-moderate dose pred. If it doesn't respond to pred - an alternative diagnosis should be sought.

PMR isn't the disease - it is the name given to the set of symptoms that are due to an underlying autoimmune disorder. There are other causes of similar symptoms which are not autoimmune in origin (including cancers) and not only the a/i vasculitis involved in our PMR. They include a range of rheumatological conditions such as inflammatory arthritides and they may be better managed by something like hydroxychloroquine though it isn't used that much as far as I know. Methotrexate is the usual starting drug. HCQ is used a lot in lupus - and it can cause similar symptoms at times.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the info