has anyone taken Kevzara for PMR

[Linny3]

My Dr. wants me to start this medication for PMR and arthritis.

I was surprised because I don't think there were any medications for pmr other than prednisone.

As with all of these meds. the side effects listed are horrendous.

If anyone knows anything about Kevzara please let me know.

My last attempt at decreasing the pred. hasn't gone so well.

I am down from 25mg last June to 7 mg. Then Everything went badly and I had to go back up to 10 mg this past month.

Thanks for any responses.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Don't you just love predictive text!

Kevlar might be bullet and knife proof - but not sure it’s any use in PMR.

There are some posts on Kevzara -,but it’s not used in UK, so replies may be limited - here’s a couple to start you off, but suggest your you type Kevzara into search facility- I did find a few

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[SnazzyD in reply to DorsetLady]

I did wonder!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SnazzyD]

😊 some might say anything is worth a try..,

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think you mean Kevzara, not Kevlar which is a fibre made into protective textiles! Ah - I see the title is wrong, the text of the post correct!!! If you correct the title it may bring up relevant posts as there are a few people in the USA on it. It isn't approved in the UK yet and it is thought it is unlikely to be in the near future.

I am on Actemra for PMR - same effect but by a different mechanism. It has got me from 19mg pred to 7mg. However, I wouldn't have tried it if I'd already been at 10mg after barely a year - I'd keep trying to taper as you did before. You aren't heading relentlessly for zero - you are looking for the lowest effective dose and I would suspect that all that happened was you overshot the dose you need a bit and really 7.5mg would work. Even half a mg too low will let in a flare.

[Linny3 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the correction. Thanks to all responding. It was great to see some of the responses.

[piglette]

Kevzara is a biologic medicine that works by blocking IL-6 levels to reduce RA inflammation. I am not sure how well it has done for people with PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

investor.regeneron.com/news...

It is the first biologic approved by the FDA for PMR

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

people seemed quite positive when it was announced. A bit of a one day wonder perhaps.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Hasn't had much chance yet - what I've heard is reasonable. But like Actemra for GCA, it willl almost certainly not work 100% for all patients, half maybe?

[Bramble2000]

Hi, I’d give my right arm for this drug but can’t get it in the UK for PMR. I’ve had plenty of other similar drugs though without any issues. You’ll be closely monitored and most people don’t get any side effects at all. Good luck!

[Linny3 in reply to Bramble2000]

Thanks for the reply. I am going to try it but there are many tests and vaccines that are needed before I can start. Not looking forward to taking the shingles vaccine. Also have to be checked for TB. Rate of infection is a concern while on this drug

[AtopicGuy in reply to Linny3]

That's the problem with autoimmune diseases: treatments that suppress the immune system risk opening the way for infections. Here's a short article about Zevzara (sarilumab).

aru.ac.uk/news/breakthrough...

[Bramble2000 in reply to Linny3]

I’ve been on these drugs for over ten years. The only infection I’ve had is a tooth abscess which may or may not have been there anyway. Yes the tests are a pain but very necessary. I’ve has the shingles vaccine too and had no ill effects from it.