How Long Does Kevzara Take to Work? Plus, Answers to 6 Other Kevzara FAQs

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may present challenges, but there are many treatment options you can try to put your symptoms in the rear-view mirror. For example, there are several disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that may help change the course of your RA.

Kevzara (sarilumab) is a newer biologic DMARD medication that has been effective for many people who haven’t had success with RA treatments in the past. Specifically, it’s FDA approved to treat RA in people who haven’t responded to at least one other DMARD.

Kevzara is also approved to treat polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the muscles, particularly in the shoulders and hips. It’s the first biologic to be approved for PMR, and it helps reduce the need for corticosteroids (steroids).

Kevzara is relatively new, so it’s normal to have questions about what it is and how it works. Below, we answer seven important frequently asked questions about the medication, including when you can expect Kevzara to start working.

1. How long does Kevzara take to work?

The time it will take for Kevzara to start working depends on the condition you’re taking it for. But, in general, it doesn’t start working right away. You’ll likely have to wait a bit before you notice any improvement in your symptoms.

If you’re prescribed Kevzara for RA, you may experience some initial improvement within 2 weeks after your first injection. With each subsequent injection, you may see more improvement. The medication’s full benefits tend to appear after about 12 weeks (3 months) of use. Some people also experience additional symptom relief after 12 weeks.

If you have PMR, you may experience remission within 12 weeks after starting treatment with Kevzara. Remission refers to a period of time when symptoms are minimal or disappear altogether. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Medications for rheumatoid arthritis: Kevzara isn’t your only treatment option. Read about various rheumatoid arthritis medications that you may want to consider.

• An abundance of biologics: Here’s what to know about the many different biologics and biosimilars that treat rheumatoid arthritis.

• Anti-inflammatory foods: This is what one woman eats to help manage her rheumatoid arthritis.

2. What are the benefits of Kevzara?

In initial studies of Kevzara for RA, people took Kevzara (or a placebo) in combination with methotrexate, another DMARD. People taking Kevzara and methotrexate had greater improvements in their American College of Rheumatology (ACR) score compared to people taking a placebo and methotrexate. An ACR score is a standardized measurement that researchers use to evaluate the severity of RA symptoms.

The ACR score takes the following factors into account:

• Ability to complete activities of daily living, such as getting dressed

• Number of tender joints

• Number of swollen joints

• Overall pain levels

• Laboratory measurements

In imaging studies of Kevzara for RA, researchers took scans of people’s joints to determine if the medication led to visible improvements. And they found that participants’ joints typically showed improvements on scans.

What’s more, almost half of people taking Kevzara for PMR in clinical studies had no symptoms within 12 weeks after starting treatment. Other benefits that were identified in PMR clinical studies included fewer symptom flare-ups, improvements in laboratory measurements, and a lower steroid taper dose.

3. How is Kevzara administered?

Kevzara is administered by injection. You can give yourself the injection, which comes in two forms: a pre-filled syringe and a pre-filled injection pen. It’s administered under the skin (subcutaneously) once every 2 weeks.

The specific instructions for injecting Kevzara vary by product.

To administer Kevzara with a pre-filled syringe:

1. Take your Kevzara syringe out of the fridge. Let it warm up by sitting out at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Room temperature injections sting less than cold ones.

2. Select your injection site. You can self-inject Kevzara into your thigh or abdomen. A caregiver may also inject it into the outer area of your upper arm. 

3. Clean your chosen injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry. 

4. Pinch your skin together with one hand, and insert the syringe at a 45-degree (slanted) angle with your other hand. 

5. Push the plunger down as far as it will go until the syringe is empty. 

6. Remove the needle from your skin. 

7. Dispose of the entire syringe in a sharps container.

To administer the pre-filled injection pen:

1. Take your Kevzara injection pen out of the fridge and let it come up to room temperature for about 60 minutes. 

2. Select your injection site. Similar to the syringe, you can inject the pen into your thigh or abdomen. A caregiver can also administer it into your upper arm.

3. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry. 

4. Pull off the orange cap on the pen. 

5. Press the injector against your skin at a 90-degree angle. You’ll hear a click when the injection starts. The injection can take up to 15 seconds to complete.

6. Remove the pen from your skin when the injection is complete. You’ll know it’s complete when you hear a second click. The viewing window also turns solid yellow. 

7. Dispose of the entire pen in a sharps container.

4. How does Kevzara work?

Kevzara works by blocking a signal that immune cells use to communicate with one another: interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 is a component of your body’s normal inflammatory response. However, with conditions such as RA and PMR, IL-6 starts working in overdrive, causing excessive inflammation. 

Blocking IL-6 helps lower inflammation in the body. This can lead to reduced pain and swelling, which is why it’s an effective treatment for RA and PMR.

5. Is Kevzara a steroid?

No, Kevzara isn’t a steroid. Kevzara is a monoclonal antibody (protein) that is structurally different from a steroid. 

Prednisone, hydrocortisone, and methylprednisolone are a few examples of steroid medications used to treat autoimmune conditions. These medications have broader immune system effects than Kevzara. They’re considered nonspecific and block many types of inflammatory signals in the body. 

This difference is especially notable for people with PMR. Steroids were the main option for controlling PMR symptoms before Kevzara was approved. But many people prefer to avoid taking steroids long term if possible, due to side effects.

6. What are the top Kevzara side effects to keep in mind?

The most common Kevzara side effects tend to depend on whether it’s being taken for RA or PMR. 

Common side effects of Kevzara for RA include:

• Injection site redness

• Upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold and flu

• Urinary tract infections

• Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)

• Increased liver enzymes (proteins)

Common side effects of Kevzara for PMR include:

• Injection site itching

• Neutropenia

• Leukopenia (a different type of low white blood cell count)

While rare, serious Kevzara side effects are also possible. These include:

• Serious infections

• Stomach and intestinal tears

• Increased risk of cancer

Mild symptoms, such as injection site redness and itching, should resolve on their own. However, you should keep regular appointments with your healthcare professional to ensure your laboratory measurements, such as your white blood cell counts and liver enzyme levels, stay where they should be.

Tell your healthcare professional right away if you develop any symptoms of infection, such as difficulty breathing, muscle aches, or fever. Also, keep in mind that fever and intense abdominal pain may be signs of a stomach or intestinal tear.

7. Does Kevzara cause hair loss?

Hair loss wasn’t associated with Kevzara in clinical studies. However, you may experience hair loss from medications that are taken in combination with Kevzara for RA. 

For example, people often take methotrexate, which sometimes causes hair loss, with Kevzara for RA. Up to 3% of people in initial clinical studies of methotrexate experienced hair loss.

Hair loss could also be a sign of getting older. People in their 60s are most likely to develop RA. And this also happens to be around the time that people typically experience age-related hair loss.

Speak with your healthcare professional if you’re experiencing hair loss while taking Kevzara. They can do a deeper evaluation to determine the cause and recommend hair loss treatment options, if desired.

How to save on Kevzara

There are ways to save on Kevzara, which is only available as a reference, or “brand-name,” medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between copay savings cards and patient assistance programs to help you save money on your prescription:

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 per month for Kevzara using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save through a patient assistance program. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Kevzara’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD, has more than 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is licensed in California. In his career, he’s had experience with specialty pharmacy, community pharmacy, pharmacy benefit management, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh, has 10 years of experience as a pharmacist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, and ambulatory care.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts