Home Treatment

To feel your best during treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) or giant cell arteritis (GCA):

• Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor.
• Work closely with your doctor and nurse, reporting any medicine side effects or symptoms of giant cell arteritis, such as headache, jaw pain, and vision problems.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Stop smoking, and avoid being around tobacco smoke.
• Reduce how much alcohol you drink. It's a good idea to have no more than one beer or one glass of wine each day.
• Take between 1000 mg and 1500 mg of calcium and 800 units of vitamin D per day to help prevent bone thinning (osteoporosis) if you are taking corticosteroids.
• Get mild, regular exercise, which will help keep your bones strong and bolster your physical and emotional ability to handle your illness.

If any of your symptoms get worse or come back, contact your doctor or nurse.