Generic Name: Xeljanz (tofacitinib)
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "My wife passed away on 3/30/16. She was on Xeljanz for about three months before she became ill. Xeljanz lowers your immune system, and for that reason, she contracted Encephalitis. Sepsis ended up killing my wife. While she was on a respirator in her final days, she was diagnosed with slits in her intestines which caused her to bleed. One of the warnings published by Xeljanz."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been prescribed several of the 'conventional' medications - Methotrexate, Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine, Arava, and none of them was able to put a dent in my RA condition. Tried the biologic Brenzys and that worked wonders, however, 4-5 months into the treatment, I developed intense side effects and had to abandon it. Moved on to Xeljanz 5mg twice a day and voila - magic. It's been 9 months already, and I feel great. It has made me forget the pain of RA and the will to abandon everything. It has given me a new life and the will to live and do things again. Truly a wonder drug for me."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I do not recommend this drug to anyone! I have been on leflunomide for the last 4 months, and it didn’t help, so my doctor put me on Xeljanz. Immediately, I started having sinus pressure, my eyes burning, and developed bronchitis and an upper respiratory infection. The fatigue is unimaginable, and severe headaches along with body aches. My anxiety has increased to the point it’s intolerable. I ended up in the ER tonight due to the pain I was in and coughing up blood! I really just want relief from my RA symptoms, but the side effects are far worse than the RA pain itself!"
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "37 inflamed and 18 painful joints before my first dose. 2 months later, 4 inflamed and 2 painful joints. 6 months later, 2 inflamed and 1 sore joint! The best RA drug I have taken to date. I have been on the drug for 6 years. I had been suffering from RA since 1987!"
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Same as many others. First two months were terrific. Inflammation and joint pain nearly all gone. Great energy. Felt years younger. Then came the throat/sinus infections with headaches and increased blood pressure. The latter scared me the most. Quit taking drug and called doctor. It’s sad. This drug holds so much promise but if it turns on you, look out."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Started to work the second day on it. I don't wake up with stiff hands and my joints hurt way less. I'm almost off the prednisone. I love it! Has worked better than anything else I've tried. Copay is covered through their assistance."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been on this Xeljanz poison for three and a half months. I got worse and worse with pain. Muscle weakness. Enlarged liver. Terrible stomach problems, excruciating pain in my guts, and constant nausea. Liver pain, swelling in feet, hands, wrists, and general unwell feeling. Developed chest infections. The chemist ran out, so I was without it for three days. Stomach... good! No liver pain!!! Not one ounce of swelling. Night sweats stopped. Burning up feeling stopped. Day one back on it... all symptoms back!!! Dreadful poison. I'm stopping it."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "To begin with, everyone who has RA needs to choose between quality of life or quantity of life. You can't have both. The meds used to treat RA are very strong and have side effects. Period. I have been on Xeljanz XR since early January and have not experienced any of the bad side effects yet. It is controlling my RA well, in conjunction with Methotrexate, folic acid, and leucovorin. Previously, I have been on Enbrel and Humira. Enbrel worked for a long time, Humira was okay but not as good, and now Xeljanz XR."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been in a clinical trial with this medicine for 2 years. It started working on the day after I started taking it. I was in a wheelchair prior to taking this. I have had no bad side effects and highly recommend it."
For Ulcerative Colitis "Xeljanz has been a miracle drug for me. Finally, after almost two years of horrible pain, severe diarrhea, etc., I have a life again. I have tried so many pills, enemas, suppositories, biologics, and everything failed me. The reason I rated it a 9 instead of 10 is because I still have an occasional day that I’m not doing well, but I was in pain and had diarrhea EVERY DAY 20 plus times a day before Xeljanz. I never thought I would be so excited to say I finally have solid stool. Xeljanz started to work for me within two weeks and is still working to this day. I have been on it for four months. I highly recommend this medicine."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Those who suffer with incurable rheumatoid arthritis understand the willingness to try a new medication that could possibly ease the painful symptoms of RA. I tried Xeljanz hoping it was the limited cure-all. I've never paid too much attention to the commercial warnings as I am like many others that think, that couldn't happen to me. Well, it did. I ended up hospitalized for several months diagnosed with E. coli sepsis. In all fairness, this drug may be the one to help you. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. Do take seriously the warnings that could develop while using this drug. It CAN happen to you."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started taking this medicine after a long unsuccessful stint on methotrexate. Metho made me super tired and my hair fell out in clumps with almost no improvement in pain, stiffness, or energy level. Xeljanz changed my life! My hair also grew back full force on this medicine and my energy level is totally restored. I get a flare maybe twice a year on this medicine and have figured out that a prednisone taper and a month of this can kick me into a 4-8 month remission period. It really works and worked within the first week for me. I am 24 and have not experienced many side effects after the first week of pills. It has also decreased the severity of my seasonal allergies and totally eliminated the eczema I used to get all over the place."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "This medication does work. My liver and kidney numbers began to rise after the second month, and I had to get off it. It also causes lung pain - a burning, odd feeling inside the lungs and stabs of pain. There is pain in the back of the lungs too. I want to tell you all to make your rheumatologist try Minocycline. They swear it's for mild disease, but I have severe RA, and it took it completely away for 17 years - a miracle. The only reason I got off was that I developed pericarditis (heart inflammation), and they worried it was a rare response (drug-induced lupus). But three years later, still off it and still having pericarditis, so I talked the doctor into letting me try it again. Go to The Road Back Foundation to read about the bacterial infection theory of RA. I swear it's true - why would RA go away for 17 years, but come back if I skipped a couple of Minocycline pills? Good luck to us all. Horrific disease."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "This drug like so many RA drugs is awful and may be the end of you. I was on this drug and was promised the doctor only had one failure? Did that mean death? I have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family. Within one week my blood pressure was up by more than 20 points, I had palpitations, and was sick all the time due to stomach complaints. This is one of many RA "drugs" I have tried with limited to no effect except worsening pre-existing conditions. Get a CLUE doctors. Prescribing steroids like prednisone which only lead to further bone degeneration in a population with this problem? Doctors do not know WHAT they are doing. Remember, there is NO CURE for RA. Do not trust your DR. That is my advice. They do not have time to deal with you, they have patients booked back to back due to insurance. You are lucky if they really know your name without your chart or nurse telling them. "
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "After having limited relief with 2 injectables, I started Xeljanz (5 mg once daily) 3 years ago, with essential remission of my joint pains. I discontinued briefly after a shingles outbreak and vaccination, only to have recurring joint pain. I resumed after 6 weeks and have had good results since. Game changer!"
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am currently on leflunomide only, and my symptoms are getting worse, so the doctor prescribes Xeljanz. I have taken every injectable, including Remicade infusions, that eventually all stopped working. I have to say I am scared to take this drug. I have read all your reviews, and it doesn't make me feel any better. For those of you who take prednisone on a regular basis, I just wanted to share with you that my bones got so brittle from having to take prednisone to get flares down. I am an avid walker, and my fibula just ended up breaking because of steroid usage. Currently, I have inflammation in my neck so badly that I cannot turn my head at all, but I just don't think I want to try this Xeljanz pill. Still searching for a better way."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I experienced an improvement in pain, swelling, and stiffness within the first two weeks. I was able to titrate off of prednisone and hydrocodone. However, I am experiencing stomach upset and rapid hair loss, which is very disconcerting."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have had RA for 35 years. I stopped taking Humira due to cost since I became eligible for Medicare, and the medication was no longer providing swelling and pain relief. I tried Simponi and Orencia with minimal relief. After starting Xeljanz, I had marked swelling and pain relief in six weeks. I had planned, prior to starting Xeljanz, to have two joints replaced, but I have since canceled due to improvement. My physician is decreasing the methotrexate dosage slowly to see if I can discontinue it. I am so pleased."
For Ulcerative Colitis "Have only been taking the 10 mg twice a day for the last 5 days. Yesterday, my bathroom frequency went down from around 12-15 times a day to just 2 trips yesterday! Most amazing response I could have hoped for! Only bad part is the morning nausea I'm experiencing."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Moderate/severe RA, it's not recommended. Tried it though; very little help. Withdrawal is awful due to anxiety/depression. It's not stated, but there must be an ingredient that is also used for antidepressants in Xeljanz. Most other countries in the world refuse this drug. Just be careful. Ask for other options!"
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Started Xeljanz XR after everything else failed. I had immediate relief, and it continues to work for me. My hair is growing back after a failed attempt with methotrexate. A surprise side effect for me after 6 months of usage was increased energy! WOW, I'm enjoying that and being able to function much, much better!!!"
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Xeljanz for a little over 6 months. Finally, there is something that really helps with my rheumatoid arthritis. I have tried several different medications before this, and nothing touched it. Very thankful for this drug."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been taking Xeljanz for 16 months. During that time, I've had a couple of surgeries and illnesses, so I had to stop temporarily. But overall, when I take it regularly, it has given me my life back. I can do most anything now, before, I was 80% bedridden."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have tried all the RA drugs available over the past 9 years. The last two drugs prior to Xeljanz: Humira for 4 years and Enbrel for 6 months created neuropathy in both hands and feet. I never had much relief with either of the two shots. I have always taken prednisone. I started this 11 mg tablet 5 months ago, I’m walking up to 8,000 steps per day and feel less depressed and have more energy, experiencing pain only with weather changes. The relief with this pill has been God-sent. Only complaint is the cost, these drugs should be available to everyone at a reasonable cost, no different than the cost of insulin for a diabetic. Drugs are made to promote quality of life, not lucrative lifestyles for the drug executives."
For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I'm 19 and have been on Xeljanz for around 6 months. I take it along with methotrexate, which I have done with all of my other treatment options. I've struggled with catching anything and everything since starting this med, and when I get sick, I have trouble fighting it off. From stomach bugs, ear infections, colds, anything. I have never struggled this much with catching things, and seemingly small issues end up turning serious and landing me in the hospital. Other than this, I have also struggled a lot with joint swelling on this drug. Not sure if I will be able to stick with this."
Xeljanz XR
