Xeljanz Product Description

Xeljanz (Tofacitinib) is a drug used to treat patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Ulcerative Colitis and may be used alone or with other medications. 

It belongs to a drug class known as Janus kinase inhibitors or JAK inhibitors.  

Xeljanz rheumatoid arthritis treatment has resorted for patients who failed to respond to methotrexate or other drugs. 

Xeljanz Dosage 

Rheumatoid Arthritis Standard Adult Dose: 

As a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatics: 

• Immediate-release: 5 mg twice a day orally 
• Extended-release: 11 mg once a day orally 

Psoriatic Arthritis Typical Adult Dose 

In conjunction with disease-modifying antirheumatic medicines that aren’t biological: 

• Immediate-release: 5 mg twice a day orally 

• Extended-release: 11 mg once a day orally 

Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Adults 

• Immediate-release: 5 mg twice a day orally 
• Extended-release: 11 mg once a day orally 

This is not the complete list of dosing contact your doctor for more information.  

Direction:  

• The safe dose of this medication varies depending on the ailment. Use just the kind and strength of medication that your doctor recommends to avoid medication mistakes
• If you’ve ever had shingles (herpes zoster) or hepatitis B or C, you should avoid using this medication since it might activate or exacerbate these diseases.

Xeljanz Side Effects:  

The following are some of the most common adverse effects: 

• Shingles, a skin rash; 
• Blood pressure is higher; 
• Blood tests that are abnormal; 
• Fever; 
• Headache; 
• Nauseousness, vomiting, or diarrhea; 
• Symptoms of a cold include a stuffy nose, sneezing, and a sore throat.

Caution:  

• Your immune system is harmed by this medication. If you experience fever, chills, aches, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, skin sores, diarrhea, weight loss, or burning when you pee, call your doctor. 
• Taking Xeljanz increases your chance of serious infections, a hole or rip in your digestive tract, a heart attack or stroke, blood clots, or cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat. 

Frequently Asked Questions:  

Is Xeljanz for alopecia an effective option? 

According to trial data recently published, this medication is a beneficial therapy for individuals with alopecia areata; however, efficacy varied substantially. 

How long does it take for Xeljanz ulcerative colitis treatment to be effective?  

The treatment can reduce rectal bleeding and stool frequency in as short as two weeks and improve the appearance of the intestinal lining in about two months. However, because Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition, there may be periods when the symptoms disappear and the patient is in remission for months or even years before the symptoms reappear. 

Is this medication biological?  

Xeljanz is not a real biologic because it is manufactured using regular drug production procedures, but it does have biologic-like adverse effects.