Anyone here take Xeljanz?

I think only one person here does and she hasn't been on in a while. All I know about it is that it's the newest on the market & its a pill you take twice a day. It also works differently than all the other biologics. Sorry I can't help more. I do know that it's not available in Europe as they wouldn't approve it for sale. I'm not sure if India has approved it or not. You may want to check that if you do start taking it and have to get refills while you're there. I hope I remembered the right country that you teach in ;-)

Take care,
Emerald

My rheumy refuses to let me try that. She thinks it's way too new and risky because I'm only 22. If you find out more about it, though, let me know! I've been curious as well about if it works.

Stacey :)

42 user reviews here:

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-162865-Xeljanz+Oral.aspx?drugid=162865&drugname=Xeljanz+Oral

I'm still on it. I had to stop for a while because my copay was too large for me to handle. I have been on it for almost two years now.

I take it with plaquenil and nothing else for my RA. I defintely failed the other biologics and DMARDs so this was kind of a last chance for me before doing the only other drug I haven't tried - Orencia infusions.

The nice thing about it is you'll know very fast if it does or doesn't work for you. It's not like MTX where it can take 3 months or Orencia where it can take six months for it to get to therapeutic levels.

The first week was a huge adjustment for me though as I was zapped and sleeping 18 hours. Fortunately that only took about two weeks to adjust and then I was the best I have been since being diagnosed.

I like it, but we tend to like things that work and don't kill us or have negative side effects which this drug seems to fall into those categories for me so far.

Like others have said though this is only available in the US and so far I haven't figured out how to get an exception to the rule of only a 30 day supply!

Good luck if you get the chance to take it. It's worked wonders for me so far.

My USA Rheumy is checking to see if it's available in South Korea where I'm Currrently teaching. Thanks for the user reviews, coal train. It sounds like weight gain, gastro and cholesterol issues are some of the major complaints. I like that any benefits are much quicker that the Orencia I'm currently on. Plus it would be much easier to transport and administer than injections/infusions. . Let's see what the rheumy finds out and what the insurance says.

I read on my local news website that a man with alopecia grew his hair back taking this.

I have been on Prednisone, MTX, then MTX and Cimzia, good results for almost a year. Good meaning the constant flare calmed some. Then tried Plaqinil, no help. Finally in Feb this year I started Xeljanz.. I have to say after about 2 weeks I started feeling better than I have in 2 years. The pills were a welcome blessing after all the injections. As for side effects, well gas and constant bloating, but still not as bad as the horrible MTX. My heart races some, but the worst is the insomnia, I really haven't slept well since the RA started, but the xeljanz makes me stay awake, sometimes all night. I got an infection in April and was off the xeljanz til June, so now it's like starting over. So far the results haven't been as good, we'll see. My Rhuemy said I could add MTX, but I hate MTX side effects so much, I will wait until I'm desperate. Good luck, I hope the xeljanz works for you.

Sorry I don't have much to offer. I will be trying Xeljanx soon. I have failed with mostly all the other biologics. And I am not a happy camper. I have pain all over so I am going to the Rheumatologist today and will be attempting to get a pain management doctor appt. today as well. Hope all goes well with you with Xeljanx.

Hi Melissa - sorry to respond to this message so late, but I take Xeljanz and have for about 9 months. I've had no problems with Xeljanz, other than some big headaches over the first few weeks. I've had no gastro problems, and I haven't gained any weight with Xeljanz. It's in lieu of a biologic - you'd probably have to have a rather significant case of RA to find someone who would allow you to do both Xeljanz *and* a biologic - too much tamping down of the immune system.

I take Xeljanz with injectible mtx, 5 mgs of prednisone, 400 mgs of Aleve, 100 mgs of minocycline and pain killers as needed. My results are comparable to Actemra + all of the above (I failed 3 biologics before going to Actemra).