I use Xeljanz and have used it for almost 3 years without incident. It seems to have worked for me. It is SO EASY because it is just a daily pill.

Kimhurts do you take any other medication along with the Xeljanz?

I tried the Xeljanz once a day and it caused horrible headaches daily. I then went to the pill twice a day (low dose). I don't feel that it did much.. I was still living on prednisone taper packs or the cocktail in the backside. I have now been off all meds since the 3rd and will start Orencia in an IV. I am hoping that it will help because I am struggling at the moment.

good luck and hope it works for you... since each one is so different from the next it is hard to know what will work...

I take 25ml of methotrexate injection weekly plus Plaquenil. I take mega doses of folic acid to balance the MTX because it caused oral lesions. I take other stuff for other issues. I'm just now swithching to the extended release version of Xeljanz, so I can't really comment on it but I was assuming it wouldn't be an issue. Interesting about the headaches. I will pay attention to that.

I had to get off of methotrexate.. caused migraines. and yes the folic gave me mouth sores. It could be that I am so sensitive to headaches that the two meds really affected me. when I talked with the pharm about Xeljanz she told me that it was one of the side effects.

good luck.

I tried Xeljanz for 8 months. I had no side effects, but it did not work at all. I have concluded I don't digest some oral meds well. So, probably that is why it did not work, but also that not enough got into my blood stream to give me side effects.

I hope it helps you.

You'll be glad to know that you have a good chance of not reacting the same way to Xeljanz as you did to Enbrel and Humira. Enbrel and Humira are both TNF inhibitors and I too did not take kindly to them. Xeljanz is a different class of drug - a janus kinase inhibitor.

Xeljanz was a three-year wonder drug for me. Almost complete remission and I was taking only it and Plaquenil.

LOL I will admit it did take me over a month after getting it to swallow my first pill as I too was worried about what new hell it might create for me, but instead no bad side effects to note with me. I was not on the extended once a day but the twice a day version of it.

Good luck and best wishes!

i have been having a hard time with my stomach on xeljanz since March. Seeing the rheum in a couple of weeks.

Thank you everyone for the replies. It’s been over a week now and I have no taste buds. My lips are so chapped but rash is gone thank god. Doc wants blood work done and I guess see what options I have. Would give anything to be able to taste something. Ross is stomach trouble the only side effects your having? This whole thing scares the hell out of me!

Smith101 are you still on it? I am terrified to try something else I can see it taking at least a couple of months thanks for your encouraging words.

hey lonie - no other side effects other than the freakin' stomach. the rheum knows - dropped me to one pill per day (regular not the time release) instead of 2. I'm in a long flare so I am kind of sad about the 1/2 dose - but I have to listen to my stomach, and the rheum.

Hi Lonie2, Sorry you are having these bad reactions to the biologics. I have been on almost all the biologics that are out there with no reaction. The reason for so many changes is that after a while the biologics stop working for me unfortunately. I have been on Xeljanz for more than a year and it works well with no reactions to the med. I am on the one that you take twice a day not the extended relief. Along with the Xeljanz I still need to take opioid pain medications. That is another story. Good luck with the Xeljanz.