Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Lonie2 08/02/2018

went to doc today and now he gave me xeljanz. Afraid of side effects but have also heard a lot of people gain weight. Please anyone with experience with this drug let me know how it worked for you. Depot is it still bothering your stomach?

depotblue 08/03/2018

Hi Lonie - I am happy your approval went through to try a new med. xeljanz is classified as a dmard - not sure why. I have a great friend right in the town I live who has been on it over 3 years and find it gives her consistent modest relief with no side affects. Others on here will report good stories. We are all so individual in our responses. I frankly do not like the line up of this is what such and such a med did to me - it all seems anecdotal unless I am reading the trials and studies or the box warning which I am not fond of perusing. Laughing.

I was on the standard dose (two pills a day) then I tried a 1/2 dose of xeljanz due to the stomach issues diarrhea and nausea and cramping (one pill a day) and then finally (I am not sure quite why) the rheum wanted to try the extended release xeljanz (this actually caused the greatest stomach pain) until I had to stop therapy for the stomach issues which are not gone. I am still with the gastro trying to get my gut health back and get back to where I was stomach wise (which was gosh darn normal) before I started the xeljanz.

It's an easy med though no infusion and no needle stick. More time for other things :). I hope you get great relief.

depot

WarriorGal 08/07/2018

Talk to your doc. What are your other options? Most of the other options require injections or infusions. Which do you dislike more? Medication that's injected or infused bypasses the stomach and will cause you less gastro complications.

beechfeet 08/30/2018

I’ve been on Xeljanz 11 mg extended release for just over a year. I haven’t noticed weight issues. Only difference I could relate to it is a change in taste. I’ve had modest relief, but it is the only drug that provided any help so I’m glad for that.

chestnc 09/04/2018

Hi Lonie, I have been on Xeljanz 5mg. twice daily about two years. I find it does help, but I still need to take pain medicine as well. I find it does help more than the IV biologics that I was on. I have found that I have gained weight, but I don't know that I blame it all on the Xeljanz I think it is due to the inactivity of having RA and not feeling optimum even with taking the meds that I do take. I do hope you get some relief from it.

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