Tofacitinib for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• yerin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2015

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "This drug had almost a methamphetamine effect on me. I could almost feel my blood going thru my veins. Couldn't think straight, Had extreme pressure in my eyeballs, headaches and couldn't sleep. Went to a half dose with no change in symptoms. Went off of it 4 days ago and all of the negative symptoms have disappeared."

• Kevrox
• May 5, 2017

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "My experiences have been very good with Xeljanz. Before that I could barely move I could barely walk down the stairs it was horrible my husband had to pull me out of bed. Now I'm able to function today but if I do overdo it I start getting sore. I've been on it for 2 years. I have no bad side effects."

• Dumplin
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Started in November and started great. Blood work showed great improvement and I only had headaches and nausea but from there it was all downhill. I got shingles, my skin broke out in painful acne, my headaches got worse, my lungs would burn every morning with coughing, running nose, sneezing and I had no energy. I’d fall asleep on my couch every night with no warning. I got multiple cold sores which I hadn’t had in years and that’s when my rheum. took me off of it. They think it destroyed my immune system. I’ve been off it for a few days and my cold sores are gone, my energy is up and I overall feel much better. We may go back to low dose as I’m running out of treatment options and I’m only 29 but I don’t know if it’s worth it."

• EJLM
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2018

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Taking for 3 weeks now and noticed major improvement after one week. Increased energy and able to get out of bed and walk down steps without any issues. I would recommend this drug. No side effects as of yet."

• Tropi...
• May 24, 2017

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I have been taking Xeljanz for RA for a few months. It has really helped my RA, however, I have recently developed severe diverticulitis and migraines. I have had major abdominal pain, constant nausea and almost nightly headaches (many of which are migraines). I am attributing this to the Xeljanz and I plan to discontinue it immediately."

• karjoy
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 27, 2016

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I started Xeljanz 1-1/2 years ago, after all the years from 2008, having pain and stiffness and some relief. This Xeljanz so far has been a miracle to me. I'm down to 2-1/2 mg. of Prednisone, which I hope to be able to completely be off it, except for flare-up times and needing a tapering of it. I still have chronic pain every day, but don't we all? There's so much less of it though, that life is of more quality. I'm doing more. My right wrist is deformed and so eroded, that I can't bend that much at all, so I just try to avoid moving it so much. It doesn't hurt any more with it being idle!! My feet are the very worst though. I try to limit my walking, but it's hard. I'm 57 and appreciate this drug very much!!"

• Charl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2017

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Six days after beginning Xeljanz, I awoke during the night with complete sinus blockage - as in zero airflow through the passages. I have facial numbness from forehead to chin, nausea, abdominal pain, and dizziness. All of this continues though I discontinued the med 2 weeks ago. I am on prednisone to help calm the reaction, and it is doing very little. I called the company to report the reaction and the steered me to a "medical help" line rather than the proper process to report this severe reaction."

• MBelle
• February 15, 2018

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I have been taking Xeljanz 11mg once daly for a year now. It has given me much improvement. I have been able to cut my pain meds down to less than half. The swelling I experienced has completely gone. My RA is extremely severe advanced and I was having terrible problems with huge rheumatoid nodules on my tailbone and hands which had burst and were very painful. Since Xeljanz they have almost all healed, it truly is a miracle drug for me. The only problem is it is too expensive. They allowed me to get the medicine free under their hardship program all last year, but now they have not approved it for 2018 and I cannot afford over a thousand dollars a month for this med, I have congestive heart failure and am taking 20 other meds. So as much as this medicine helped me, until a generic is out there I am now out of this medicine unable to pay the steep price they demand."

• Egiamp
• November 7, 2016

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Within 2 weeks Xeljanz was working amazingly for my rheumatoid arthritis. But had to stop after 8 weeks because of complete insomnia and depression/anxiety. This drug brought on depression, insomnia, and anxiety so hard and so quickly. I just could not continue. This had the same effect on me as prednisone. My system cannot tolerate that either. Too bad because both work so well for the arthritis. Luckily these side effects have gone away after stopping the medicine"

• Still...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2015

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Medication starting making my joints feeling better, but after a month of taking it, I developed migraine headaches that would come one about an hour after taking medication. Had to stop due to the severity of the headaches."

• SharKay
• December 13, 2016

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I have started taking this January 2014 and it started working within 2 weeks. I have had a few flare-ups, but more as time has gone on. I take methotrexate with this. I have my cholesterol tested every 6 months. I have never had any cholesterol issues. After taking this for 2 years, My cholesterol is in the high range due to this medicine. Which puts me into a whole different category of heart disease/attack. I will be going off. It was a good run, but isn't worth it!"

• shrin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2017

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Been on Xeljanz XR 11 mg for about 10 days now. I've tried most of the infusion drugs and Methotrexate and none have worked. It's a little early to tell for sure but I think it's helping. I don't have typical RA, no flares, I am in a constant flare. No coming and going unfortunately. I also have whole body swelling, lucky me. But I am noticing a slight reduction in swelling. I had gone up a full ring and shoe size. Today I could get on a ring I haven't been able to wear in years....yay! I have had some strange side effects. Extreme fatigue, depression, skin crawling and a little paranoia. Not typical for me and I don't think for this drug either. I seem to always have the rare side effects with all medications. I'm hopeful though."

• Dusty...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2016

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I take Xejanz for severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. I've been on it for about 3 yrs. It is excellent for inflammation but doesn't do much for pain. My doctors do say they think it has stopped my progression which is 1st and foremost goal for those who have RA. I do not notice any side effects."

• RA2012
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2015

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I took one day of medicine. Next day had a full blown sinus/ upper respiratory irritation. Headache, fever, the whole nine yards. 5 days later I am still fighting the effects of a cold/infection. I have been taking Arava for 18 months and have not had one infection. Only reason I tried this is because the Gastrointestinal problems with Arava are bothersome. There are new biologics heading to the market that based on the first 2 phases are safer and more effective than all these that are currently on the market. I will wait for the new ones."

• Moomin
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Over 23 years I have been on many pills for arthritis, the latest is xeljanz, it's only been 9 weeks I cannot stand the pain, I struggle to climb the stairs, I've had flu like symptoms, upset stomach, yet something else that doesn't work"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2016

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Felt the drug working within a week. Don't know how the drug could be paid for if you don't have insurance AND copayment assist. My copay was 300 before copay assist. Has really helped with minimal side effects"

• liznita
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I began using Xeljanz 5mg in February 2019 and stopped using it September 2019 after feeling no relief from the medicine. It seemed as if my rheumatoid arthritis was worst than ever while on the xeljanz. I noticed that I suffered with acid reflux after I started the medicine. I was diagnosed with acid reflux and the only thing that I can attribute it to is Xeljanz because I never had an issue with hearth burn or acid reflux prior to the medicine and this is one of the side affects of this drug."

• Dink
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "For the 1st two months, I felt great, energy, gardened, worked more physically than I have done in a long time. Then the sinus infections came, Dr took me off. Still trying to get sinuses straightened out."

• Deb
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "This medication does help with my Arthritis symptoms but the side effects are that chronic fatigue, stomach pain and diarrhea and after being on it for just been two weeks don't think I will stay on this medication. I can do nothing but sleep all day. So have tried several medications and only one worked somewhat that didn't cause fatigue but it didn't stop the pain but because I got migraines couldn't go up on medication. Leflunomide may be my only choice. Desperate.."

• Stiff...
• December 13, 2017

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Tried Humira for seven months and then Embrel for nine months. Both worked, but side affects and health issues resulted in discontinuation of these treatments. I have been on Xeljanz for five months and feel a lot better. Prier to this medication, I felt like the tin man and moved about at the same speed. Prednisone only hides the affects of the Arthritis and bone density become a huge issue. All in all Xeljanz has been a great improvement for me. It is not a cure by any means but it has made a huge difference in my day to day life. Regarding mobility and joint swelling I would rate this medication an eight out of ten."

• Teena...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I have been through the wringer, 16 years of trying one drug after the next. A year ago my doctor suggested Xeljanz. I started it in July and it worked almost instantly. For the next 3 months I didn't have one sore joint, it was incredible! Then slowly I began to be sore again. Finally by December 16 I had to seek emergency medical intervention in the form of steroids and pain med. That gave me roughly 2 weeks and then I was back to hospital for more (my doctor was shut down for vacation during the Christmas holidays) . When he came back he doubled up my dose but it hasn't helped. I have excruciating pain in most of my upper body joints. I'll likely go off this medication when I see my rheumatologist next month. On the plus side, I'm completely off my medication for ulcerative colitis!!"

• Baile...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2018

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Took this one time .Next morning my stomach hurt horribly, as well as my back. Also gave me a rash. Did not take it a second time. My back is still killing me. I think these medications are scary to take, worse than the disease itself."

• Commo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "I was on the Xeljanz for Rheumatoid Arthritis and had side effects of stomach pain, fatigue and also no reduction in joint pain. I envy those who find relief from their symptoms, I am glad it helps you."

• mtatom
• September 3, 2016

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "Methotrexate was damaging my lungs (fibrous complications) so my Rheumatologist put me on 5mg. Xeljanz twice daily. The Humira/Methotrexate combination I was using previously worked very well for me except for the lung problems. I've been using the Xeljanz for about a month and it's not been good. My hands and feet hurt a lot more and all the time. I see my doctor in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping he can come up with something more effective."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2019

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) "It's been almost two months on this medication. Stomach issues, but I've always had stomach issues. No relief from pain, in fact it's been worse and I've had to get back on prednisone to knock the pain out. I'm off and on Pred for three or four days to see if this drug is working, but I don't think so because every time I get off the prednisone the pain rolls in again and prednisone does not even seem as effective as in the past."