Tofacitinib and Nausea: What Users Say

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been on this Xeljanz poison for three and a half months. I got worse and worse with pain. Muscle weakness. Enlarged liver. Terrible stomach problems, excruciating pain in my guts, and constant nausea. Liver pain, swelling in feet, hands, wrists, and general unwell feeling. Developed chest infections. The chemist ran out, so I was without it for three days. Stomach... good! No liver pain!!! Not one ounce of swelling. Night sweats stopped. Burning up feeling stopped. Day one back on it... all symptoms back!!! Dreadful poison. I'm stopping it."

• tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2019

For Ulcerative Colitis "Have only been taking the 10 mg twice a day for the last 5 days. Yesterday, my bathroom frequency went down from around 12-15 times a day to just 2 trips yesterday! Most amazing response I could have hoped for! Only bad part is the morning nausea I'm experiencing."

• SHE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Woke up with a severe migraine the morning after starting treatment. Took it for 4 weeks, headaches constantly, like my head and eyes were in a vice. Backache. Nausea burning in stomach, chest, and throat. Stopped after 6, as I couldn't stand it anymore, quality of life was zero by then."

• Tro...
• May 24, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Dum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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 rheumatologist 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 a 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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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 they steered me to a 'medical help' line rather than the proper process to report this severe reaction."

• Ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Xeljanz for 4 months now. I have experienced less joint pain and swelling in some joints but increased significantly in other joints to the point of crying. Extreme fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and a general unwell sick feeling. I was previously on other biologics and then just on prednisone. I would much rather feel the way I felt before taking the Xeljanz. The way I feel on this drug is worse than being on nothing."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2021

For Ulcerative Colitis "Was diagnosed with UC in 2012, that was after 2 years of trying to self-diagnose myself. Been on so many different meds. I've been on this medication for about 3 months, 10 mg, 2 times a day, and I have to say it's been a ride. I was going to the bathroom a lot. Now I'm not going at all. Every week I have to take laxatives because I'm not going to the bathroom at all. It's causing weight gain. I'm extremely tired now as well. I can't keep my eyes open. I was driving my husband and me home and was almost in an accident as it hit me all of a sudden. Pulled over so he could drive, but imagine what it would be like if I was alone. I'm so uncomfortable, and the nausea and headache are unbearable. I work from home so it helps to step away from the computer, but I'll say my symptoms on the meds aren't getting me anywhere I need to be."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 9, 2023

For Ulcerative Colitis "I’ve been taking Xeljanz for just over a year. I’ve been through all the other biologic meds since I was diagnosed 12 years ago. Stelara was the last one I tried, and it didn’t work at all. My fecal calprotectin was over 8,000 when I started Xeljanz, and after 3 months, it was down to 22, which I think is the best it’s ever been. So, Xeljanz is definitely working. The downside to that are the side effects. It started with fatigue and headaches for the first month or so, then progressed to stomach pain, burning, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea. I thought maybe it wasn’t working and I was flaring again, but my calprotectin was even lower than before. I’ve also developed high cholesterol and high blood pressure (never had that before in my life). It’s making me feel absolutely horrible, I have all the flare symptoms without the flare! Now I have to decide if I should keep taking it or not, I don’t have many options left :("

• Fre...
• December 12, 2021

For Ulcerative Colitis "Using Xeljanz for UC 10 mg 2x a day about 4 months. Good results right away within days. Fatigue in the beginning slowly getting better. Weight gain, but not sure if I can blame the drug. Some nausea in the morning. I now know what foods to avoid. Four months in and no real bad side effects."

• Old...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 25, 2025

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have used various biologics, but none as effective as Xeljanz. Initially, I had nausea and diarrhea for a few weeks, which disappeared and nothing else since. It is great to have a medication that keeps my pain and inflammation levels at an acceptable level. I have been on Xeljanz for about three years with no issues."