If you have a certain autoimmune condition, your doctor may recommend tofacitinib IR oral tablets. Autoimmune conditions cause your immune system to become overactive and attack your own body.

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets are used to treat the following autoimmune conditions:

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets are used in adults and some children. For more information about the uses of tofacitinib, see the “What are tofacitinib IR oral tablets used for?” section below.

Tofacitinib IR oral tablet basics

Tofacitinib is an active drug ingredient. It comes as oral tablets that you’ll take by mouth.

This article focuses on immediate-release (IR) tofacitinib oral tablets. IR medications release their drug at once in your body after you take them. This is unlike extended-release (ER) medications, which release their drug slowly over a period of time.

Unlike many of the other drugs used for autoimmune conditions, tofacitinib is not a biologic drug. Instead, it’s a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).

Note: Tofacitinib is also available in an extended-release form, called tofacitinib ER (Xeljanz XR). Only the IR form of tofacitinib is described in this article. If you’d like to learn about tofacitinib’s other forms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Tofacitinib IR oral tablet brand-name versions

Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form isn’t yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Note: Other forms of tofacitinib have other brand-name drug versions. To learn about those other versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets are a generic drug, which means they’re an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. The brand-name medication that tofacitinib IR oral tablets are based on is called Xeljanz.

Generic drugs are thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name drug they’re based on. In general, generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

If you’d like to know more about using Xeljanz instead of tofacitinib IR oral tablets, talk with your doctor. And see this Healthline article to learn more about the differences between generic and brand-name drugs.

Find the answers below to some commonly asked questions about tofacitinib IR oral tablets.

Note: Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Is tofacitinib used for alopecia (hair loss)? Does it help with hair growth?

At this time, tofacitinib is not approved to treat alopecia (hair loss). But it’s possible that tofacitinib may help with hair growth, and it may be studied as a treatment for hair loss.

For example, one study looked at people with a certain type of hair loss called alopecia areata. (With this condition, your immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing hair loss.)

This study showed that almost everyone had hair growth after taking tofacitinib. But the amount of hair growth varied significantly in different people.

If you have hair loss and you’re interested in taking tofacitinib, talk with your doctor.

How does tofacitinib work?

Tofacitinib is used to treat certain autoimmune conditions, which are conditions that cause your immune system to be overactive. With these conditions, your immune system attacks your own body and causes inflammation and often pain.

Tofacitinib is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). It belongs to a group of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. JAK is a protein that’s believed to cause inflammation related to the autoimmune conditions tofacitinib treats.

The mechanism of action of tofacitinib (how it works) is to block JAK. This decreases inflammation that occurs with the autoimmune conditions.

If you have more questions about how tofacitinib works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does tofacitinib treat vitiligo?

No, at this time, tofacitinib is not approved to treat vitiligo. This is a condition that causes loss of color in your skin. With vitiligo, you have patches of skin that are lighter than other areas of your skin.

There’s not enough information to show if this medication is a safe or effective treatment option for vitiligo.

But a small study showed that tofacitinib may cause skin to return to its natural complexion in people with this condition. In this study, the drug was used along with light therapy.

In addition, tofacitinib cream has been studied as a possible treatment option for vitiligo. The study showed that tofacitinib cream may be an effective treatment option.

At this time, more studies are needed to see if tofacitinib is safe or effective for vitiligo. If you’re interested in taking the drug for vitiligo, talk with your doctor.

Does tofacitinib treat psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, or atopic dermatitis?

No, tofacitinib is not approved to treat psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or atopic dermatitis. But it’s possible that doctors may prescribe tofacitinib off-label for these conditions. With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a reason other than it’s approved uses.

At this time, there’s not enough information about whether tofacitinib is a safe or effective option for people with these conditions.

Tofacitinib may be an effective treatment for psoriasis. This is a skin condition that causes discolored, scaly patches to form, often on your elbows, knees, or scalp. One study looked at using tofacitinib to treat plaque psoriasis. Although the drug was effective, people taking it had side effects from it.

In addition, tofacitinib has been studied in people with AS. This is a type of arthritis that affects your spine. One study showed that tofacitinib was effective at treating symptoms of AS. And the drug didn’t seem to cause more side effects than other medications used for this condition.

It’s also possible that tofacitinib may be effective for atopic dermatitis, which is also called eczema. This skin condition causes itchy, dry, and possible discoloration of skin.

Studies show that JAK inhibitors, such as tofacitinib, did work to treat symptoms of atopic dermatitis. But some serious side effects, such as blood clots and infections, occurred. Because of this risk, other treatment options may be recommended for atopic dermatitis.

If you’d like to know more about taking tofacitinib for one of these conditions, talk with your doctor.

How does tofacitinib compare with baricitinib?

You may wonder how tofacitinib compares with baricitinib. Both drugs belong to the same group of medications, called JAK inhibitors. So they work in very similar ways.

But baricitinib is only approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tofacitinib, on the other hand, is used for RA, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. For more information about these conditions, see the “What are tofacitinib IR oral tablets used for?” section below.

Tofacitinib is an active drug that’s available as a generic medication. It also comes in the brand-name drug Xeljanz. Baricitinib is not available as a generic medication. It only comes as the brand-name drug Olumiant.

Both tofacitinib and baricitinib may cause similar side effects. For example, both drugs have boxed warnings for serious infections, cancer, and blood clots. (Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration [FDA].) These drugs may have some differences in side effects, though.

Talk with your doctor about whether tofacitinib or baricitinib may be a better option for your condition.

What should I know about tofacitinib and ruxolitinib?

Both tofacitinib (Xeljanz) and ruxolitinib (Jakafi) belong to the same group of medications, called JAK inhibitors. These drugs work in very similar ways.

But even though they may work in similar ways, they’re approved to treat very different conditions. For instance, tofacitinib is approved to treat:

In comparison, ruxolitinib is approved to treat:

Even though these drugs have very different approved uses, they’re both currently being studied to treat hair loss. Both tofacitinib and ruxolitinib may be effective treatment options for people with this condition.

If you have questions about which of these medications is the right option for you, talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, tofacitinib IR oral tablets* may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you may be taking

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of tofacitinib IR oral tablets. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that tofacitinib IR oral tablets can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read tofacitinib IR oral tablets’ medication guide.

Mild side effects can vary based on the condition you’re treating. But they may include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from tofacitinib IR oral tablets can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects, call your doctor right away. However, if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of tofacitinib IR oral tablets that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects tofacitinib IR oral tablets may cause.

Boxed warnings

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets have boxed warnings. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the side effects relating to these warnings are not the drug’s most common side effects, they have occurred. They are very serious and can be life threatening.

Tofacitinib’s boxed warnings are described below.

Serious infections. Tofacitinib may increase your risk for serious infections, which can be life threatening or lead to hospitalization. Infections that may occur include fungal, bacterial, and viral infections.

Examples of infections that have occurred include:

In most cases of serious infections during studies, people were taking tofacitinib along with other drugs that weakened their immune system. These other drugs included methotrexate and steroids such as prednisone.

You may have an increased risk for serious infection with tofacitinib if you’re taking a higher dose of the drug.

Symptoms will vary, but they may include fever, cough, or trouble breathing.

What might help

Your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of infection while you’re taking tofacitinib. If you have tuberculosis or have had infections that keep coming back, be sure to tell your doctor before you start tofacitinib. In these cases, they may monitor you more often than usual while you’re taking the drug.

You should not take tofacitinib if you have any active infections. If you develop symptoms of an infection, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor can check to see what’s causing your symptoms.

If you have an infection, your doctor will treat it as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t get worse. Depending on your infection, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking tofacitinib and try a different medication to treat your condition.

Blood clots. Blood clots have occurred in people taking tofacitinib. The types of clots that may occur include:

Your risk for blood clots with tofacitinib may be increased if you have the following risk factors:

  • you’re 50 years of age or older
  • you have at least one cardiovascular risk factor, such as high cholesterol or diabetes
  • you’re taking tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily to treat rheumatoid arthritis

Symptoms of blood clot can vary, but may include pain and swelling in a limb or trouble breathing.

What might help

If you have a high risk for blood clots, your doctor may recommend a medication other than tofacitinib for you. In some cases, they may recommend that you take a lower dose of this medication.

If you develop symptoms of a blood clot, stop taking tofacitinib and see a doctor or go to the hospital right away.

Blood clots can be a life-threatening condition. If you’ve ever had a blood clot, be sure to tell your doctor before starting tofacitinib.

Cancer. People taking tofacitinib may have an increased risk of cancer. This includes a cancer of the blood called lymphoma, and other cancers, such as:

In studies, the risk of skin cancer was higher in people taking tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily for ulcerative colitis.

In addition, tofacitinib may increase the risk of lymphoma in people who have had a kidney transplant and are taking tofacitinib with other medications that weaken the immune system.

What might help

Your doctor will monitor you while you’re taking tofacitinib. For example, they may recommend skin checks if you have an increased risk for skin cancer.

If you’ve ever had cancer or a kidney transplant, be sure to tell your doctor before starting tofacitinib. They may monitor you more often than usual, or they may recommend a different medication for you.

Increased risk of death. Tofacitinib increases the risk of death in certain people. This includes those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are ages 50 years and older with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Examples of cardiovascular risk factors include high cholesterol and diabetes.

In studies, people in this group had an increased risk of death, including from heart attack.

This increased risk of death occurred in people taking tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily. People taking tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily or certain other drugs did not have this increased risk.

What might help

Because of the increased risk of death with tofacitinib, the maximum recommended dosage to treat RA is 5 mg of tofacitinib twice daily.

If you’re an adult ages 50 years or older and you have cardiovascular risk factors, talk with your doctor. They can recommend if tofacitinib is a safe treatment option for you. Your doctor may recommend that you take a dose of just 5 mg twice daily to decrease your risk. Or they may recommend a different medication for you.

Given this increased risk, your doctor will help you decide if tofacitinib is right for you.

Tears in the digestive tract

Tears in the digestive tract have happened in some people taking tofacitinib. This wasn’t a common side effect in studies, but it did occur.

In the drug’s studies, many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These included ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).

It’s possible that taking NSAIDs may increase the risk of digestive tract tears. But it wasn’t clear from these studies if taking tofacitinib along with NSAIDs further increased the risk of this side effect.

People taking tofacitinib with NSAIDs for ulcerative colitis did not seem to have an increased risk of tears in their digestive tract.

It’s important to be aware of the symptoms from a tear in the digestive tract. They can include fever, belly pain, nausea, and vomiting.

What might help

Your doctor will determine your risk for having a tear in your digestive tract with tofacitinib. They’ll consider whether you’re taking NSAIDs or if you have diverticulitis (swelling of your digestive tract). In these cases, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any symptoms. They can determine if you have a tear in your digestive tract and they’ll help you get treatment right away.

Headache

You may have headaches from taking tofacitinib. Headaches were one of the most common side effects in studies of this medication.

What might help

If you have a headache with tofacitinib, tell your doctor. They may recommend ways to help treat your headache. This could include taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to tofacitinib IR oral tablets.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to tofacitinib IR oral tablets. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

If you have a certain autoimmune condition, your doctor may recommend that you take tofacitinib IR oral tablets.*

Autoimmune conditions cause your immune system to become overactive and attack your own body. Symptoms of an autoimmune disease are often due to inflammation that’s caused by your immune system attacking your body. Tofacitinib works by decreasing inflammation, which reduces your symptoms.

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets are used to treat the following autoimmune conditions:

  • Ulcerative colitis (UC). Tofacitinib is used to treat moderate to severe UC in adults. With UC, your colon becomes inflamed and develops ulcers or sores. Before trying tofacitinib for your UC, you should have already tried another type of medication called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. An example of one of these drugs is infliximab (Remicade).
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tofacitinib is used to treat moderate to severe RA in adults. RA affects your joints and can cause swelling or deformity in them. Before trying tofacitinib for RA, you should have already tried methotrexate (Trexall).
  • Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Tofacitinib is used to treat PsA in adults. This is a type of arthritis that may occur in people with a skin condition called psoriasis. Before trying tofacitinib for PsA, you should have already tried methotrexate, and another type of medication called a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). An example of a DMARD is the drug hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).
  • Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Tofacitinib is used to treat polyarticular JIA in children ages 2 years and older. This condition causes arthritis in multiple joints in children. It’s not known what may cause the arthritis.

If you have UC, RA, PsA, or polyarticular JIA, you should not take tofacitinib if you’re also taking drugs that may weaken your immune system. Examples of these drugs include azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Neoral), and infliximab (Remicade).

Tofacitinib may also be used off-label for other conditions. With off-label use, a drug that’s approved for certain conditions is used for another use. Talk with your doctor for more information about off-label uses for this drug.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.

Financial assistance to help you pay for tofacitinib IR oral tablets may be available. Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds are two websites that provide resources to help reduce the cost of tofacitinib IR oral tablets.

These websites also offer tools to help you find low-cost healthcare and certain educational resources. To learn more, visit their websites.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Some important things to discuss with your doctor when you’re considering treatment with tofacitinib IR oral tablets* include:

  • other medical conditions you have
  • other drugs you may be taking

These and other considerations are described below.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Interactions

Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking tofacitinib IR oral tablets, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with tofacitinib IR oral tablets.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets can interact with several types of drugs. These drugs include:

These interactions may cause your levels of tofacitinib to be too high or too low. This can change the way that the medication works to treat your condition. It may even increase your risk for side effects.

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with tofacitinib IR oral tablets. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of tofacitinib IR oral tablets.

Other interactions

In addition to the medications listed above, tofacitinib may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may cause your level of tofacitinib to increase. And this can cause serious side effects from the drug.

Also, because tofacitinib can weaken your immune system, you should not get any live vaccines while you’re taking this medication. These vaccines contain a live virus, so they require your immune system to fight off the virus. If your immune system isn’t working as well as it should, a live vaccine may make you ill.

Examples of live vaccines include:

Before you start taking tofacitinib, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your vaccine needs. They’ll recommend if you need some vaccinations before you start tofacitinib. They’ll also be able to help you determine if it’s safe for you to get a vaccine while you’re taking tofacitinib.

In general, you can get non-live vaccines while you’re taking this medication. This includes the flu vaccine that’s given by injection.

Boxed warnings

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets have boxed warnings.

These include warnings for serious infections, cancer, blood clots, and increased risk of death. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

People taking tofacitinib have had serious infections, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. In some cases, these infections have led to hospitalization or have been life threatening.

Some people taking tofacitinib have developed cancer, including lymphoma.

Tofacitinib may also increase the risk of blood clots and death in certain people.

For more information about these warnings, see the “What are side effects of tofacitinib IR oral tablets?” section above.

Other warnings

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take tofacitinib IR oral tablets. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

  • Liver problems. If you have liver problems, tell your doctor before taking tofacitinib. With liver problems, you may get a higher level of tofacitinib in your body than usual. This can increase your risk for side effects from the drug. Your doctor may recommend a lower dose of the medication or a different drug, depending on your condition.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to tofacitinib IR oral tablets or any of their ingredients, you should not take the tablets. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.
  • Increased risk of tears in your digestive tract. It’s possible that tofacitinib may cause a tear in your digestive tract. If you’re taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), you may have an increased risk. Also, if you have other conditions, such as diverticulitis, your risk may be increased. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors. They may recommend a different treatment option for you.
  • Kidney problems. If you have kidney problems, tell your doctor before starting tofacitinib. Kidney problems may cause you to have a higher level of tofacitinib than usual in your body. This can increase your risk for side effects from the drug. Your doctor may recommend a lower dose of tofacitinib or a different medication for you.
  • Blood cell problems. If you have any conditions that affect your blood cells, tell your doctor. This could include anemia (low level of red blood cells). Tofacitinib can cause some of your blood cell levels to decrease. If you already have a condition that affects your blood cell levels, taking tofacitinib may worsen your condition. Your doctor may recommend a different medication for you.

Tofacitinib IR oral tablets and alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between tofacitinib and alcohol.

If you’re interested in drinking alcohol while taking tofacitinib, talk with your doctor. They can recommend if this is safe for you.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known if tofacitinib is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor before taking this drug while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Tofacitinib and pregnancy

At this time, there’s not enough information to know if the drug causes harm to a developing fetus.

A pregnancy exposure registry is available for pregnant people taking tofacitinib. This registry monitors possible side effects that occur. Over time, the information gathered can help show if a drug is safe for use during pregnancy. To sign up for the tofacitinib pregnancy registry or learn more information about it, call 877-311-8972.

Tofacitinib and breastfeeding

It’s also not clear if tofacitinib passes into breast milk or what effects it may have on a child who’s breastfed. So it’s recommended that you do not breastfeed while you’re taking tofacitinib IR oral tablets. And you should continue to avoid breastfeeding for at least 18 hours after your last dose of the drug.

Both tofacitinib (Xeljanz) and adalimumab (Humira) are used to treat autoimmune conditions, including:

Humira is also approved to treat other autoimmune conditions.

These medications work in different ways. So they may have different side effects and different dosages.

If you’d like more information about these two drugs, see this detailed comparison of Xeljanz and Humira. And be sure to talk with your doctor about which drug is right for you.

Your doctor will explain how you should take tofacitinib IR oral tablets.* They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Taking tofacitinib IR oral tablets

Tofacitinib comes as oral tablets that you’ll take by mouth.

This article focuses on immediate-release (IR) tofacitinib oral tablets. IR medications release their drug at once in your body after you take them. This is unlike extended-release medications, which release their drug slowly over a period of time.

Dosage

You’ll take tofacitinib IR oral tablets twice daily.

Taking tofacitinib IR oral tablets with other drugs

In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take tofacitinib IR oral tablets with other medications to treat your condition.

For example, to treat psoriatic arthritis, your doctor may recommend taking tofacitinib with other medications, such as:

When you first start taking tofacitinib, your doctor will discuss a treatment plan with you. They may recommend that you take tofacitinib alone or together with other medications.

Questions about taking tofacitinib IR oral tablets

Here’s a list of common questions related to taking tofacitinib IR oral tablets.

  • What if I miss a dose of tofacitinib IR oral tablets? If you miss a dose of tofacitinib, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend the best time to take your next dose. If you just recently missed your dose, they may recommend that you take the medication as soon as you remember. Then you could likely keep taking it on your normal dosing schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose when you remember a missed dose, your doctor may recommend that you skip the missed dose.
  • Will I need to use tofacitinib IR oral tablets long term? If tofacitinib works for your condition, your doctor will likely recommend that you take it long term.
  • Can tofacitinib IR oral tablets be chewed, crushed, or split? Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if it’s safe to chew, crush, or split tofacitinib IR oral tablets. If you’re having trouble swallowing the tablets, this medication is also available in an oral solution. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
  • Should I take tofacitinib IR oral tablets with food? You can take tofacitinib IR oral tablets with or without food.
  • How long do tofacitinib IR oral tablets take to work? Tofacitinib will begin working after your first dose. But it may take some time before you start noticing reduced symptoms.
Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about tofacitinib IR oral tablets and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will tofacitinib IR oral tablets affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.

Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

Do not take more tofacitinib IR oral tablets* than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

What to do in case you take too much tofacitinib

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too many tofacitinib IR oral tablets. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have a certain autoimmune condition, your doctor may recommend tofacitinib IR oral tablets.* Autoimmune conditions cause your immune system to become overactive and attack your own body.

To see a list of autoimmune conditions treated by this drug, check out the “What are tofacitinib IR oral tablets used for?” section above.

Before your conversation with your doctor, you may wish to write down some questions to ask them. Here’s a list of questions that might help you:

  • Is tofacitinib safe for me to take with my other medical conditions?
  • Does tofacitinib interact with my other medications?
  • What happens if I become pregnant while I’m taking tofacitinib?
  • Am I at an increased risk for side effects due to my other medical conditions?

You may also wish to read more about other treatment options for ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis.

If you’d like to stay up to date on the most current treatment options, sign up for Healthline’s newsletter for irritable bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis.

* Tofacitinib, a generic version of Xeljanz, has been approved. But the generic form is not yet available from pharmacies. To find out more about the generic drug’s current availability, check with your pharmacist.

Q:

If I’m taking tofacitinib along with another medication for psoriatic arthritis, such as sulfasalazine, leflunomide, or methotrexate, is my risk for side effects increased?

Anonymous

A:

Yes, taking certain medications along with tofacitinib can increase your risk for infections.

During studies of tofacitinib, some people developed serious infections that led to hospitalizations and, in some cases, death. Many of these people were also taking immunosuppressant drugs, which are medications that weaken your immune system.

Some examples of immunosuppressant drugs include:

If you’re currently taking one of these medications for psoriatic arthritis, your doctor will discuss the risks with you. They’ll recommend a treatment plan and ways to reduce your risk for side effects.

Patricia Weiser, PharmDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.