Tofacitinib for Psoriatic Arthritis User Reviews

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2018

Tofacitinib "I was diagnosed with psoriasis at 19 and started experiencing PsA symptoms at 32 (now 37). A few months ago, my arthritis spread and flared horribly, and the stiffness in the morning became unbearable. I broke down and finally made an appointment to see a rheumatologist. The first medication he prescribed for me is Xeljanz, and after a month and a half, I’ve probably seen an 80% improvement in my condition, with morning stiffness all but eliminated. I do still have some lingering issues with a few finger joints and the back of my feet, but hopefully, those will get better with time. I haven’t noticed any side effects thus far into taking the medicine. Unfortunately, I wished it would have had a bigger impact on my psoriasis. Patches are still red, but the scales do not grow near as thick. Once again, this could get better with time. Overall, I’ve been extremely happy with Xeljanz thus far and would highly recommend you give it a try for your PsA."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

Tofacitinib "I have been taking this medication for about 6 weeks. I am on my 4th medication for psoriatic arthritis (PA). I feel worse on this medication than all the others. I have been robbed of a whole year of my life trying all these medications. The fatigue is so bad I cannot even go to work. I have had a venous Doppler because they thought the tingling in my legs was a blood clot. No, it was a side effect of the Xeljanz XR. I was put on Lasix to help with water retention due to the Xeljanz, and I was even sicker. I want to get better, not add more medications that make me sicker and a whole lot more uncomfortable. I have stopped this medication, and I am seriously thinking about not trying any biologicals. The medication is worse than the disease. I have been dealing with PA for about 15 years, and no amount of pain is as bad as the side effects and inability to have a life."

• Dol...
• December 4, 2019

Tofacitinib "I was on this medication for a year. It works, it kept my pain down, and inflammation markers looked good. I just got off the medication because my liver enzymes were going up, and I have gained a lot of weight since taking it. Other than that, no other side effects, like a lot of people on here have had."

• Jsr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2020

Tofacitinib "I was on Xeljanz XL for about 7 months. It seemed to be doing a decent job with my PsA joint pain and fatigue. After about 3 months, I noticed a shortness of breath that was getting worse. We presumed heart blockage, but cath showed no blockage. Turned out pulmonary embolism was the likely culprit with Xeljanz. Wish I had checked PE as the cause first. Lots of time and $ looking at heart. I know this drug can work, it just depends on your body and its possible reactions."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2019

Tofacitinib "I took one dose of this medication, and within one hour, both of my arms went completely numb. Numbness and tingling started in my lips and jaw. The next two nights, I woke up in the night with complete numbness again in my arms, which took 30 minutes to return to tingling. Numbness and tingling have continued through this whole week, in my feet and ankles, and lips and arms, even though I stopped taking it after the one disaster dose. Headaches and eye inflammation started three days after stopping use of this drug. I hope I can be symptom-free soon, and without lasting neurological effects. This was (and still is) an utterly frightening experience. I wouldn't recommend this drug to anyone."

• Ouc...
• September 16, 2019

Tofacitinib "I was put on this medication 2 months ago. I wasn't sure at first how much it helped for my arthritis (psoriatic) because I was put on prednisone. Now I'm off the prednisone, and my joints hurt so bad. My skin psoriasis is slowly getting better, but my fingers have gone back to hurting, hips, knees, back. It gives me daily headaches. It helps me more than Humira and Enbrel, but I'm still experiencing pain and swelling."

• Sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

Tofacitinib "I was on Xeljanz for 2 months. I had to quit taking it when I realized it was making me extremely depressed. My rheumatologist put me on Taltz, and after a week, I can already see major improvement to my psoriasis. I also have PSA, and my joints are not quite as stiff. Unfortunately, most medications work for me, but my body builds a resistance to them after a while. This is the 8th medication I have been on for my PSA. Fingers crossed that it's the last."

• Sec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 27, 2019

Tofacitinib "I have been on Xeljanz for about 6 months for psoriatic arthritis. For the most part, it was doing good... psoriasis cleared up, and my joints were doing great. Now, the joints are still okay, but I am experiencing new breakouts all over, and the plaque on my arms is getting thicker. I gave myself Humira shots, then went to Stelara, but this is worse than the psoriasis has been in about 6 years."

• Dia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 9, 2023

Tofacitinib "I’ve had psoriatic arthritis for 32 years. This drug is the best of all that I’ve been on, which was Remicade, Humira, Stelara, and Otezla, the latter two had no effect on my arthritis or psoriasis. This is the first one that has completely eliminated psoriasis on my scalp. Overall, I am about 90% improved on the psoriasis on other parts of the body. My arthritis is so much better and few flare-ups. It started working after about two weeks. I highly recommend this drug for both my severe arthritis and my psoriasis."

• 198...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

Tofacitinib "I was not optimistic about Xeljanz, but it has worked very well. Five years on Enbrel, and it was great. Two injections of Humira, and it was horrible. So I have to say, it's not that bad, it really isn't great."

• Ven...
• February 7, 2019

Tofacitinib "On my 5th week, and my pain is gone, however, I had a herpes flare at 4 weeks and it came back a week later. I just realized today that it might be causing severe anxiety, and my husband noticed this because I’m acting paranoid and obsessive. So scary. I have the same problem with prednisone, and it nearly drove me to suicide. My doctor should have known better."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2019

Tofacitinib "I found relief from inflammation pain after 4 weeks on Xeljanz. Just as I was feeling fairly well, I was diagnosed with influenza, therefore, I was advised to temporarily discontinue Xeljanz until I was better. Eight weeks after resuming, my symptoms gradually became worse, not better. I'm really disappointed and do not understand how this could happen. 2.5 days after the discontinuation, I actually feel a little better. Again, this makes no rational sense to me, since I have not started another biologic yet."

• luc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 21, 2019

Tofacitinib "I've been on Remicade for 15 years, and from day one it has produced excellent results. Hate the two hours of sitting, but it cleared up 100% of my psoriasis. However, my insurance company cut off the rheumatologists I had for 13 years, and I had to get a referral to another doctor. Problem was it took 7 months to get into the new doctor to get back on Remicade. I begged my old doctor to help me, and he got me on Xeljanz. But Xeljanz did not work. I was covered with plaques everywhere, like I was 20 years ago. I just think the delivery system is everything with our disease. A pill takes time to take effect, which an infusion gets right to the problem quickly. I am back on Remicade and completely clear skin with no side effects. I love Remicade, but I'm worried that the preexisting condition part of ACA will be shot down in court and then in the Supreme Court. But Remicade is great, and they have a program that makes it reasonable and literally pays off my deductibles."

• VMB...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 21, 2024

Tofacitinib "I tried 5 PsA medications with absolutely NO relief, experimenting for three years in agony trying to find the right medication. Xeljanz XR was the first one I tried that I found any relief. I guess everyone is different and responds differently with different medications, but Xeljanz XR has been a godsend to me. I felt relief starting after the second dose! I have no side effects. There is a greater risk of infection with Xeljanz XR, so anytime you get an illness such as UTI or sinus infection, you need to stop taking it until you are over it. But I am so very thankful that I found an effective medicine like Xeljanz. I finally found relief!! One pill once a day, and I'm good to go!!"

• vig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2022

"I have been prescribed tofacitinib after methotrexate and apremilast failed. I have psoriasis and PSA together, while methotrexate helped it caused increased bilirubin levels and had to discontinue. Apremilast was worst and did nothing to my condition, but tofacitinib controlled my joint pain within a week, but I'm yet to see improvement in my psoriasis spots. It has been 1 month so far on this medication."

• Raj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2025

"After trying almost every medicine available in the market, the rheumatologist prescribed this to my wife for her disabling psoriatic arthritis. This is the only one that doesn't cause neuropsychiatric side effects. A few other medicines are, although more effective than this, but what if one loses one's mental health? This is the best one for her because it doesn't affect mental health and is effective in managing pain and stiffness."

• kle...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2019

Tofacitinib "You can buy any biologics in Germany for 1,000 a month, whereas they charge Medicare 15,000.00 a month. Why? It does absolutely nothing. I take it with Tremfya, it also does nothing. Otezla helps but gives you diaper rash, bad bowels, and Jakavi, which grows back cartilage, gums are healing, but does nothing for plaques. If I used four at a time, it would cost me one with insurance, and none do anything. It is only good for big pharma profits."

• nit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2022

"My child, 13 years old, doctor suggests tofacitinib (tofajak) twice a day. After taking it for 3 months, her creatinine level is 5.5 now. Her kidney is totally damaged. It is effective on your skin, but damages you."

• Jus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2022

Tofacitinib "Used for psoriatic arthritis. Only thing that controls the psoriasis. The others, Embryl, Humira, methotrexate, and Otezla did not touch it. Humira caused sickness after each shot."

• War...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2019

Tofacitinib "I think Xeljanz is easy to take compared with an injection, but even with methotrexate it does not seem effective. Especially if the sedimentation rate keeps being high after 6 months of treatment."