Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Question on Xeljanz

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
MLP2060
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2016
Posts : 54
Posted 6/12/2020 9:35 AM (GMT -6)
I have been on 5 mg of Xeljanz twice a day now for about a year. I started at 10 mg twice a day and then as symptoms improved, went down to 5 mg maintenance dose. I also recently stopped taking Delzicol per my GI instructions. I was only taking 2 400 mg tablets twice a day and when the prescription ran out, I was told I did not need to refill. this week I'm starting to see some GI issues. Not sure if its a stomach bug or not. I've read alot of success stories about Xeljanz so I'm hoping it hasn't quit working it's magic on me already after a year. Also wondering if stopping Delzicol is having an effect. Would appreciate hearing from others who have experience.
profile picture
poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 1548
Posted 6/12/2020 11:47 AM (GMT -6)
In your shoes i would get a calprotectin test. But, my flares are really strongly correlated with calprotectin, which is not the case for everyone. I started to flare 3 months after dropping the dose of xeljanz. The first symptom was abdominal pain but we caught it early because I monitor my calprotectin monthly - it had gone from 30 to 400. I got back into remission quickly using salofalk enemas (4g) which I have not quit since because I don't want to risk another flare. So yes 5ASAs can still make a difference, even on xeljanz.
profile picture
limey
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2016
Posts : 185
Posted 6/14/2020 6:30 AM (GMT -6)
I take 10 mg Xeljanz in a morning and 5 mg in the evening which works for me, as I found that 5 mg each time did not quite hold me. I have been on Xeljanz for 16 months now.
profile picture
dsmk
New Member
Joined : May 2019
Posts : 13
Posted 6/15/2020 12:31 AM (GMT -6)
My daughter took xeljanz (10 mg) for 9 months then she tapered 5 mg for another 9 months. When she had a flare so she increased her dose to 10 mg and also increased her mesalamine dose 4 tablets per day. After 2 months her flare did not settle. So her doctor switched to entyvio. Hope this will help you
profile picture
David1991
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2012
Posts : 276
Posted 6/15/2020 12:42 PM (GMT -6)

poopydoop said...
In your shoes i would get a calprotectin test. But, my flares are really strongly correlated with calprotectin, which is not the case for everyone. I started to flare 3 months after dropping the dose of xeljanz. The first symptom was abdominal pain but we caught it early because I monitor my calprotectin monthly - it had gone from 30 to 400. I got back into remission quickly using salofalk enemas (4g) which I have not quit since because I don't want to risk another flare. So yes 5ASAs can still make a difference, even on xeljanz.

How do you measure it so frequently?


dsmk said...
My daughter took xeljanz (10 mg) for 9 months then she tapered 5 mg for another 9 months. When she had a flare so she increased her dose to 10 mg and also increased her mesalamine dose 4 tablets per day. After 2 months her flare did not settle. So her doctor switched to entyvio. Hope this will help you

Has the Entyvio helped her?
profile picture
poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 1548
Posted 6/15/2020 4:46 PM (GMT -6)
David: I have a good doctor who lets me test it that often. Possibly because I've had so many flares in the past and he likes to stay on top of things.
profile picture
dsmk
New Member
Joined : May 2019
Posts : 13
Posted 6/16/2020 1:54 AM (GMT -6)
She had only one infusion. It’s helping a little bit.
profile picture
Hope8
New Member
Joined : May 2021
Posts : 3
Posted 5/10/2021 5:40 AM (GMT -6)
Hi, can anyone tell me if you needed to stop taking all the meds when introducing Xeljanz? I was on 10 mg corticosteroids + mesalamine as maintenance therapy, but was told to stop taking them when I got Xeljanz. I had 5 days of improvement, followed by a horrible flare up. The doc told me to start taking the steroids again 20 mg for 2 weeks, but 3 days in - no significant improvement. Has anyone had a similar experience? Could stopping mesalamine all of sudden have caused the flare? Suffering from UC for 12 years.
profile picture
UCyousee
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2014
Posts : 470
Posted 5/10/2021 5:52 AM (GMT -6)
I'm about to switch to Xeljanz and was told I needed to stop the Humira before switching, and there needed to be a gap, but I haven't been told to stop Clipper (steroid) or mesalazine (Mezavant tablets, Pentasa suppositories, Salofalk enemas).

As I understand it I'll continue with mesalazine with Xeljanz.
profile picture
Hope8
New Member
Joined : May 2021
Posts : 3
Posted 5/10/2021 8:11 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks UCyousee! Good luck with Xeljanz
profile picture
poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 1548
Posted 5/10/2021 10:05 AM (GMT -6)
I had to stop imuran/azathioprine on starting xeljanz but stayed on mesalazine tablets. I made the mistake of stopping mesalazine (as per dr request) immediately on starting infliximab and had a horrible flare 8 weeks later.
I don't think stopping mesalazine would cause a major flare 5 days later but stopping steroids might?
profile picture
poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 1548
Posted 5/10/2021 10:07 AM (GMT -6)
Ps there is also a very small chance of an adverse reaction to xeljanz but i think that is characterised by vomiting...
profile picture
UCyousee
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2014
Posts : 470
Posted 5/14/2021 8:13 AM (GMT -6)
Just to confirm, I started taking Xeljanz last night. My IBD nurse told me to continue with Clipper for a week. I'll continue to take Mezavant (mesalazine tablets) indefinitely, and will continue the mesalazine suppositories for a couple of weeks but I can reduce the frequency/ stop taking them as I start to feel better.
profile picture
Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7135
Posted 5/14/2021 10:01 AM (GMT -6)
How long did they tell you you had to be off Humira for first? Hope it works for you.
profile picture
UCyousee
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2014
Posts : 470
Posted 5/14/2021 10:29 AM (GMT -6)

Sara14 said...
How long did they tell you you had to be off Humira for first? Hope it works for you.

The IBD nurse didn't give me a specific length of time for the 'clearance period' between Humira and Xeljanz. She just told me on 30th April to stop taking the Humira. The time between my last Humira jab and the Xeljanz was 2.5 weeks but if the medication had arrived sooner it would've been less so my guess is that the clearance period is usually around 2 weeks.
profile picture
UCyousee
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2014
Posts : 470
Posted 5/14/2021 10:41 AM (GMT -6)
Hope8, and Sara14, thanks for the good luck and hope! I'll update how I get on once I know whether it's working, on the 'Experience with Xeljanz' thread that TP177 started this March.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=4242686
profile picture
Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7135
Posted 5/15/2021 11:43 AM (GMT -6)

UCyousee said...
Hope8, and Sara14, thanks for the good luck and hope! I'll update how I get on once I know whether it's working, on the 'Experience with Xeljanz' thread that TP177 started this March.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=4242686

Thanks! Good luck!
profile picture
Hope8
New Member
Joined : May 2021
Posts : 3
Posted 5/15/2021 12:33 PM (GMT -6)
Just an update, my doctor decided to put me again on 20 mg steroids for 2 weeks (it didn't help), but then we brought back mesalamine together with the Xeljanz and the flare up is much, much better. Bleeding is significantly reduced as is the number of BM, no more cramps, and I hope I am on the right track to recovery (fingers crossed). Thanks everyone for sharing your experience, you really helped me with the mesalamine suggestion!
profile picture
Rusty Barr
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2016
Posts : 293
Posted 6/9/2021 6:17 AM (GMT -6)
Any foods or supplements to stay away from when taking Xeljanz?
profile picture
straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 18923
Posted 6/9/2021 7:48 AM (GMT -6)
@Rusty, typically food is an individual thing on what a person can tolerate especially if in a flare. What supplements are you currently taking? If you have questions about supplements ask your pharmacist. They are more well versed not just in medications but supplements too. When trying a new medication my gi discourages adding supplements so we can see what the new medication will or will not do.

Good luck.
profile picture
UCyousee
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2014
Posts : 470
Posted 6/9/2021 4:01 PM (GMT -6)
Rusty, I just replied in your new thread to say I read about avoiding grapefruit and grapefruit juice while on Xeljanz. I thought I'd read it on the leaflet but it doesn't seem to be on there, but if you Google Xeljanz and grapefruit you'll find info.

I wasn't told by my gastro team to stop taking herbal supplements but I did for a couple of weeks to see if the Xeljanz was working. I'm now taking some supplements again as well as the Xeljanz.

I've been on Xeljanz for just under 4 weeks, and so far haven't had side effects. I got down to 2 bms a day, but this has gone back up to around 6 or 7 in the last few days. about 2 weeks ago I got a horrible bout of gastroenteritis that's going around (10 days of illness then IBS like symptoms for weeks - I know quite a few people that have had it now) so I'm not sure if that's the cause of the increase in recent symptoms.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Ulcerative Colitis

5 Beneficial Foods You Need In Your Ulcerative Colitis Diet

5 Beneficial Foods You Need In Your Ulcerative Colitis Diet

Traveling With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Traveling With Inflammatory Bowel Disease


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2022 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.