Safety / Side Effects
If you are considering asking your doctor about XELJANZ, it’s important to learn more about the risks and benefits. The tools below can provide helpful information about taking XELJANZ and the safety and side effects of treatment.
The safety information below applies to all marketed formulations of XELJANZ. Specific risks associated with certain dosing are noted.
Questions About XELJANZ
XELJANZ can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Do not start taking XELJANZ if you have any kind of infection unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay. Serious infections have happened in people taking XELJANZ. These serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your healthcare provider should test you for TB before starting and during treatment with XELJANZ. You should not start taking XELJANZ if you have any kind of infection unless your healthcare professional tells you it is okay.
People with ulcerative colitis taking the higher dose of XELJANZ (10 mg twice daily) or XELJANZ XR (22 mg one time each day) have a higher risk of serious infections, shingles, or skin cancers.
Take XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR/XELJANZ Oral Solution exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
Take XELJANZ/XELJANZ Oral Solution 2 times a day with or without food.
Take XELJANZ XR 1 time a day with or without food.
Swallow XELJANZ XR tablets whole and intact. Do not crush, split, or chew.
When you take XELJANZ XR, you may see something in your stool that looks like a tablet. This is the empty shell from the tablet after the medicine has been absorbed by your body.
If you take too much XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR/XELJANZ Oral Solution, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
For the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, take XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR in combination with methotrexate, sulfasalazine or leflunomide as instructed by your healthcare provider.
XELJANZ XR should not be used instead of XELJANZ Oral Solution.
Taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR
Depending on your diagnosis and other factors, your doctor may prescribe you a different dosage of XELJANZ or XELJANZ XR—which affects how many times a day you take your medication. In the meantime, learn more about the options you may have by selecting your condition.
XELJANZ XR should not be used instead of XELJANZ Oral Solution.
What are my options?
How It’s Taken
Twice a day with or without food
How It’s Delivered
Immediate release into the bloodstream over the course of several hours
How It’s Taken
Once a day with or without food*
How It’s Delivered
Extended release into the bloodstream over the course of a day
*XELJANZ XR tablets should be swallowed whole and intact. Do not crush, split, or chew.
Note: Pills not actual size
What are my options?
How It’s Taken
Twice a day with or without food
How It’s Delivered
Immediate release into the bloodstream over the course of several hours
How It’s Taken
Once a day with or without food†
How It’s Delivered
Extended release into the bloodstream over the course of a day
*For active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), XELJANZ and XELJANZ XR should be taken with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) such as methotrexate.
†XELJANZ XR tablets should be swallowed whole and intact. Do not crush, split, or chew.
Note: Pills not actual size
What are my options?
How It’s Taken
Twice a day with or without food
How It’s Delivered
Immediate release into the bloodstream over the course of several hours
How It’s Taken
Twice a day with or without food
How It’s Delivered
Immediate release into the bloodstream over the course of several hours
How It’s Taken
Once a day with or without food†
How It’s Delivered
Extended release into the bloodstream over the course of a day
How It’s Taken
Once a day with or without food†
How It’s Delivered
Extended release into the bloodstream over the course of a day
*For moderate to severe UC, the recommended starting dose of XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is 10 mg twice daily or 22 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Depending on your doctor’s assessment of your progress, your maintenance dose may be 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily, or 11 mg or 22 mg once a day if you are taking XELJANZ XR. You should use the lowest effective dose to maintain response. Therapy should be discontinued after 16 weeks of 22 mg once daily or 10 mg twice daily if adequate symptom improvement is not achieved.
†XELJANZ XR tablets should be swallowed whole and intact. Do not crush, split, or chew.
Note: Pills not actual size