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XELJANZ- tofacitinib tablet, film coatedXELJANZ XR- tofacitinib tablet, extended release


  1. Patient Information
  2. Xeljanz/xeljanz Xr May Cause Serious Side Effects Including:
  3. Think You Have An Infection Or Have Symptoms Of An Infection Such As:
  4. Before Taking Xeljanz/xeljanz Xr, Tell Your Healthcare Provider About All Of Your Medical Conditions, Including If You:
  5. Xeljanz/xeljanz Xr May Cause Serious Side Effects, Including:
  6. Active Ingredient:
  7. Inactive Ingredients:

Patient Information 

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Serious Infections

Inform patients that XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR may lower the ability of their immune system to fight infections. Advise patients not to start taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR if they have an active infection. Instruct patients to contact their healthcare provider immediately during treatment if symptoms suggesting infection appear in order to ensure rapid evaluation and appropriate treatment[

Xeljanz/xeljanz Xr May Cause Serious Side Effects Including: 

1. Serious infections.XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is a medicine that affects your immune system. XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Some people can have serious infections while taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, including 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 XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR and during treatment.
  • Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB infection during treatment with XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR.

You should not start taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR if you have any kind of infection unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay. You may be at a higher risk of developing shingles (herpes zoster).

People taking the higher dose (10 mg twice daily) of XELJANZ have a higher risk of serious infections and shingles.

Think You Have An Infection Or Have Symptoms Of An Infection Such As: 

  • fever, sweating, or chills
  • cough
  • blood in phlegm
  • warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
  • burning when you urinate or urinating more often than normal
  • muscle aches
  • shortness of breath
  • weight loss
  • diarrhea or stomach pain
  • feeling very tired
  • are being treated for an infection.
  • get a lot of infections or have infections that keep coming back.
  • have diabetes, chronic lung disease, HIV, or a weak immune system. People with these conditions have a higher chance for infections.
  • have TB, or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
  • live or have lived, or have traveled to certain parts of the country (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and the Southwest) where there is an increased chance for getting certain kinds of fungal infections (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis). These infections may happen or become more severe if you use XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR. Ask your healthcare provider if you do not know if you have lived in an area where these infections are common.
  • have or have had hepatitis B or C.

After starting XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of an infection. XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR can make you more likely to get infections or make worse any infection that you have.

2. Cancer and immune system problems.XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR may increase your risk of certain cancers by changing the way your immune system works.

  • Lymphoma and other cancers including skin cancers can happen in patients taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR. People taking the higher dose (10 mg twice daily) of XELJANZ have a higher risk of skin cancers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any type of cancer.
  • Some people who have taken XELJANZ with certain other medicines to prevent kidney transplant rejection have had a problem with certain white blood cells growing out of control (Epstein Barr Virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder).

3. Tears (perforation) in the stomach or intestines.

  • Tell your healthcare provider if you have had diverticulitis (inflammation in parts of the large intestine) or ulcers in your stomach or intestines. Some people taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR can get tears in their stomach or intestines. This happens most often in people who also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or methotrexate.
    Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have fever and stomach-area pain that does not go away, and a change in your bowel habits.

4. Changes in certain laboratory test results.Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you start receiving XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR and while you take XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR to check for the following side effects:

  • changes in lymphocyte counts.Lymphocytes are white blood cells that help the body fight off infections.
  • low neutrophil counts. Neutrophils are white blood cells that help the body fight off infections.
  • low red blood cell count. This may mean that you have anemia, which may make you feel weak and tired.

Your healthcare provider should routinely check certain liver tests.

You should not receive XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR if your lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, or red blood cell count is too low or your liver tests are too high.

Your healthcare provider may stop your XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR treatment for a period of time if needed because of changes in these blood test results.

You may also have changes in other laboratory tests, such as your blood cholesterol levels.Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels 4 to 8 weeks after you start receiving XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, and as needed after that. Normal cholesterol levels are important to good heart health.

XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is a prescription medicine called a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in whom methotrexate did not work well.

XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is used to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis in which methotrexate or other similar medicines called nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) did not work well. XELJANZ is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

It is not known if XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is safe and effective in people with Hepatitis B or C.

XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is not recommended for people with severe liver problems.

It is not known if XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is safe and effective in children.

Before Taking Xeljanz/xeljanz Xr, Tell Your Healthcare Provider About All Of Your Medical Conditions, Including If You: 

  • have an infection. Take XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.

    • Take XELJANZ 2 times a day with or without food.
    • Take XELJANZ XR 1 time a day with or without food for rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.Do not take XELJANZ XR for ulcerative colitis.
    • Swallow XELJANZ XR tablets whole and intact. Do not crush, split, or chew.
    • When you take XELJANZ XR, you may

Xeljanz/xeljanz Xr May Cause Serious Side Effects, Including: 

    • Store XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR at room temperature between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C).
    • Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed.

    Keep XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR and all medicines out of the reach of children.

    General information about the safe and effective use of XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR.

    Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

    This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR that is written for health professionals.

Active Ingredient: 

tofacitinib citrate

Inactive Ingredients: 

cellulose acetate, copovidone, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, HPMC 2910/Hypromellose, magnesium stearate, red iron oxide, sorbitol, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. Printing ink contains ammonium hydroxide, ferrosoferric oxide/black iron, propylene glycol, and shellac glaze.

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LAB-0535-7.0



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