Xeljanz Side Effects Explained: Hair Loss, Weight Gain...

What, Exactly, Is Xeljanz?

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a powerful prescription medication used to treat several chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

For many patients, it can and does significantly improve their symptoms and quality of life.

If your doctor has prescribed Xeljanz, you can get it here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, for about $10.00 per tablet – savings of up to 90% when compared to typical American brick and mortar pharmacy prices. But you can also get the generic through us for much less than that!

Because Xeljanz works by changing how the immune system functions, side effects and safety considerations absolutely must be an important part of the conversation you have with your doctor before you start taking this medication.

When you have that conversation, you should have a goal of learning the difference between:

To help you understand the critical differences between these three sets of possible symptoms, in this article, we’ll plain-language break down:

What Is Xeljanz Used For?

Xeljanz is classified as a JAK inhibitor.

So, on a basic definitional level, Xeljanz inhibits something called “JAK.”

JAK, itself, stands for “Janus kinase.” This term refers to a group of enzymes that are involved in immune system signaling.

In simpler terms, Xeljanz works by helping calm down an overactive immune response.

It may be prescribed for inflammatory conditions such as:

Many (many) autoimmune diseases occur because the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, leading to chronic inflammation, pain, swelling, or digestive symptoms.

Xeljanz helps reduce some of this inflammatory activity.

Because the medication affects immune pathways throughout the body, monitoring and side effect awareness are important parts of treatment.

So what are those side effects?

The Most Common Side Effects of Xeljanz

Here’s some good news for you:

Most patients tolerate Xeljanz quite well.

This means, largely, that they only experience mild Xeljanz side effects, or only experience those effects for a limited amount of time.

Some commonly reported Xeljanz side effects include:

In some cases, patients may also notice:

Because Xeljanz affects the immune system, even mild infections can become more relevant than they would otherwise be.

That’s one reason healthcare providers often recommend routine monitoring during treatment.

It’s also important to remember that not every symptom experienced while taking Xeljanz is necessarily caused by the medication itself.

Autoimmune conditions can independently contribute to fatigue, hair changes, appetite shifts, and other symptoms.

Let’s dig a bit more into that.

Xeljanz Hair Loss: Is It Really a Side Effect?

Xeljanz hair loss might be the most common concern people have when starting Xeljanz.

This makes sense.

Hair changes can feel especially distressing because they’re so visible … and because autoimmune diseases themselves can already affect hair growth and overall health.

The important thing to know, here, is that hair loss is not typically considered one of the most common side effects of Xeljanz.

However, that doesn’t mean patients never notice changes in their hair while taking the medication.

There are several reasons this topic can become confusing.

For example:

…Autoimmune Conditions Themselves Can Affect Hair

Many of the conditions treated with Xeljanz involve chronic inflammation, which can contribute to:

For example, autoimmune diseases can place physical stress on the body, and that stress alone may affect the hair growth cycle.

… Some Patients Report Hair Changes During Treatment

And, importantly, their experiences can vary wildly.

After starting Xeljanz, some patients report:

At the same time, other patients may actually notice healthier hair growth once inflammation is better controlled.

Here’s When to Talk to Your Doctor About Hair Loss

If you notice significant or persistent hair changes while taking Xeljanz, it’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider.

That said, it can be difficult to determine if significant or persistent hair changes are in fact happening.

Feel free to go with your gut. If you feel concerned about your hair while taking Xeljanz, go talk to your doctor.

It can also help, if you’re so inclined, to take progress or before and after pictures to help you (and your healthcare team) pinpoint exactly when and how the medication is changing your hair.

Then, once you go and talk to your doctor about the effect Xeljanz is having on your hair, they may start by evaluating:

In many cases, hair changes have multiple contributing factors rather than a single clear cause.

Does Xeljanz Cause Weight Gain?

After possible Xeljanz hair effects, people also (justifiably!) tend to be worried about possible Xeljanz weight gain.

For better or worse, like the hair loss question, the answer is not entirely straightforward.

There are a lot of factors that go into weight management. Your medication profile is just one of them.

That said:

Weight gain is not generally considered one of the primary or most common side effects of Xeljanz, but some patients may notice changes in weight during treatment.

There are a few possible reasons for this.

Improved Disease Control Can Affect Your Weight

Many inflammatory diseases make it harder to:

When symptoms improve, patients may:

This can sometimes feel like the medication itself caused weight fluctuations, in either direction, when the reality is a bit more complex.

Other Medications May Play a Role

Some patients taking Xeljanz are also prescribed:

These other treatments can also affect a person’s weight.

Although mild fluctuations are common in many chronic illnesses, if you lose or gain weight quickly or feel like you’re undergoing a dramatic weight change for no apparent reason, that’s a good signal that it’s time to talk to your healthcare provider, too.

Serious Side Effects and Boxed Warnings

Many patients experience mild, manageable Xeljanz side effects for a short period of time.

This can make it seem like Xeljanz isn’t a powerful or risky medication. That’s partially true: Xeljanz shouldn’t be risky if you’re using it according to your doctor’s directions.

Two things can be true, though. Xeljanz does come with a few serious safety warnings.

Because it affects immune signaling, Xeljanz may increase the risk of:

This does not mean these complications happen to everyone taking the medication.

Your individual risk for serious effects associated with Xeljanz may depend on factors like:

If you’re at a heightened risk of any severe Xeljanz side effects, your doctor will discuss them with you before prescribing.

Why Routine Monitoring Matters for Patients on Xeljanz

Because Xeljanz affects the immune system, regular monitoring is an important part of treatment. The goal of monitoring is, simply, to help catch any potential issues early and make sure the medication continues to be appropriate for you over time.

Healthcare providers may recommend periodic:

This is especially important because some changes associated with Xeljanz, such as elevated cholesterol levels, may not cause noticeable symptoms right away.

Monitoring can also help providers evaluate:

Who May Need Extra Caution With Xeljanz?

There are certain populations of patients who might need closer monitoring or may need to have more detailed risk conversations before starting Xeljanz.

This can include people with:

That does not automatically mean someone cannot take Xeljanz.

Instead, it means the risks and benefits need to be evaluated carefully on an individual basis.

Managing Mild Xeljanz Side Effects

If you’re experiencing mild Xeljanz side effects, good news: There may be something equally mild that you can do to make that side effect go away.

Your provider will have specific-to-you strategies that will be worth discussing, but, a few general tips to try may include:

It’s important not to stop or adjust Xeljanz on your own without medical guidance.

Suddenly stopping treatment may affect disease control, complicate management of the underlying condition, and even lead to worse side effects.

If the side effects you’re experiencing become difficult to tolerate, your provider may discuss:

When to Call a Doctor Immediately

While many Xeljanz side effects are mild, there are some symptoms that you should never (ever) ignore after you start taking this medication.

Seek medical attention promptly if you develop:

Xeljanz vs Other Autoimmune Treatments

Patients sometimes compare Xeljanz to:

Each category of medications works differently and comes with its own tradeoffs.

For example, sometimes biologic medications require specialized administration methods, like infusions or injections. Each of these medications come with different risks, and sometimes they have narrower or broader areas of impact (which can translate to different swathes of possible side effects).

Patients tend to like Xeljanz because it’s an oral medication (which makes it easy to self-administer) and because it’s a JAK inhibitor, which suppresses a very specific part of the immune system.

For some, that specificity results in the best efficacy, safety, tolerability, and quality of life – but that may or may not be the case for you.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Xeljanz

If you’re considering starting Xeljanz (... or are already taking it and have concerns about side effects!), preparing to ask your doctor a few focused questions can help clarify what to expect and give you some invaluable peace of mind.

Helpful questions may include:

Xeljanz is a powerful medication used to manage autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by calming overactive immune signaling. Like any immune-modulating treatment, it comes with potential side effects and important safety considerations.

The decision to use Xeljanz should involve an informed discussion between you and your healthcare provider. Together, you’ll weigh the potential benefits, possible risks, and figure out the best way forward to meet your treatment goals.

If you do decide that Xeljanz is the best option for you, remember that you can buy Xeljanz here, through our online and international Canadian RX medication website, for up to 90% in savings.

Reach out to our team if you have any questions; we’d be delighted to assist. All of us here at NorthWestPharmacy.com look forward to supporting you and your healthcare journey.