Tofacitinib 5 mg tablet

The most common side effects of tofacitinib are upper respiratory tract infections, headache, diarrhea, and nasopharyngitis. The most common side effects of tofacitinib are upper respiratory tract infections, headache, diarrhea, and nasopharyngitis. Other serious side effects include herpes zoster and blood clots. All patients should be tested for tuberculosis before starting on tofacitinib. Patients should also be screened for hepatitis B and C prior to starting tofacitinib, since this medication may increase risk of reactivation of these infections. Tofacitinib has been associated with increased cholesterol levels in some patients and should be periodically monitored. If your cholesterol level becomes too high, it is possible you may need to start taking a medication to lower it. A rare complication seen with tofacitinib use in clinical trials was bowel perforation, or a hole in the bowel wall. If you have a history or diverticulitis or develop abdominal pain or bloody bowel movements while taking tofacitinib, you should notify your doctor immediately. Lymphoma and other malignancies have been observed in patients treated with tofacitinib. Epstein Barr Virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder has been observed at an increased rate in renal transplant patients treated with tofacitinib and concomitant immunosuppressive medications.

As directed by physician.

Tofacitinib is a pill that is taken either as 5 mg twice per day or as 11 mg once per day. You may take tofacitinib tablets with or without food. People with moderate to severe renal impairment or moderate hepatic impairment should take only one 5 mg tablet per day. Tofacitinib may be used alone or in combination with methotrexate or other disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Tofacitinib should not be given in combination with another biologic drug or other potent immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or mycophenolate. Some patients will start to see improvement within a few weeks, but it may take several months to take full effect. Blood tests will be used to monitor for increases in cholesterol or liver enzymes and for reductions in blood cell counts while taking tofacitinib.

If you develop symptoms of an infection such as a fever or cough or think you are having any side effects (especially abdominal pain, bloody bowel movements, or allergic reactions), contact your rheumatology provider. Notify your doctor if you become pregnant or are planning pregnancy, or if you are breastfeeding. Be sure to talk with your rheumatology provider before receiving any vaccines or undergoing any surgeries while taking this medication. Live vaccines should be avoided while on this medication and you should discuss updating your vaccinations prior to starting this medication. Live vaccines contain a milder form of the virus or bacteria to help your body develop an immune response without you developing symptoms of the disease it is intended to prevent. These vaccines always carry a small chance a person could get the infection from the vaccine. Live vaccines include the nasal spray flu vaccine, and others such as the measles, mumps, rubella, and yellow fever vaccines.