Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) that suppresses the immune system to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Xeljanz is currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis with and without the medication methotrexate. Xeljanz is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

Patients should contact their doctor before intentionally missing a dose of Xeljanz. However, in the following situations, it would be advisable to stop taking the medicine and call a doctor:

• Fever
• An infection or signs of an infection
• Pregnancy or Breast Feeding

Patients who are about to have surgery should discuss stopping Xeljanz with their doctor.

Some medications may not be safe to take with Xeljanz including ketoconazole, fluconazole, and rifampin. Patients should always discuss all of the medications that they are taking with their doctor.

Some medications may increase the risk of infection and should not be taken with Xeljanz, including biologics and other potent immunosuppressive medications such as cyclosporine or azathioprine.

Xeljanz is one of the few therapies for arthritis that is available as an oral tablet. The standard dose is either one 11 mg tablet taken once a day or a 5 mg tablet, taken twice every day.