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Xeljanz

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/16/2018 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone using this for UC? I have failed Remicade and Entyvio and this is my next step. My doc is sending in the paperwork for approval....can anyone share their insurance experiences on getting this approved and how long it took? I believe it's expected to be officially approved next month. Desperate to get out of this flare!
Posted 5/16/2018 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
There's been a few who've got xeljanz off-label with UC. One who had great success was user suzy-q, here's a thread about her story on it, 2016:
/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3600816

Here's another thread, with users StewieCat and Loopchic1978 who are also taking xeljanz for their UC, 2017:
/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3925101

As far as insurance, I would expect a denial on first try as it's currently off-label. You can get an approval on appeal with your doctor's help. He/she should be able to help you through the process.
Posted 5/16/2018 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Did you discuss Stelara? It’s already approved for Crohns and might be easier to get.
Posted 5/16/2018 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
I tried it for about two months, and it had zero effect on me whatsoever :/ it's still worth a shot trying, never know if it might be your miracle.

Good luck!!
Posted 5/16/2018 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on it for 2.5 months and I haven't had any improvement.
It took more than a month for insurance approval. It was denied at first.. then approved upon appeal.
I'm so dissapointed that I didn't see results.. but I shouldn't be surprised. I've been on just about everything.. Humira, Remicade, Entyvio. 11 drugs in all. I was even in a clinical trial for a new drug. Nothing has worked.
I hope you're able to try it and that it works for you. Everybody responds differently to treatments. Good Luck!
Posted 5/18/2018 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
I started xeljanz this week, my insurance is covering it completely (BCBS). At first they denied the request but after two appeals it was approved.

I failed humira, entyvio, (had success with remicade but stopped taking it, which then led to failure when i started again).

hard to say if it's working bc i am taking 40mg of prednsone and just finished cyclosporine.

hope it helps for all.
Posted 5/19/2018 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
I posted about two weeks ago. My husband has been on Xeljanz two years -- started to feel better almost immediately and had pretty signifcant symptom improvements within the first 1-2 months. He was on steroids at that time, but just felt different. 6 months in he was in total remission, and remains well today. No apparent side effects. He is the only one of his doc's patients on Xeljanz who ended up in remission. It is a mixed bag, as are all the biologics it seems.

By 8 weeks in per clinical trial you should be having improvements in symptoms.

Good luck with this.
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