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Xeljanz Dosing Question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/25/2018 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
My GI started me on xeljanz on Tuesday. He gave me a two month supply of a free sample to see if it will work and then pester my insurance co. if so. I see most people seem to initially be on 10mg twice a day and then 5mg twice a day. My RX is for 10mg once a day...does this seem wrong? I’m anxious to see results and don’t want my dosing to be wrong.
Posted 10/25/2018 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Is the 10mg the extended
release form? As far as I know 10mg once daily is not an approved or recommended dosage for UC as there's no data from any trials for that dosage. The octave trials all used either 5mg or 10mg twice daily. The standard is to induce remission on 10mg twice daily and then eventually transition to 5mg twice daily to maintain remission if possible.
Posted 10/25/2018 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
I was confused about the dosing too so I called my mail pharmacy and spoke with a pharmacist. He told me that for UC you take 10 mg twelve hours apart. Ideally one in the morning and one in the evening.
Posted 10/25/2018 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Agreed. I haven't heard of anyone getting a once a day dose for UC. I'm on 10mg twice a day now. I believe the 10 mg extended release version (Xeljanz XR) is only supposed to be for arthritis, not UC.
Posted 10/25/2018 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I need to call my GI, he definitely told me to take one pill/once a day, so I’m confused.
Posted 10/25/2018 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I double checked with my GI and he confirmed, yes, 10 mg, once a day. I'm so confused about what to do now...he didn't say why, as I just talked to his assistant. I don't know if I should not listen to him, or split it into 5mg twice a day, but then I'm afraid it won't get me out of this flare.
Posted 10/25/2018 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on day 14 of the same - 2 free bottles for 2 month supply 10mg TWICE a day. Xeljanz... not Xeljanz XR... and with severe pancolitis, I've been able to taper from 40mg prednisone to 10mg... presently experiencing bleeding, but hearing it may take up to 8 weeks to get into remission... other biologics haven't work - it seems Xeljanz is working... but yes, it is 10mg twice a day, I take mine 6 am and 6 pm...
Posted 10/26/2018 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
It is 10 mg, twice a day, so total of 20. Your doctor may be confused. There are some publications that describe the dosing information in a confusing way, and the GI corrected me. Also, the pharmacy has no idea what it is. They originally approved one pill a month!

I don't think the delayed reaction Xeljanz is being used for UC
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