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Xeljanz vs Stelara after Entyvio

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/31/2022 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I was in remission for about 1.5 - 2 years on Entyvio, but it's been failing since April 2021. Maybe from covid or covid vaccine or just time. I did a 40 mg taper over 1 month in Oct and again this March. Last day of 10 mg pred was 1 week ago and I'm already symptomatic.

My doctor wants to try Xeljanz or Stelara next. She's open to either and whichever I'd prefer. I'll discuss the pros and cons of each with my doctor, but curious if those of you here and have any experience/advice/recommendations.

Honestly, I'm tempted to start with Stelara just because I've read about the success some of you have had with Xeljanz and part of me wants to keep that option open as a next line of therapy....

Thanks!
Posted 3/31/2022 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Suttie,

Stelara has a better safety profile. I've been on it for 6+ years and love it. Stelara has been my favorite medication of the long list that I've tried. With that being said, I probably have crohns so take that into account with my comments.
Posted 3/31/2022 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I think both are excellent options.
For sure the xeljanz if it works will bring you a quicker response. However, both are very effective.
Posted 3/31/2022 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Covid shot messed my Entyvio up as well. I tried stelera and it only worked for 4 months now I’m considering xeljanz or Zeposia. Good luck.
Posted 3/31/2022 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Based on reading this forum it seems that people either respond well to xeljanz or stelara but not both. In that sense it doesn't matter what you pick and I wouldn't assume that xeljanz is automatically a miracle rescue drug.

Stelara has a better safety profile but xeljanz works really quickly.
Posted 3/31/2022 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Stelara worked really fast for me after my IV infusion. I felt really good in a bout 3 or 4 days
Posted 3/31/2022 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Stelara did nothing for me and was a waste of my time. My vote is for Xeljanz. Why wait?
Posted 4/1/2022 1:11 PM (GMT 0)

Sara14 said...
Stelara did nothing for me and was a waste of my time. My vote is for Xeljanz. Why wait?

Because some people have higher risk factors than others and they should weigh all the risks with Xeljanz vs Stelara.
Posted 4/1/2022 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
I was replying TO THE OP. Sorry you completely misunderstood my point and always have to leave mean replies, Keith. She said she thought Xeljanz WOULD WORK BETTER SO SHE WANTED TO WAIT AN DKEEP IT AS A LAST RESORT. So I said why wait bc I had the exact same thought process once. God. Back off. Sometimes it feels like you purposely run around the forum just to antagonize people if they disagree with you or give another point of view.
Posted 4/1/2022 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, so... one of you had success on stelara and one of you had success on xeljanz so logically you're both likely to be excited about the one which worked for you.

It's easy to attack the risks on xeljanz when you haven't needed to take it. When it gives you back your life for the first time in years, the risks feel more justified.

I went for the "safety first" approach in choosing entyvio before xeljanz (stelara wasn't licensed for UC at that point) and it basically meant prolonging my flare for 4 months. Not that I regret trying.

The point is there is no way of predicting which one will work (if either). With xeljanz at least you know pretty quickly if it's NOT helping. Not sure the same is true for stelara.
Posted 4/1/2022 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
The OP hadn't mentioned being at extra risk. Keith just likes to attack me or others any chance he gets and he is usually totally misrepresenting what I've said, too. I don't care which med the OP chooses. I was just trying to be helpful.
Posted 4/1/2022 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sure, I read your message as intended, and also didn't read his message as an attack. I think you both make a valuable contribution on this forum.

I also think trying to class one drug as better than the other is somewhat meaningless when most likely only one of them is going to be effective and you can't predict which one.

Do you find daily tablets (xeljanz) more convenient or nth-weekly injections (stelara)?

I've been on xeljanz for 3 years and had no side effects. I have a risk factor for thrombosis (am on birth control pill). What can you do?
Posted 4/4/2022 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
Stelara didn’t work for me. Only biologic that didn’t.
Posted 4/4/2022 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and exoerience! I dont think I have risk factors but my symptoms aren't too bad (relatively), so I'll probably go with the better safety profile and hope for the best. (Though a twice daily pill sounds very appealing if/when I get there.)
Posted 4/8/2022 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Xeljanz since March of 2019 and for me its been the best thing since sliced bread.
I can't imagine now what the old days were like when you could not go out unless you had an idea where washrooms were.
Of course one has to remember that we all are different in what works for us.
Best wishes
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