Xeljanz (Tofacitinib Citrate): My experience on the trial

I have received a lot of interest from others on here in my involvement with the Xeljanz trials at Yale.

I thought it would be nice for everyone if I documented my progress on here. 

Xeljanz is a Jak3 inhibitor and is believed to work with alopecia by turning off the distress signal relayed by the hair follicle to the attacking immune system which is the cause of the hairs falling out. Xeljanz comes in a strength of 5mg per pill and a full box contains 60 tablets. The recommended dosage for arthritis is 1 tablet in the morning and another in the evening each day.

The trial is set in a series of stages and there are requirements before participating. These include monthly visits and blood tests every 2 weeks. Dr Brett King is absolutely fantastic and is an inspiration to me. His positivity and enthusiasm gives me the much needed hope I have craved for over a decade. I have been put on a low dose to start with which is 1 tablet every other day. My dosage has now been increased to 1 tablet every day and next month it could be increased to 2 tablets per day depending on the results. 

I have completed my first month and have already noticed my alopecia has stabilised . I have not lost any existing hairs. In addition to this I have seen little hairs growing in my chest area as well as eyebrows. Fingers crossed! To date, I have experienced no side effects.

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Related Post on Alopecia World:  

Xeljanz / Tofacitinib

Olumiant

Jak Inhibitors

 

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Permalink Reply by Seahawks Dad on October 22, 2015 at 10:58pm
She was completely bald for over a year...started methotrexate August 2014 through June 2015...no real progress. We started on 2 pills a day July 27th and just crossed 12 weeks. Eye brows completely regrown and hair at 100 percent coverage. Just need a few more inches on top...only side effects until now are head aches and mild achne. Will post pictures shortly...miracle drug for sure.
Permalink Reply by Steve on October 23, 2015 at 1:22am
Seahawks Dad, this is sadly untrue in regards to the alopecia experiment girl on Instagram. Since she went down to once pill she has sadly started to lose hair again. She has placed up 2 pictures in the last couple of weeks to show and prove this. It's a very disheartening sign but she isn't letting it put her down. She is going to see her dermotologist again. We all must keep our hope alive!
Permalink Reply by singh on October 23, 2015 at 1:54am
I agree but people do need to understand this is not a cure but more a treatment and just hope more advance treatments and cure comes out ! And yeh seen that but am hoping she grows the hair she has lost back being on 2 pills.
Permalink Reply by marisa on October 22, 2015 at 9:23pm
Hi...how old is your son?
Permalink Reply by marisa on October 22, 2015 at 9:24pm
Hi chubs...how old is your son?
Permalink Reply by Chubs on October 22, 2015 at 9:31pm
19 full head of hair from being completely bald on xejianx since March of this year!!!
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Permalink Reply by katiegirl on September 22, 2015 at 9:55pm
That is all how it starts megn. Very exciting! I am wearing my extremely short pixie cut now. I couldn't b happier and you will get there as well :)
Permalink Reply by Megn on September 23, 2015 at 8:48am

Katiegirl,

How many weeks or months until you were able to wear your pixie? :)

Permalink Reply by Catharine on October 5, 2015 at 6:30pm

That's how far I am after a month.  I hope it continues too.

Permalink Reply by Megn on September 21, 2015 at 10:14pm
I didn't know what to expect and if this is about the normal place for 7 weeks. I'm pleased with what I am seeing, just hoping to wear a pixie cut one day :) and mascara again :)
Permalink Reply by katiegirl on September 23, 2015 at 12:02pm
Everyone is responding very differently. I feel fortunate that I've only being taking it 5 months and have full regrowth on head. Hoping for eyelashes soon but I'll take this for now! I was also diagnosed in February became AT within one month and was progressing to AU. If you are seeing growth I'd say its a very good sign!
Permalink Reply by Xeljanzmiracle on September 23, 2015 at 12:07pm
Can you upload a picture?

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