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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AW:  Other discussions on Xeljanz / Tofacitinib

https://alopeciaworld.com/main/search/search?q=Tofacitinib

 

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Permalink Reply by cws on June 8, 2015 at 1:29pm

I think the molecule was determined to be too large for skin absorption...they would have to re-engineer it. However, I was under the impression that a topical was used for the lab rats. It may have to do with the "vehicle" compound that has to be used to deliver the active ingredient.

Permalink Reply by jon on June 7, 2015 at 9:57pm

hello i would ask u guys when take Xenjanz do u take it with food or not and is there any interactions with food to decrease the effect of the medicine

I have A total and i use jakifi medicine the two m same kind of medicine

Permalink Reply by lara on June 8, 2015 at 12:32pm

FYI:

"Lilly and Incyte Announce Webcast to Discuss Baricitinib Phase III Data

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Pharma Business Week Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Incyte Corporation will host a webcast on June 11 to discuss data from the first two pivotal Phase III studies of baricitinib in rheumatoid arthritis. Data from these two trials, RA-BEACON and RA-BUILD, will be presented on June 11 during the Scientific Programme for the EULAR Congress 2015 in Rome, Italy.

The webcast will be held from 10:00 to11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The live audio webcast can be accessed through a link that will be posted on the investor sections of Lilly's and Incyte's websites. In addition, the webcast will be available for replay through June 18, 2015."
Permalink Reply by cws on June 8, 2015 at 1:31pm

This is good news. Thanks for posting.

Permalink Reply by JHen on June 8, 2015 at 1:02pm
I take mine on an empty stomach. It may not matter. I also take probiotics, vitamin d3, vitamin k2 (mk4 & mk7) as well as b-complex.
Permalink Reply by Andrey on June 8, 2015 at 2:13pm
Seen your results Owen. Very happy for you man. You will be a slayer in no time! Bet your ex will beg to get you back
Permalink Reply by AlopeciaDestroyedMyLife on June 9, 2015 at 1:11pm

Thanks Andrey 

Permalink Reply by tall blonde 1 on June 10, 2015 at 2:56pm

I will be starting Xeljanz in 2 weeks. I have alopecia and arthritis. I will be sure to let people know my progress as well!

Permalink Reply by nmehta02 on June 10, 2015 at 3:16pm

Hi All

Just finished by first month of Xeljanz on 10mg per day. Quick note: I have AU for about 3.5 years. the past 6 months i have regrown 30-35% of my scalp hair and eyebrows back WITHOUT Xeljanz. While being on Xeljanz i haven't seen any new noticable growth. Maybe a couple white hairs here and there,  nothing drastic. I am under Dr. Kings care and will be starting my second month with 15mg per day. Also a quick note I asked Dr. King about Kyle Rhodes the first patient and not to burst anyone's bubble but he has stopped taking the medication and as a result his hair is now falling out again. I figured it was info worth sharing. 

I will post again in a month..stay tuned

Permalink Reply by Jim In Cali on June 10, 2015 at 3:51pm

@nmehta02 - you are exactly right about Xeljanz and all other immune suppressors. Stop taking them, hair will fall out. They only mask the problem, then you are at a greater increase for cancer, infection, blindness even a common cold or flu. My mom had a history of 3 different types of cancer, so my doctor said this really would not be the medication for me.

Permalink Reply by Julie on June 10, 2015 at 6:00pm

That is pretty sad to hear because I though I read in some studies they did with mice the mice kept the hair even after they stopped the meds. Guess it could be different from patient to patient (and different from mice than humans). Did Dr. King say anything about cutting back on the meds to maintain?

Permalink Reply by kevin on June 10, 2015 at 6:28pm

If his(her,its) hair fall again then has what well that you set xeljanz?

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