Tofacitinib can be prescribed by a consultant rheumatologist for adults with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. It can be used alone or with methotrexate.
Tofacitinib won’t be started if:
- your arthritis isn’t active
- you haven’t tried other treatments appropriate for your condition first.
Your doctor may decide not to prescribe this treatment if you’re pregnant, planning to try for a baby, or breastfeeding, or if you are over 65. They may also not prescribe it if you have or have had:
- an active infection
- repeated or serious previous infections
- shingles
- disease of the lungs, liver or kidneys
- heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)
- cancer.
Tofacitinib contains lactose, so you should tell your rheumatology team if you’re lactose intolerant.
You’ll have blood tests before treatment starts to assess your condition and whether the drug is suitable for you.
Your rheumatology team will also monitor you through blood tests once you start treatment. If your red or white blood cell count gets too low, your treatment may be stopped until it improves.
Your doctor will need to check if you’ve previously been exposed to tuberculosis (TB). Even if you don’t have symptoms, the bacteria that cause TB may still be present in the body and you may need a course of treatment for this before starting tofacitinib.
If you’ve previously had hepatitis you may need regular checks for this as Tofacitinib may increase the risk of the hepatitis coming back.
You may have to be monitored for other conditions as well, for example if you have liver problems, high cholesterol, or if you are at risk of heart or lung conditions. Tofacitinib raises cholesterol levels in some people.
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| Tofacitinib(Xelanz) |
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