Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR (tofacitinib), medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are linked to an increased risk of developing blood clots in the lungs and death, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA alerted the public about this danger in Feb. 2019 after an external data safety monitoring committee found that patients enrolled in a clinical safety trial who took a 10 mg twice-daily dose of Xeljanz had an increased occurrence of blood clots in their lungs and death than patients who took a 5 mg twice-daily dose of the medication.
The 10 mg twice-daily dose is currently only approved for patients with ulcerative colitis. Patients in the trial who were taking that dosage were switched to a 5 mg twice-daily dosage. If you take any dosage of Xeljanz, don’t stop taking it without speaking to your doctor first. However, you should be on the lookout for the following symptoms, including:
- Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chest pain or back pain
- Coughing up blood
- Excessive sweating
- Clammy or bluish colored skin
The drug injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel are here to help if you or someone you love suffered blood clots or other complications after taking Xeljanz. Contact us today for a free consultation.