Tofacitinib is administered orally. Depending on the product and regimen, immediate-release XELJANZ is taken once or twice daily, while XELJANZ XR is an extended-release formulation taken once daily. The specific instructions for Tofacent must be verified from its product documentation.
General administration principles
- Take the medicine exactly as prescribed.
- Follow the dosage schedule specified by the applicable prescribing information.
- Do not independently increase, decrease or discontinue treatment.
- Do not substitute an immediate-release product with an extended-release product without professional direction.
- Keep appointments for recommended laboratory and clinical monitoring.
With or without food
Current U.S. labeling permits XELJANZ and XELJANZ XR to be administered with or without food.
The same instruction should not automatically be attributed to Tofacent unless its approved product information confirms it.
Missed dose
Patients who miss a dose should follow the instructions in their specific product information or contact their pharmacist or healthcare professional. Do not compensate for a missed dose by taking additional medicine unless specifically instructed.
Monitoring
Before and during treatment, monitoring may include tuberculosis evaluation, viral hepatitis screening, complete blood counts, liver enzymes and lipid measurements. Vaccination status should also be reviewed.
Infection precautions
Tofacitinib can increase susceptibility to serious infections. Patients should promptly report symptoms that could indicate infection and should not assume that an infection is harmless because treatment is already established.
Storage
Storage requirements for the specific Tofacent product. Patients should follow the package labeling.