Xeljanztofacitinib
According to the FDA label: XELJANZ (tablets and oral solution) and XELJANZ XR (extended-release tablets) are Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. XELJANZ tablets and XELJANZ XR are indicated for the treatment of adult patients with: • Moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more TNF blockers. • Active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more TNF blockers.
105,852 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2008–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Xeljanz in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
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Drug Ineffective 31,471 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Pain 16,972 reports
A general report of physical discomfort, used when no more specific location is given.
Full definition in the glossary →Rheumatoid Arthritis 16,791 reports
An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling. It often appears in reports because it is a condition being treated, not always a reaction.
Full definition in the glossary →Arthralgia 14,049 reports
Condition Aggravated 12,986 reports
A report that the person's existing health condition got worse. This describes a worsening of something the person already had, not necessarily a new problem caused by the drug.
Full definition in the glossary →Off Label Use 12,938 reports
Using a medication for a condition or in a way that the FDA has not officially approved. This is common and often legal, and a report of it does not mean something went wrong. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs off label based on their judgment.
Full definition in the glossary →Fatigue 12,910 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Joint Swelling 12,281 reports
Swelling in or around a joint.
Full definition in the glossary →Drug Intolerance 11,332 reports
A report that the person could not tolerate a medication, often due to uncomfortable effects.
Full definition in the glossary →Rash 10,532 reports
An area of irritated, red, or bumpy skin.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Headache 9,312 reports
Pain in the head or upper neck.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Abdominal Discomfort 9,004 reports
A general unease or mild pain in the belly area.
Full definition in the glossary →Synovitis 8,903 reports
Inflammation of the lining of a joint, causing swelling and pain.
Full definition in the glossary →Arthropathy 8,467 reports
Any disease or disorder of a joint.
Full definition in the glossary →Alopecia 8,308 reports
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Female | 77,877 |
| Male | 19,452 |
| Unknown | 271 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 1,483 |
| 18-34 | 4,570 |
| 35-49 | 15,752 |
| 50-64 | 30,213 |
| 65-74 | 18,158 |
| 75+ | 9,292 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Xeljanz. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Other Serious | 54,994 |
| Non-Serious | 41,355 |
| Hospitalization | 18,990 |
| Disability | 8,017 |
| Death | 7,509 |
| Life-Threatening | 5,698 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Xeljanz. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2013 | 1,742 |
| 2014 | 2,728 |
| 2015 | 4,588 |
| 2016 | 7,933 |
| 2017 | 8,364 |
| 2018 | 10,283 |
| 2019 | 12,769 |
| 2020 | 15,351 |
| 2021 | 10,605 |
| 2022 | 12,354 |
| 2023 | 7,022 |
| 2024 | 6,592 |
| 2025 | 4,962 |
| 2026 (partial) | 528 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Xeljanz
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Xeljanz, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Methotrexate (37,282 reports)
- Etanercept (27,361 reports)
- Adalimumab (25,780 reports)
- Prednisone (24,541 reports)
- Leflunomide (23,389 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026