New RA Drug, Xeljanz, can reactivate HCV or HBV

[Dee1956]

Hi this is not a question as much as a warning.  There is a new drug for RA, called Xeljanz  (tofacitinib citrate) that I saw advertised in People magazine.  One of the side effects is that it can reactivate HCV or HBV.
I was horrified to read about this and wanted to share.  I know that doctors can prescribe medications without knowing the sx and I have read about many people on here having pain that could be related to RA.
I hope it is ok that I am posting this.
I am trying to help and I am wondering if this is possible? Can a drug really reactivate HCV?...HBV?
oh, I guess I did have a question.
Thank you
Dee

[pooh55811]

I could not find anything that presented documented evidence of Hep B or Hep C reactivation. People with Hep B and Hep C were not included in clinical trials, so if there was any documented reactivation, it must have happened after the trials were completed (which was not that long ago). Still, I could not find any documented cases. I suspect that some articles and/or programs are erroneously including Hep B and Hep C reactivation as a side effect mainly because the drug can reactivate shingles and some other diseases. Therefore they are including reactivation of Hep B and C as possibilities (even though there is no proof.....that I could find).

Also, there have been cases of Hep B (a DNA virus) reactivation with some cancer treatments. However, Hep C is an RNA virus and, to my knowledge, this difference is why Hep B (a DNA virus) can be reactivated and Hep C (an RNA virus) is not reactivated.

Viral Reactivation
"Viral reactivation, including cases of herpes virus reactivation (e.g., herpes zoster), were observed in clinical studies with XELJANZ. The impact of XELJANZ on chronic viral hepatitis reactivation is unknown. Patients who screened positive for hepatitis B or C were excluded from clinical trials"

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
5.1 Serious Infections
"Serious and sometimes fatal infections due to bacterial, mycobacterial, invasive fungal, viral, or other opportunistic pathogens have been reported in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving XELJANZ. The most common serious infections reported with XELJANZ included pneumonia, cellulitis, herpes zoster and urinary tract infection [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Among opportunistic infections, tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, cryptococcus, esophageal candidiasis, pneumocystosis, multiderma tomal herpes zoster, cytomegalovirus, and BK virus were reported with XELJANZ."

"Malignancy and Lymphoproliferative Disorder
Gastrointestinal Perforations
Laboratory Parameter Problems
Hepatic Impairment
Problem with Vaccinations"

http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=959

[rivll]

Wow, Dee this flies in the face of what I thought I knew. I thought if the virus was gone it was *gone*, that is no longer in the body so how can it be reactivated??
Very disturbing.

I am anxious to hear form the scientists on this forum.
Please tell us it ain't so...