Does xeljanz cause hair loss?

Xeljanz, the miracle drug that has helped millions of people manage their RA (rheumatoid arthritis) symptoms can be a game-changer for anyone dealing with chronic pain. But as is often the case with any medical treatment, there might be some adverse side effects to watch out for.

One such result that you may have heard of is hair loss or alopecia. Let’s take a deep dive at this issue and separate fact from fiction when it comes to Xeljanz’s relationship with hair loss.

What Is Xeljanz?

Before we delve into whether Xeljanz causes hair loss let us first understand what exactly it is?

Simply put, Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate) belongs to a class of medicines called JAK inhibitors (discalimer: don’t worry about them – just keep reading, I’ll explain). It works by blocking certain enzymes in the body which play an imperative role in triggering inflammation responses resulting from an overactive immune system such as RA.

The medication was approved by the FDA back in 2012 and has since been used globally by patients who want relief from RA symptoms without resorting exclusively to traditional approaches like NSAIDs and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Now phew that was one long sentence!

The Link Between Xeljunz And Hair Loss

Alopecia or baldness across different patterns tends to occur due to multiple factors including genetics, nutrition-related issues,and medications. So if suddenly you notice increased shedding than usual relax doesn’t mean its permanent alopecia; several probabilities exist! However,there have been cases where taking medication caused rapid hair thinning of existing scalp hair follicles ultimately leading up-to bald spots.The question arises where does xeljanze lie on the list of medications causing hair loss?

Research has identified that potential side effects of taking Xeljanz in some cases may cause hair loss alongside other common adverse reactions such as nausea, infections, and headaches.

According to research conducted by the manufacturers of this medication themselves; out of 2152 people who took the drug for RA treatment purposes 3% experienced alopecia.However not all individuals experieice immediate effect; it reportedly took months to be evident.At times abrupt discontinuation of Xeljanze intake could cause boom – shedding intensifies…so please coordinate with your prescribing doctor.

The Science Behind Hair Loss

Hair is a vital competent part/aspect within human anatomy.Average humans have about 100-150 thousand scalp hairs each! Impressive right? Every day several strands will naturally shed due to the phase olf normal growth cycels (shedding up tp 100 Hairs/day). This number tends to increase when experiencing following: stress(hormonal imbalance) nutrient deficiencies,sleep deprivations or significant weight fluctuations.If you feel like ~screaming~ pulling your hair out from stress then STOP….we are heading back on track!

So what exactly happens during a severe boutofhair-thinng-hair-fall? well let’s dive into science class roots…

Here’s how it works: Anagen phase marks active hair follicle production.Hair growth around the world sounds fantastic doesn’t it one would think everybody wants healthy thick long locks isn’t so simple though.Your anagen activieti can flucate depending on personal/family genetics,stressorumostly overall health also come into play here which could mean abnormal activity resulting in premature telogen effluvium okay…….that was one mouthful sentence.

In layman terms once your body detects something off-balance more liberally defensive white blood cells lather up pro-inflammatory cytokines.Cytokines are protein molecules that help regulate body functions. However, too much of a good thing can be bad; High levels of cytokines can increase hair follicle miniaturization (signalling apoptosis) ultimately stunting existing growth cycles leading thinning to baldness – Not stellar news.I remember the time when I first heard about Cytokines,my thoughts went straight towards “Starship Troopers”. So let’s move forward!

When taking Xeljanz as previously mentioned,it becomes challenging because it regulates levels of inflammation thus potentially affecting how the body reacts and subconsciously impacting your hairs groth phase overall .

Am I at Risk?

As with virtually any treatment for RA symptoms, Xeljanz might not work for everyone. Even if you do respond positively to the medication and want to continue its usage indefinitely,the possibility remains valid that alopecia could become one more complication in an already complicated situation.

The Bottom Line

When all is said and done, though researchers advise there may indeed be links between taking Xeljazn & hair loss none are conclusive causes.In otherwords,taking this medication won’t automatically cause severe shedding or unwanted bald spots everywhere on your scalp…relax! However should you experience significant signs of ditressing shedding growing over-time? immediate consultation from your medical professional would be advisable!

Thanks for reading until here hopeyou had a chuckle along the way.Laughter is such great medicine,I wonder if we could use laughter instead? Till then keep take care guys.Arrivederci!

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