Rheumatology - Rheumatology Blood Monitoring Clinic - JAK Inhibitors

Name:

Hospital Number:

NHS Number:

Consultant:

This leaflet gives you information about your new Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor medication.

You will first attend the Drug Education Clinic with your rheumatology Specialist Nurse. For any appointments at this clinic, you will need to report to the main outpatient reception then make your way to outpatient area 4.

The following information will be shared with you:

□    Risks and benefits of treatment
□    Versus Arthritis UK leaflet
□    Blood test/chest X-ray
□    Importance of blood monitoring and schedule:
•    Blood test will be required at 4th, 8th, and 12th week after starting medication
•    Once stable the blood test can be done every 12 weeks
 
□    Importance of contacting our blood test appointment line on 0161 206 2339 to organise your blood monitoring appointments (when you receive your delivery)

□    Importance of contacting our Rheumatology Prescription Co- ordinator on 0161 206 8457 two weeks before needing a new prescription

□    Useful links:

Versus Arthritis
http://www.versusarthritis.org

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
http://www.nras.org.uk/

National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society
https://nass.co.uk/
 
Your blood monitoring schedule for your JAK inhibitor tablets called ____________________________________________________ will be:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

□    Your treatment will be delivered by a homecare delivery company called Sciensus contact details are 01283 501 390

□    You will need to collect your treatment from Lloyds pharmacy at the hospital
 
After attending your Drug Education Clinic, you will then commence your blood monitoring. For this clinic you will report directly to Area 4 in outpatients without booking at the main outpatient reception.

As your treatment is prescribed by the rheumatology team at Salford, the blood tests will need to be done at the hospital.

Blood Monitoring Clinics are open Monday to Friday 8.40am – 12pm (morning clinic) and 1pm - 5pm (afternoon clinic).  It is your responsibility to make sure you have Blood Monitoring Clinic appointments arranged.

Please ensure you bring this leaflet to all your appointments and that you attend your allocated Blood Monitoring Clinic appointments, avoiding any changes to your appointments. If you do not attend your blood monitoring appointments, we will not be able to continue to prescribe your medication.

The blood monitoring schedule may change if your blood tests are abnormal or any changes in your medication and you will be contacted over the phone to discuss this. Some medications do have a different schedule to this, and this will have been discussed when you started your medication.

Top tips to remember if you are on “JAK inhibitor treatment”

• If you have an infection which is severe enough to require antibiotics, make sure you stop your JAK inhibitor treatment until you have recovered and are off the antibiotic
• If you are planning to have any surgery, please let your surgeon know that you are on JAK inhibitor treatment as you may need to stop it before the procedure to minimise any infection risks. Minor surgery, including dental surgery is usually safe, but it is important to check with your dentist first
• Make sure you have the flu jab every year and have had the pneumonia immunisation (Pneumovax®) at least once
• If you are due to have any immunisations, please check with your GP/nurse as you cannot have live immunisations (including Zostavax® live shingles vaccine) whilst on JAK inhibitors treatment. For patients who require the shingles vaccine, Shingrix® (non-live shingles vaccine) should be offered
• If you become pregnant whilst on treatment, or are planning a pregnancy, please discuss with your rheumatologist/specialist nurse about whether to continue JAK inhibitor treatment. Men are also advised to discuss with their rheumatologist if their partner is planning a pregnancy
• Please remember that JAK inhibitor treatments are very expensive. Once they have been delivered to your home they cannot be reused. Please do not accept any more deliveries of your treatment if you have stopped/are planning to stop treatment

Treatment 

Blood Monitoring 

Useful contact numbers and information

Blood test appointments 0161 206 2339:
9am - 12noon Monday to Friday

Prescription queries 0161 206 8457

Rheumatology advice line 0161 524 1428:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Opening times are at the top right-hand corner of your clinic letter

The Rheumatology Consultant’s secretary:
Prof. Dixon/Dr Harrison/Dr Jani/Dr Ayub - 0161 206 1082
Prof. O'Neill/Dr Low - 0161 206 4627
Dr Samaranayaka/Dr Hughes - 0161 206 4264
Dr Kamath/Prof. Chinoy/Dr Lilleker - 0161 206 7048