Upadacitinib
Generic name: upadacitinib
Brand name: Rinvoq
Dosage form: tablet
Drug class:Antirheumatics
What is upadacitinib?
Upadacitinib is a slow release tablet used to treat certain autoimmune disorders. It was first approved by the FDA in 2019 for rheumatoid arthritis and since then has been approved for types of psoriatic arthritis, eczema and ulcerative colitis.
It is from a class of medicines called Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), they block the action of enzymes (Janus kinases) which are involved in inflammation. Blocking the Janus kinases reduces inflammation and helps bring symptoms under control.
What is upadacitinib used for?
Upadacitinib is used to treat:
- adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis when 1 or more medicines called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers have been used, and did not work well or could not be tolerated.
- adults with active psoriatic arthritis when 1 or more medicines called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers have been used, and did not work well or could not be tolerated.
- adults and children 12 years of age and older with moderate to severe eczema (atopic dermatitis) that did not respond to previous treatment and their eczema is not well controlled with other pills or injections, including biologic medicines, or the use of other pills or injections is not recommended.
- adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis when 1 or more medicines called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers have been used, and did not work well or could not be tolerated.
Upadacitinib is safe and effective in children 12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kg) with atopic dermatitis.
It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis or with psoriatic arthritis.
It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age with atopic dermatitis.
It is not known if upadacitinib is safe and effective in children with ulcerative colitis.
Important Information
Upadacitinib can cause serious side effects, including:
Serious Infections. Upadacitinib is a medicine that affects your immune system. It can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Some people have had serious infections while taking this medicine, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections.
Your healthcare provider should test you for TB before starting treatment with upadacitinib.
Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with upadacitinib.
You should not start taking upadacitinib if you have any kind of infection unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay. You may be at a higher risk of developing shingles (herpes z...
