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Overview: Rinvoq is used for certain types of arthritis, arteritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. It calms your immune system by blocking a protein in your body called the Janus kinase enzyme, which is involved in inflammation. Common side effects include infections of the nose and throat, headache, acne, nausea, and stomach pain. Get emergency help if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, or sudden weakness on one side of your body, severe headache, slurred speech, or trouble understanding speech.

Uses

What is Rinvoq used for?

Rivoq (upadacitinib) is commonly used for the following conditions.

Rinvoq may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does Rinvoq work (mechanism of action)?

Arthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease all involve inflammation. Rinvoq helps to calm your immune system by blocking a specific protein called Janus kinase that is involved in inflammation.

How is Rinvoq supplied (dosage forms)?

Brand and other names

  • Rinvoq
  • Rinvoq LQ

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 1 mg/mL oral solution
  • 15 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg extended-release oral tablets

How should I store Rinvoq?

Extended-Release Tablets. Rinvoq tablets should be stored in the original bottle (to protect them from moisture) in the refrigerator or at room temperature, between 36 F and 77 F (2 C to 25 C). 

Oral Liquid. Rinvoq liquid should be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature, between 36 F and 86 F (2 C to 30 C). Throw any unused liquid away 60 days after opening the bottle. 

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Rinvoq?

The most common side effects of Rinvoq are listed below. Side effects can vary based on age or the condition being treated. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Infection in the nose or throat, sore throat, common cold symptoms, or flu
  • Cough, bronchitis
  • Nausea, stomach pain
  • Fever
  • Skin problems, including acne, folliculitis, rash or infections such as cold sores (herpes) or shingles
  • Headache
  • Weight gain
  • Tiredness
  • Elevated liver enzymes
  • Increased creatine phosphokinase (CPK)
  • Blood disorders (see below)
  • Muscle pain
  • Swelling of the legs, feet, ankles, or arms

There may be other side effects of Rinvoq that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Rinvoq?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Rinvoq are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Rinvoq may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Rinvoq and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Infections. Rinvoq can increase your risk of infections, including shingles or other serious infections. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have an infection or any of the following symptoms.

  • Burning or stinging when you pee 
  • Cough or coughing up blood
  • Fever, sweats, chills, or muscle aches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Diarrhea or stomach pain
  • Weight loss
  • Skin rash or itchy, painful sores

Cancer. Rinvoq can cause a new cancer to develop or cause a previously treated cancer to recur. Your risk may be higher if you smoke or used to smoke. Tell your healthcare provider about any cancers that you or your family members have had in the past. Limit sun exposure, avoid tanning beds or sun lamps, and wear sunscreen and clothes to cover your skin when you are in the sun. Keep any appointments to get your skin checked. Tell your healthcare provider about any new symptoms that you may get. 

Heart Attack and Stroke. Rinvoq can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This risk of heart attack, stroke, or death is higher in people who are 50 years old or older, have a high risk of heart disease, and either smoke now or did in the past. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Trouble breathing
  • Pain in your back, jaw, throat, stomach, or arm
  • Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, dizziness, or lightheadedness
  • Sudden weakness on one side of your body
  • Sudden and severe headache
  • Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech

Blood Clots. Rinvoq may cause blood clots in your veins or arteries and could cause venous thromboembolism (VTE), or a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) that can lead to death. Stop taking Rinvoq and get emergency help if you have any of the following signs of blood clots. 

  • Back pain, chest pain or pressure
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Trouble breathing
  • Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your arm or leg

Stomach Bleeding. Rinvoq can increase your risk of tears (perforation) in your gut. The risk is higher if you have a history of stomach ulcers. Stop taking Rinvoq and get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Vomit blood
  • Black or tarry poop
  • Stomach pain or an upset stomach that does not go away
  • Feel faint
  • Fever or chills

Severe Eye Problem. Rinvoq may cause your retina (a layer of tissue at the back of your eye) disconnects from the tissue around it (retinal detachment). This can be very serious and if not treated right away it can lead to blindness. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Sudden vision changes
  • Flashes of light
  • Floaters (small flecks or threads in your vision)
  • Darkness or a “curtain” over your vision, including the middle or the sides

Blood Disorders. Rivoq can cause blood disorders, such as low red blood cell levels (anemia) and low white blood cell levels (neutropenia and lymphopenia). Rinvoq should not be used if your red blood cell or white blood cell levels are too low. Keep all appointments to check your blood work.

High Cholesterol Levels. Rinvoq can cause high cholesterol levels. Keep all appointments with your healthcare provider to check your blood work. Talk with your healthcare provider about ways to keep your cholesterol levels from getting too high.

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Rinvoq. Rinvoq should not be used if your liver is not working as well as it should be. Keep all appointments including lab appointments, before and while you are taking Rinvoq. Your healthcare provider will need to make sure your liver is working well enough for you to take this medicine.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Rinvoq?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Rinvoq.

  • Upadacitinib
  • Rinvoq
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Rinvoq.

What should I know about Rinvoq before using it?

Do not take Rinvoq unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share Rinvoq with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Rinvoq out of the reach of children. Since this medicine can be kept in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator.

You should swallow Rinvoq extended-release tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew them.

You may see part of the Rinvoq tablet in your poop. If this happens to you, let your healthcare provider know, especially if it happens often. Your healthcare provider may choose a different medicine for your condition. 

Follow the “Instructions for Use” that come with your Rinvoq liquid and only use the syringe that comes with it to measure your dose. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about how to take Rinvoq liquid.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Rinvoq?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Rinvoq is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Vaccines. Talk with your healthcare provider about any vaccines that you may need. You should not receive certain vaccines right before or while taking Rinvoq. Tell your healthcare provider about any vaccines you have recently received or have scheduled.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Have or think you have an infection, including sores that are warm, red, or hurt, even if you are being treated
  • Infections that will not go away or keep coming back
  • Stroke or heart problems, such as a heart attack
  • Liver or kidney problems
  • Anemia
  • Trouble breathing or lung problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • A weak immune system, HIV, or diabetes
  • Tuberculosis (TB) or in close contact with someone who has it
  • Shingles, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
  • Live, lived, or traveled to parts of the country like the Ohio or Mississippi River Valley or the southwestern United States
  • Fever, sweating, chills, muscle aches, or feel tired
  • Cough or coughing up blood
  • Stomach pain, diarrhea, gut surgeries, or if food moves through your gut quicker than normal
  • Pain when you go pee or peeing more often than you normally do
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Diverticulitis or ulcers in your gut
  • Smoke tobacco now or used to
  • History or family history of cancer
  • Blood clots

Other Medicines and Supplements. Rinvoq may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking Rinvoq, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. Rinvoq may cause harm to an unborn baby. You may need to take a test to be sure you are not pregnant before taking Rinvoq. You should use effective birth control while taking Rinvoq. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Rinvoq, you should contact the Rinvoq pregnancy registry by calling 800-633-9110. This registry collects safety information and monitors pregnancy outcomes when Rinvoq is taken during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if Rinvoq passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should stop breastfeeding or stop Rinvoq.

How can I get more information about Rinvoq?

For more information about Rinvoq, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at www.rinvoq.com or call them at 800-2RINVOQ (800-274-6867).

Interactions

Does Rinvoq interact with foods or drinks?

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Rinvoq. Grapefruit can increase the amount of Rinvoq in your blood, which can increase your risk for side effects. 

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Rinvoq. The risk of tiredness and liver damage may be increased if you drink alcohol while taking Rinvoq.

Does Rinvoq interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Rinvoq.

  • Ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend), which is a medicine used for fungal infections
  • Clarithromycin, which is a medicine used for bacterial infections
  • Rifampin, which is a medicine commonly used to treat an infection called tuberculosis
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek, and others), which is a medicine to control seizures
  • A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, which is in many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products for pain, swelling, and fever
  • A corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, or prednisone, which is a medicine for certain inflammatory conditions
  • Baricitinib (Olumiant), which is a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, coronavirus infection (COVID-19), or a type of hair loss called alopecia areata 
  • Ruxolitinib (Jakafi), which is a medicine used to treat myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, or graft versus host disease
  • Tofacitinib (Xeljanz), which is a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or ulcerative colitis
  • Abrocitinib (Cibinqo), which is a medicine used to treat atopic dermatitis
  • Ritlecitinib (Litfulo), which is a medicine used to treat a type of hair loss called alopecia areata 
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), tacrolimus (Prograf, Envarsus XR, Astagraf XL), or mycophenolate (Cellcept, Myfortic, and others), which is a medicine to suppress your immune system
  • A medicine used to treat autoimmune conditions, such as tocilizumab (Actemra), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), rituximab (Rituxan), abatacept (Orencia), anakinra (Kineret), certolizumab (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), ustekinumab (Stelara), secukinumab (Cosentyx), vedolizumab (Entyvio), or ixekizumab (Taltz)

Many other medicines may alter the blood levels of Rinvoq. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Rinvoq. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Rinvoq?

If you or someone else has taken too much Rinvoq, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Rinvoq?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses. 

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