Rinvoq (Upadacitinib) for Psoriatic Arthritis

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects Copay Help FAQs

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults and children ages 2 and older with active psoriatic arthritis.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 214 comments about Rinvoq from MyPsoriasisTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Daily pill dosing feels easier than injections or infusions.
Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness sometimes improve within days to weeks.
Taking Rinvoq at home avoids infusion appointments.

Considerations:

Benefits can be uneven, with lingering fatigue, back pain, enthesitis, or foot pain.
Infections can interrupt treatment, including cellulitis, strep throat, thrush, or shingles concerns.
Insurance approval, copays, and refill coordination can add delays or treatment gaps.

How Rinvoq Works and How It’s Taken

Rinvoq is a type of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. It affects signals inside cells that are involved in immune system activity. The exact way this leads to treatment benefits is not fully known.

In active psoriatic arthritis, this may help reduce inflammation and calm an overactive immune response.

Doctors prescribe Rinvoq when adults and children ages 2 and older have active psoriatic arthritis and one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker medicines did not work well enough or could not be tolerated.

Rinvoq is an oral medication available in two forms:

Rinvoq extended-release tablets are taken once daily.
Rinvoq LQ oral solution is taken twice daily.

Both forms may be taken with or without food.

Swallow Rinvoq tablets whole. Do not split, crush, or chew them. Give Rinvoq LQ with the supplied bottle adapter and oral syringe.

Typical Dosing for Psoriatic Arthritis

Recommended doses include:

Adults ages 18 and older — 15 milligrams once daily
Children ages 2 to younger than 18 weighing 10 kilograms to less than 20 kilograms — 3 milligrams (3 milliliters of oral solution) twice daily
Children ages 2 to younger than 18 weighing 20 kilograms to less than 30 kilograms — 4 milligrams (4 milliliters of oral solution) twice daily
Children ages 2 to younger than 18 weighing 30 kilograms or more — 6 milligrams (6 milliliters of oral solution) twice daily, or one 15-milligram tablet once daily

If a serious infection develops, the doctor should stop Rinvoq until the infection is controlled.

Rinvoq LQ oral solution cannot be directly substituted for Rinvoq extended-release tablets. A healthcare provider should direct any change between the two forms.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Rinvoq

MHT logo These insights are based on 214 comments about Rinvoq from MyPsoriasisTeam members.

Members who use Rinvoq often say it takes patience, close communication with their rheumatologist, and some trial and error to determine whether the medication is a good fit. They also frequently mention watching for side effects, planning for cost and insurance issues, and remembering that Rinvoq may help some symptoms more than others.

1

Be patient because results can take time for some people.
“At least two weeks for the meds to start working, maybe even six.”
2

Keep your doctor updated about side effects or infections.
“My blood counts are all off, way off—I’m taking Rinvoq; my pain goes away, but my blood test, not so good.”
3

Track which symptoms Rinvoq helps and which it does not.
“The Rinvoq has worked wonders on the plaques, but I question if it has done anything for psoriatic arthritis.”

Connect with others who understand life with psoriatic arthritis. Join MyPsoriasisTeam for free.

Rinvoq Side Effects

In clinical studies of Rinvoq, the most common side effects occurred in about 1 percent to 14 percent of people. These included:

Upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold
Nausea
Cough
Fever
Herpes zoster (shingles)
Herpes simplex (cold sores)
Acne
Bronchitis
Headache

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Rinvoq can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Serious infections — These can include tuberculosis, pneumonia, cellulitis, and opportunistic infections that can spread through the body.
Malignancies and lymphoproliferative disorders — These can include lymphoma and skin cancers.
Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) — Serious heart-related events such as heart attack or stroke can occur.
Thrombosis (blood clots) — These can include deep vein thrombosis in the legs, pulmonary embolism in the lungs, or clots in arteries.
Viral reactivation — Viruses can become active again, such as shingles or hepatitis B.
Hypersensitivity reactions — Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis or angioedema, can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Gastrointestinal perforation — A tear can develop in the stomach or intestines.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) — This can occur in people with diabetes.
Embryo-fetal toxicity — Rinvoq may harm a fetus if used during pregnancy.
Laboratory abnormalities — Rinvoq can change blood cell counts, liver enzymes, and cholesterol levels.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Rinvoq

AbbVie, the manufacturer of Rinvoq, offers the Rinvoq Complete Savings Card. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 per month.

The card is not available to people receiving prescription reimbursement through federal, state, or other government-funded insurance programs. Rinvoq Complete can provide information about other financial assistance options for people with government insurance or no insurance.

An Insurance Specialist can help people understand their coverage and identify potential savings options. Visit Rinvoq Complete or call 800-274-6867.

What To Know Before Taking Rinvoq

Before starting Rinvoq for psoriatic arthritis, your doctor will check for:

Active or inactive tuberculosis (TB)
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
Low white blood cells, low red blood cells, or low hemoglobin
Liver problems, including severe liver problems
Pregnancy, if you are able to become pregnant

Make sure your vaccines are up to date before treatment. Do not receive live vaccines during treatment or right before starting Rinvoq. Ask your healthcare provider whether you should receive a shingles vaccine before treatment.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to upadacitinib or any ingredients in Rinvoq.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

Have an infection or symptoms of an infection
Have an infection that keeps coming back
Have diabetes, chronic lung disease, HIV, or a weakened immune system
Have TB or have been near someone with TB
Have had shingles
Have or have had hepatitis B or hepatitis C
Live in or have traveled to an area where certain fungal infections are common
Smoke now or smoked in the past
Have had a heart attack, stroke, or other heart problems
Have liver or kidney problems
Have unexplained stomach pain, diverticulitis, or ulcers
Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen
Have low red or white blood cell counts
Recently received or plan to receive a vaccine
Have had cancer
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

Do not take Rinvoq if you are allergic to any ingredients in Rinvoq or Rinvoq LQ.

Rinvoq is also FDA-approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and giant cell arteritis.

A pregnancy surveillance program collects information about people exposed to Rinvoq during pregnancy. Report a pregnancy by calling 800-633-9110.

Rinvoq may harm your baby if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control during treatment and for four weeks after your final dose.

Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment or for six days after the last dose.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Rinvoq for psoriatic arthritis?

In two phase 3 studies of adults with active psoriatic arthritis, more people taking Rinvoq 15 milligrams once daily achieved an ACR20 response at week 12 than people taking a placebo (an inactive treatment). ACR20 means at least a 20 percent improvement based on several measures of psoriatic arthritis, including tender and swollen joints.

In one of these studies, Rinvoq also slowed the progression of structural joint damage compared with placebo at week 24.

How long does Rinvoq take to work for psoriatic arthritis?

In clinical studies, improvement in psoriatic arthritis symptoms was measured at week 12. The effect on structural joint damage was measured at week 24.

These were study assessment times. The studies do not say exactly how soon a person may first notice improvement.

What tests or monitoring are needed with Rinvoq for psoriatic arthritis?

Before starting Rinvoq, your healthcare provider may:

Test for active and inactive TB
Check for hepatitis B and hepatitis C
Order blood tests to check blood cell counts and hemoglobin
Check liver function
Confirm pregnancy status when needed
Make sure vaccines are up to date

During treatment, your healthcare provider may repeat blood tests because Rinvoq can affect blood cell counts and liver enzymes. Rinvoq can also raise cholesterol levels. Cholesterol should be checked about 12 weeks after treatment starts and later as recommended by your healthcare provider.