What side effects are reported for Rinvoq (upadacitinib)?
Rinvoq (upadacitinib) can cause side effects that range from common, manageable symptoms to rare but serious risks. The most important severe risks to watch for are infections, blood clots, and lab abnormalities. Your exact risk depends on dose, other medications, age, and underlying conditions.
What are the common Rinvoq side effects people notice first?
Commonly reported side effects include:
- Infections (such as colds or other respiratory infections)
- Nausea
- Headache
- Increased levels of certain blood tests (for example, cholesterol/lipids) and other lab changes that require monitoring
What serious side effects should you watch for?
Rinvoq carries boxed warnings and other serious risks. Seek urgent medical care if you develop signs consistent with:
- Serious infection: fever, worsening cough, shortness of breath, feeling very unwell
- Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism): leg swelling/pain, chest pain, coughing blood, sudden shortness of breath
- Changes in blood counts (anemia, low white blood cells, low platelets), which can increase infection or bleeding risk
- Liver problems: yellowing of skin/eyes, dark urine, severe fatigue, right-sided abdominal pain
Who is at higher risk of complications on Rinvoq?
Risk is higher with factors such as:
- Older age
- Smoking history or prior cardiovascular events
- A history of blood clots
- Active or recurrent infections
- Concomitant medications that also suppress the immune system
- Low baseline blood counts or abnormal liver tests
Clinicians typically screen for infection risk and monitor blood/liver tests during treatment.
What lab monitoring is required while taking Rinvoq?
Doctors usually monitor blood work and other labs to catch problems early, such as:
- Complete blood counts (white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets)
- Liver enzymes
- Lipids (cholesterol)
Because these can change without obvious symptoms, monitoring matters even when you feel fine.
Can Rinvoq side effects overlap with symptoms of the condition it treats?
Yes. Symptoms like fatigue, fever, or inflammation can occur with the underlying inflammatory disease too. The key difference is whether symptoms worsen or look like infection (for example, fever with a new respiratory illness), or whether there are red-flag features such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or leg swelling that need prompt evaluation.
What should you do if you get a side effect?
- Mild effects (like headache or nausea) may improve with time or with supportive care, but tell your prescriber.
- Do not stop Rinvoq abruptly without medical advice.
- Contact your clinician right away for infection symptoms or any blood-clot warning signs.
- Ask what action plan to follow for lab abnormalities or abnormal symptoms.
Are there alternatives if side effects are a problem?
If Rinvoq side effects are difficult to manage, prescribers may switch to another therapy in the same class or a different class of immunomodulators, based on your condition (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) and your risk factors.
If you tell me what condition you’re taking Rinvoq for and which side effect you’re worried about, I can tailor the likely causes, red flags, and what clinicians typically do next.
Sources
- [1] DrugPatentWatch.com: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com