Upadacitinib User Reviews & Ratings

• Sur...
• February 8, 2021

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have tried just about everything under the sun for my RA. Was on Orencia for almost 5 years and loved it, until it quit working. I started taking Rinvoq on Nov 11th. Immediately noticed very oily skin and cystic acne. I usually never break out. In the first 5 weeks of taking it, my immune system weakened so much, I had a sinus infection, bronchitis, 2 UTIs, a yeast infection, and was constantly broke out with fever blisters. I also developed back pain so bad I could barely move in the morning. I'm very active so I wasn't sure that was the Rinvoq. I came off Rinvoq to give my immune system a chance to work again. After a week of being off Rinvoq, my acne cleared up, the infections and fever blisters went away, and my back didn't hurt anymore. Began taking Rinvoq again, within a few days my acne came back and my low back pain is just as painful as before."

• JJs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 22, 2021

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've tried nearly every RA medicine under the sun. In the spring of 2020, I was put on Rinvoq. Within a week of taking Rinvoq, the swelling had decreased dramatically and my pain became bearable. I thought I had finally found the perfect drug! Fast forward 6 months later and the drug is keeping me sick about every 6 weeks. I've had multiple sinus infections with 2 of them causing vertigo which makes RA seem like child's play. I have to battle yeast infections, congestion, sinusitis, and horrible acne all over my chin. I am trying to take the drug just a few times a week to keep the swelling down but even that isn't working. I hear a swooshing sound in my ears and I'm always terrified I'm going to get vertigo again and be driving or in a store. What started out as a miracle drug for me has developed into a nightmare. I'm at the point where the benefits are not outweighing the side effects. For me the honeymoon phase is definitely over and I am ready for a divorce."

• Cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "2018-2020 severe pain and knee effusion not responding to Prednisone or Cimzia. Knee had to be drained several times and corticosteroid shots given almost weekly, against regulatory use, just to control the swelling and pain. Started Rinvoq in January 2020. Knee fluid and pain gone within less than three days — it worked very fast! RA went into remission and was off for two weeks starting September 2020. Labs done last week and ZERO inflammation markers in my blood work WHILE OFF MEDICATION. Just went back on Rinvoq at a maintenance dose for COVID-19 protection (reduce cytokine storm/inflammatory response in body). This drug has been a miracle in my life! It shouldn’t be overlooked. Great for inflammation/effusion/overactive immune response. My RA doctor was able to get my insurance to cover it ($3 co-pay)."

• Eso...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 22, 2022

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Update to review of March 2022 asking if anyone had experienced moodiness or depression w/ Rinvoq. Now, I have another data point to add. Rheum MD advised me to temporarily withhold the Rinvoq twice since I left the March review: once for a week due to Covid booster shot, once due to respiratory infection (bad cold). Both times I withheld the Rinvoq, the moodiness, pessimism, lack of joy, depression began to lift on day 3 off the med. By day 4 off Rinvoq, I was back to my pre-Rinvoq, usual optimistic, sunny-disposition self. My husband said, 'Wow, I feel like I have my wife back! Where have you been?' Within about a week of restarting it, I began to feel the 'black cloud' descending again and lost my ability to feel joy or enthusiasm. Anyone else had this?"

• Bob...
• September 26, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve been on Rinvoq for 6 weeks now. It has caused a lot of dizziness and nausea. I’ve tried changing the time that I take it so that the worst of the dizziness was at night, but I wake up feeling very dizzy and nauseous. Has anyone else had this problem?"

• Boo...
• November 23, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Rinvoq for almost 4 weeks. Didn't notice too much difference in my RA other than less pain and swelling in my hands and knees. All of a sudden, my legs turned red with severe pain and swelling below my knees into my ankles. I developed pitted edema with sharp pains in my legs. Also, sharp chest pains in the center, increased urination, nasal congestion with runny nose, and worst of all is the chills and sweats I'm dealing with. A sore throat appeared but did not last. I am really scared about the possibility of blood clots and intestinal bleeding. I do have interstitial lung disease, GERD, diverticulosis, fibromyalgia, and ulcerative colitis. This medication does make me very tired. After the swelling of my ankles got so bad, I stopped Rinvoq. Does anyone know how long it takes for Rinvoq to get out of the body after stopping? I feel so awful and am really scared of a serious blood and/or heart attack."

• Tig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have taken just about every drug available for Rheumatoid Arthritis in the 20 years since diagnosis. Some did not work, some worked for a while, and others made me sick as a dog. I have had to take prednisone on and off (mostly on) for both decades. I have been suffering terribly this past year or so. My doctor prescribed Rinvoq and didn't say much about it. Within the first two days, I started feeling better. Almost a month in and I can say I feel like ten years have been lifted from me. It is like a miracle, I am tapering from the prednisone. I am so much more active now. I hope it continues to work. Oily skin and flushing, no big deal."

• Mee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve had RA for over 20 years. Nothing has really helped. So the Rheumy said Rinvoq was the next step. The last 9 days have been a pure living nightmare. Headache 18 hours a day. Nausea and vomiting even when I sleep. Yes, I have awakened in vomit twice. I’m a 61-year-old woman. I’ve never done that in my adult life. It feels like someone is trying to dig out of my stomach with a knife. The rheumy told me this morning to stop for a week and call and tell him how I feel. The headache, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain have almost completely resolved. Hmmmmmm...and sigh...now what."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been on Rinvoq for almost four months. I didn't do well on methotrexate, leflunomide, or plaquenil. I felt better pretty quickly with Rinvoq. I still have minor flare-ups and dry eyes/skin. But recently, I developed a significant UTI that came out of nowhere. I left messages with my rheumatologist to see if it's the Rinvoq. No answer yet. Has anyone else had this happen?"

• Jag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was on Rinvoq for 3 months. It caused extreme swelling in my legs, arms, hands, and overall body. The swelling was so bad that my shoes didn’t fit, and my skin hurt. It created such bad DVT that I ended up with a pulmonary embolism. This drug could have killed me. It also did nothing for my pain."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "About a week after I started Rinvoq, I began to get extremely oily skin on my face and shoulders. I am in my 50s and have acne all over my face, hairline (including the nape of my neck), back, and chest! I wash my face 3-4 times a day because it’s so oily! My skin was normal to dry prior to starting this medication."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve been on Rinvoq for about 4 months now. I didn’t notice a difference for the first month, but after that, I felt really good. Pain and stiffness in my wrists, hands, and joints did not interfere with my life, and I wasn’t thinking about it all day anymore. Now, in the last two weeks, I started getting stiffness and pain starting back again. I’m not sure what to do since the other pain meds didn’t help. It’s hard to live with extreme pain all day. Night times are hard, and my wrists and hands are so stiff and painful, but I can’t sleep."

• Eso...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 11, 2022

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve been on Rinvoq for 13 months now for RA. I have always been an optimist and have never had even a whiff of depression in my 57 years of life…until the last several months. My RA seems well-controlled on the Rinvoq, but my mood is getting worse and worse for several months now. I feel hopeless for no apparent reason. I have never had this symptom before, nor any other mental health symptoms. I am not usually prone to moodiness or anxiety. On the contrary, among my friends and family, I have traditionally been the most well-grounded person, the most likely to cope easily with emotionally difficult situations…until now. I guess this must be what depression feels like. Now, I find it hard to remember what it used to feel like to have joy. But, I do know that THIS IS NOT WHO I WAS for the first 56 years of my life. So, I’m wondering if this could be a less common side effect of Rinvoq? Has anyone else had new onset of depression or mood disorder with Rinvoq?"

• Pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2021

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Rinvoq has worked well on my RA. Hands especially felt better within a few weeks. I have noticed a 'phlegmy' feeling in the back of the throat and am now experiencing facial pimples along my eyebrows. I have stepped up my face washing to see if that helps."

• Bub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Rinvoq for two weeks now. This has been the best for my pain relief. I started with Humira and went to Actemra but nothing has worked as well as this. My pain is virtually gone and I am doing the things I enjoy again. Rinvoq is great."

• Lee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2021

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Rinvoq for RA for exactly one year and it has been amazing. My blood work is perfect. I did get shingles on the 3rd month after starting it but I got through it and have been doing so well. Hardly any pain at all and I have suffered for 22 years. The only side effects I have noticed is when my immune system is taking a hit, I get super tired and weak feeling (that’s how I know it’s working extra good). When the tiredness eases up then I know my immune system is relaxing. I have experienced extra oily skin but it might be hormones as well, hard to say. I recommend this to anyone suffering as it's great to feel this good compared to the other horrible RA drugs. Good luck to all!"

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I wanted to respond to Bob who posted on Sept. 26. I have had an issue with feeling very lightheaded all day. I never move my head quickly and get up very slowly in the morning. I have had severe dizziness with other meds. This is a terrible feeling and I hope that it fades for you as you adjust to this med. I never feel 'grounded'. I am giving this drug one more month for a total of six months. Best of luck to you."

• big...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2022

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Atopic Dermatitis "Surprised no one with severe atopic dermatitis commented on here yet. Have had severe eczema all my life and have tried many conventional (methotrexate, Myfortic, dupilumab) and unconventional treatments (diets, homeopathy) with little success. Only cyclosporine worked well for years but suddenly stopped working (and got me dangerously high creatinine levels for kidney failure, so had to stop). Now on Rinvoq for 6 months, initially once daily (30 mg), didn't work sufficiently, but after taking it twice daily, I'm now completely clear for 3 months. I'm very happy and relieved. Do need to say the side effects can be pretty intense (as other commenters have confirmed). I've had 2 herpes infections already, regularly nauseous, coughing, and colds are staying on for much longer, sometimes moody, but at this point, my eczema relief definitely outweighs the side effects. Researchers say it's the golden era for eczema research, so I'm bright and hopeful for the future."

• Ric...
• December 26, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Have been on Rinvoq for 6 months now. Was receiving infusions for a couple of years of Actemra but kind of plateaued with that. Got off that just before Covid hit so was glad not to have to go into a med center to receive that. So have had good results, blood work is excellent and physically functioning fine. I am in my 50s and not having any other issues. Doctor wanted me to add Methotrexate just to really get me into remission but not a fan of that drug so staying with Rinvoq exclusively. Was surprised to see the negative reactions on here so guess I'm fortunate to have none!! God bless and good health!!"

• Arc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2021

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have tried most other RA meds with varying degrees of success and side effects. I started Rinvoq about 6 months ago, and it has been good at reducing the joint swelling with only minimal side effects (runny nose, some coughing). I want to stay on it, but my insurance won't pay for it, they want to put me on Xeljanz. I know they are similar, but Xeljanz has a higher risk of blood clots, which I've had in the past. Damn insurance!"

• Sue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2023

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Crohn's Disease "So far Rinvoq has worked well for me. I am still in the first 12 weeks of treatment and taking the 45 mg dosage. I noticed a difference almost immediately as it got rid of all the joint pain I was having. I have Crohn's and started with my first ever flare about a year and a half ago. 4 colorectal surgeries later, I am hoping Rinvoq will get things healed up. It's been a long and rough ride for my first ever flare. Wouldn't wish Crohn's on my worst enemy. I have noticed more body odor than is normal for me and some teeth staining. Not sure if they are related or not to the Rinvoq."

• K99...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2024

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Atopic Dermatitis "Out of the blue, 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. I had itchy patches of skin on half a dozen parts of my body. My hands were the worst, they were red, peeling skin, and extremely itchy (ALL THE TIME). The only relief I could get was scrubbing my hands under near-scalding water 4-6 times a day. The relief would last for 2-4 hours at a time. I would scratch so much that I got scabs everywhere I had a patch, including my hands (which were bright red). My dermatologist first thought it was psoriasis and gave me a starter dose of Skyrizi (which had zero effect whatsoever). Then I was prescribed Rinvoq, and within hours, 4 to 6, the itching subsided. Within 4 weeks, my patches were clearing up, no more scabs or red skin. My skin stopped peeling on my hands as well. It worked very well for me... Now I'm trying to get my insurance to approve it. They are having me try other things... Dupixent currently (in my 12th week), which is doing nothing. All my patches and itchiness are returning."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2023

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Crohn's Disease "Taking for just two weeks now after 3 other IV drugs failed. So far so good. No ill effects so far. So far, it seems to keep me in remission. Time will tell. I really like taking a daily pill vs an IV every 8 weeks."

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 26, 2023

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Crohn's Disease "I love this drug. I use it in combination with Stelara. It made me feel better in a few days at 15 mg... they upped it to 30 mg to help heal my skin cyst condition. Been in remission for 6 months with it now. No side effects. Highly recommend all you Chronies to try it!"

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2020

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve been taking Rinvoq for about 6 months and started it because I wasn’t getting enough pain relief from methotrexate. My pain has significantly improved but swelling has actually worsened. I now have edema in both legs, ankles, and wrists. I’ve also gained weight with this drug and not happy about that. I love that this drug is in daily pill form vs. a weekly pill or injection and I don’t have to stress about feeling nauseous and tired after my weekly methotrexate dose. Overall I’m happy to be getting a mostly pain-free life back, but am concerned that my doctor may take me off of it at my next appointment when he sees the amount of edema I now have."