Rinvoq and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Sio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA, Sjogren's in 2011. In 1989, I was diagnosed with hypothyroiditis and Hashimoto's disease. I've been given Mobic, Methotrexate, Plaquenil, and now Rinvoq. I'm still on Methotrexate, same dose, and Rinvoq, I still have prednisone as well, one daily 5 mg. I began my Rinvoq the 1st week in July. It is currently 5 weeks. The first week, I thought this is the one. I was starting to regain mobility. I do not feel this way any longer. 1. Severe fatigue, so much so I can fall asleep sitting up. 2. Because of the above, I am in a fog and can't think. 3. Eyes are blurred and dry, also, I have my 1st chalazion in my eye. For those who don't know, it's like a stye. 4. Headaches. 5. At 57, I have acne issues, not a lot, but there are pimples filled with fluid. 6. My left leg swells a lot, and my foot. 7. Today, trouble breathing. We are all different."

• tbe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2025

For Ulcerative Colitis "I was diagnosed with UC in the late '90s. I had active disease until getting into remission following the Remicade trials. Remicade worked until I developed an allergy. Was on Humira for years until ins refused to pay. I went off biologics in 2018 and have been getting sicker slowly over the years until recently I have been sicker than I have been in years. I was facing colorectal surgery... and decided to try Rinvoq. The steroids did not stop the bleeding, but after 4 days, the bleeding had slowed and urgency had stopped... for the first time in over a year, I went 12 hours without bowel urgency... I have been taking the 45 mg dose for about 6 weeks. I have regained my life and have kept my bowel. The acne was immediate, but with OTC products, seems to be manageable. The fatigue is brutal. But I don't know if that is because I have been so sick for a long time or the med. I am hoping to resume my very active work life soon, but it has been a challenge. Overall, I am better."

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2023

For Ulcerative Colitis "I have been taking Rinvoq for around 6 months, but I have decided to stop. Although I think it has helped with my ulcerative colitis and stopped the bleeding, it is not a suitable medication for everyone. As a 52-year-old man, I have experienced various side effects that have gotten worse over time, such as fatigue, stomach pain, intestinal blockages, and severe acne on my face, neck, and scalp. Additionally, the insurance process for this medication has been a hassle."

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Rinvoq for 11.5 months now. This drug has changed my life. I noticed a big improvement in my pain symptoms about four weeks in. I am 95% pain-free, and most days I forget I have RA. I do get flares and bad pain every once in a while. The cons of this drug are that it gives me bad fatigue. The fatigue was very disruptive to my life for the first 6-7 months. I have a constant lingering feeling that I am getting sick but never actually get sick. I have also started breaking out around my chin and forehead. I am in my 20s, and during puberty, I did not suffer from any acne. Overall, this is a great drug for managing my RA and has given me a lot of my life back."

• Sci...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2022

For Ulcerative Colitis "So far, so good - it's keeping my UC in check after about 1 month of taking 3x/day. I will be dropping down to the maintenance dose after 2 months, assuming all continues to go well. The only side effect has been some pretty noticeable fatigue from time to time."

• Pet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Severe respiratory issues, shortness of breath, small skin sores all over my body, and fatigue. I've had severe rheumatoid arthritis for some 35 years now. I've been on pretty much every medication available, with some of them giving pretty severe reactions. In my case, Rinvoq has been one of the more difficult medications regarding the side effects I've experienced. Having said that, we're all different, what affects one may not cause the same issues with another."

• Pam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started Rinvoq 3 weeks ago, and it eased the pain right away. However, after taking it for a week, I felt fatigued and tired all the time, had low energy, and was irritable. Then my vision started getting bad, and I became overly hungry. After 2 weeks, I had enough and stopped taking the medication. I have been off the medication for almost a week now, and my vision is coming back."

• Pam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started Rinvoq 3 weeks ago, and it eased the pain right away. However, after taking it for a week, I felt fatigued and tired all the time, had low energy, and was irritable. Then my vision started getting bad, and I became overly hungry. After 2 weeks, I had enough and stopped taking the medication. I have been off the medication for almost a week now, and my vision is coming back."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I’ve had RA for 20 years, treated with a dozen different meds. Started Rinvoq about a month after having Covid and soon developed strong headaches; I’ve never really had headaches before (I’m 54). It hurt to move my eyes; difficult to even watch TV. My rheumatologist told me to drop Rinvoq, and the headaches got better immediately… but didn’t 100% disappear. Now just low-grade. I started wondering if they were a leftover issue from Covid, so after 2 weeks, I restarted Rinvoq. Noticed my energy level and mood dropped right away, BUT joint pain did, too. I switched to taking it at night, and that helped with fatigue. But, a month and a half in, the headaches are returning daily, I’m dragging through the day, and I’m feeling discouraged, wondering if this will just be life from now on. Joint pain seems to be returning, too. I used to think crushing fatigue was a result of RA flares, and now I’m beginning to think it’s actually from the meds."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2023

For Atopic Dermatitis "With my asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD), I’ve been on various medications. I’ve never had reactions. Two days in using Rinvoq, I had severe eye swelling, lip swelling, and face swelling. Pins and needles all over my body. I also had zero energy, vomiting, and intense dizziness. This drug has a black box warning for a reason. There are so many other options, truly not worth it."

• Pam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 6, 2023

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Rinvoq 15 mg has been a game-changer. For the first time, my arthritis is under control. It worked from day one. Side effects have included and resolved extreme fatigue (initial), headache, nausea, feeling of cold, and UTI. I suffer from Achilles tendinitis and work as a respiratory therapist, so I’m on my feet constantly! This has kept me working and active every day. I'm able to work 4-5 12-hour shifts in a row. I was not able to do that with previous biologics and DMARDs. I'm not on steroids anymore. Yes, I have gained about 10 pounds. I'm working with my doctors now to get the weight off. Everyone is different, and your journey will be too. Good luck!"

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2024

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I only started about a month and a half ago. Initially, I felt very well but now am having some side effects. I'm not sure if they are all related to Rinvoq. Since last week, I've developed nausea and feel a bit off and fatigued. I just feel generally unwell. I had some night sweats for a few days but that is gone now."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2022

"Two weeks on RINVOQ for spondylitis AS - intense dizziness 20 minutes after taking the pill. - fades away within an hour - extreme fatigue that prevents me from functioning normally - pins and needles in limbs - increasing shortness of breath (in very simple activities such as talking) - today, day 14, my left leg feels numb, so I went to the ER to check for blood clots. Negative. Side note: 41 years, female, healthy for the most part, good diet, blood work is normal, vitals are normal. I’m stopping the medication. This is kind of freaking me out. I don’t feel comfortable putting my body through things like that and would rather look for another treatment."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2023

"I started taking Rinvoq about 10 months ago to treat alopecia areata. I have had it since I was a kid, but had a really severe flare-up last year and lost about 50% of my hair. I had about 750 steroid injections into my scalp to grow it back, but the hair was falling out faster than the injections could keep up with. I started with 15 mg per day and increased to 30 mg about 4 months later. I saw new hair growth within a month and have now successfully grown all of my hair back. The side effects were pretty intense for the first few weeks. The worst were nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. When I upped my dose to 30 mg, they came back full force but subsided faster. I now have no side effects except I get sick a bit more easily than I used to and stay sick for longer. When I get sick, I tend to need antibiotics now. Overall, a really great medication for alopecia. It costs about $50 a box in Australia or $7 with a low-income healthcare card. Without the PBS, it costs $2050 a box."

• ABG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "It's helped my hands, which were hurting pretty badly. I'd been on Humira for years, and it was becoming less effective, so I switched. I have noticed having a little less fatigue."