baricitinib vs tofacitinib
Side-by-side comparison of baricitinib and tofacitinib Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Olumiant
Xeljanz
Olumiant contains baricitinib. It is a medicine that can lower the activity of your immune system.
Xeljanz is a medicine that reduces inflammation in your body. It is used to treat conditions like arthritis and ulcerative colitis.
Olumiant treats rheumatoid arthritis in adults when other medicines have not worked well. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Olumiant can also be used to treat alopecia areata, a condition that causes patchy hair loss.
Xeljanz treats rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis in adults. It is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 years and older. It is for people who have not responded well to TNF blockers. Do not use Xeljanz with other strong immunosuppressants.
Olumiant blocks certain enzymes called Janus kinases (JAKs) inside your cells. These enzymes help cause inflammation. By blocking them, Olumiant can reduce inflammation and other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and alopecia areata.
Xeljanz is a JAK inhibitor. It works by blocking certain enzymes in your body. These enzymes cause inflammation, so blocking them helps to reduce swelling and pain.
- • Upper respiratory tract infections (like common cold)
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Herpes zoster (shingles)
- • Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold)
- • Runny nose
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Increased cholesterol levels
- Medicine not working 709
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 655
- COVID-19 439
- Rheumatoid arthritis 352
- Blood clot in the lung 294
- The medicine is not working 43,542
- Pain 25,737
- Joint pain 19,670
- Condition got worse 19,467
- Rheumatoid arthritis 18,797
Olumiant can increase your risk of serious infections. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of an infection, such as fever, cough, or body aches. Blood clots in the lungs and legs, some cancers, heart attack, stroke, and death have happened in people taking Olumiant.
Xeljanz can increase your risk of serious infections, which could lead to hospitalization or death. It may also increase your risk of blood clots, cancer, and heart problems. Talk to your doctor about these risks before taking Xeljanz.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Olumiant may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if Olumiant passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Olumiant.
It is not known if Xeljanz will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not breastfeed while taking Xeljanz.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This baricitinib vs tofacitinib Comparison
baricitinib is classified in the JAK Inhibitor drug class, while tofacitinib sits within the JAK Inhibitor class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, baricitinib has 2,449 submissions while tofacitinib has 127,213. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between baricitinib and tofacitinib — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.