baricitinib vs upadacitinib
Side-by-side comparison of baricitinib and upadacitinib Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Olumiant
Rinvoq
Olumiant contains baricitinib. It is a medicine that can lower the activity of your immune system.
Rinvoq contains upadacitinib and it is a medicine that reduces inflammation in your body. It is used to treat several conditions, including arthritis and Crohn's disease.
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.
Rinvoq can treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and giant cell arteritis. It is used when other medicines, like TNF blockers, have not worked well enough. For ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, you should have tried at least one other approved medicine before using Rinvoq if TNF blockers are not suitable for you.
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.
Rinvoq is a JAK inhibitor. It works by blocking certain enzymes in your body called Janus kinases (JAKs). By blocking these enzymes, Rinvoq helps to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of the conditions it treats.
- • Upper respiratory tract infections (like common cold)
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Herpes zoster (shingles)
- • Upper respiratory tract infections (like a cold)
- • Acne
- • Herpes simplex (cold sores)
- • Headache
- • Increased blood creatine phosphokinase
- 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
- Pain 4,942
- Joint pain 4,342
- Medicine not working 4,175
- COVID-19 3,131
- Rheumatoid arthritis 3,037
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.
Rinvoq can cause serious side effects, including serious infections, cancer, blood clots, major heart problems, and death. Your doctor will check you for tuberculosis before you start Rinvoq. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of infection, such as fever, cough, or fatigue. If you have a heart attack or stroke, stop taking Rinvoq.
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.
Rinvoq may harm your unborn baby. You should use effective birth control while taking Rinvoq and for some time after your last dose. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breastfeed while taking Rinvoq.
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How to Read This baricitinib vs upadacitinib Comparison
baricitinib is classified in the JAK Inhibitor drug class, while upadacitinib 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 upadacitinib has 19,627. 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 upadacitinib — 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.