Baricitinib

 

What is Baricitinib?

Baricitinib is a targeted DMARD (Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug), which works to dampen down the body’s inflammatory response. In certain diseases the immune system is over active, this can target healthy tissues such as joints. Baricitinib works on the inflammatory pathway to inhibit proteins called JAK, reducing the symptoms you should get from arthritis such as pain and joint swelling.

Baricitinib is known as a JAK inhibitor from its effects, there are other medications in this group such as tofacitinib.

 

What is Baricitinib used for? 

Baricitinib is used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis where their joints are very active and not responding to 2 or more conventional DMARDs. It is usually given alongside some of these medications such as methotrexate.

 

How is it taken? 

Baricitinib is taken as a tablet once daily. It can be taken with or without food. The dose is 2mg or 4mg daily, this is based on your age and how well your kidneys work.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember that day, but never double up the dose.

 

The effects from baricitinib are usually seen to start within a week, however we usually continue for 12 weeks before we review how well it is working. You will be seen in clinic at 3 months to monitor how well you are doing.

 

You will require blood monitoring of the medication once a year. If you are on other medications such as other DMARDs, the blood monitoring for them will need to continue as usual.

 

Side effects

Baricitinib is usually well tolerated by patients, however a small number of patients may experience some side effects such as feeling sick in the first few weeks of starting.

There are a few conditions that baricitinib has been found to make you slightly more susceptible to, these include:

 

 

Cautions of use

Interactions with other medications

Contraindications of other conditions

Operations

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

Alcohol

Vaccinations

 

Useful Links

Versus Arthritis: http://www.versusarthritis.org