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Compare Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Enbrel (etanercept) and Rinvoq (upadacitinib) are both used to treat inflammatory conditions, but they have some key differences. Enbrel is a biologic DMARD that you inject under the skin, while Rinvoq is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that you take as a tablet once a day. Enbrel is available as a brand-name product as well as a lower cost biosimilat. It's used for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and childhood arthritis. Rinvoq is only available as brand and is typically reserved for people who haven't had success with other treatments and is used for a wider range of conditions, including eczema, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. Enbrel works by blocking a protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to reduce inflammation, whereas Rinvoq blocks the JAK enzyme to calm the immune system. Both medications can raise the risk of serious infections, but Rinvoq also has warnings for blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Enbrel is given weekly, while Rinvoq is taken daily.

  • Enbrel (etanercept)
    Rinvoq (upadacitinib)
  • Enbrel (etanercept)
    Rinvoq (upadacitinib)

  • Summary of Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

    Summary for Biologic DMARD
    Prescription only

    Enbrel (etanercept) is a weekly injection used for many autoimmune conditions. Currently, it's only available as a brand-name product and can be expensive.

    Summary for JAK inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. It's used to treat certain inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ulcerative colitis (UC), and eczema (atopic dermatitis). But it's not a first-choice option and typically only prescribed when other treatments haven't worked well. Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is taken by mouth, usually once daily. It's available as an extended-release tablet (Rinvoq) and an oral solution (Rinvoq LQ), but the two formulations aren't interchangeable. Side effects include a higher risk of infections, acne, and nausea.

  • Indications of Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

    Indications for
    •Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
    •Plaque psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
    •Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
    •Childhood arthritis (polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, JIA)
    Indications for

    Moderate-to-severe inflammatory conditions in which other treatments haven't worked:

    •Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults
    •Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults and children ages 2 years and older
    •Eczema (atopic dermatitis) in adults and children ages 12 years and older
    •Ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults
    •Crohn's disease (CD) in adults
    •Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults
    •Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in adults
    •Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in adults and children ages 2 years and older

  • Pros and Cons of Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

    Pros and Const for Biologic DMARD
    Pros
    •Available in a prefilled syringe or autoinjector for easy-at-home injections
    •Can be used in children age 2 and older for certain indications (JIA)
    •Can be kept at room temperature for up to 14 days
    •Manufacturer offers copay card for people with commercial insurance
    •Not many side effects other than infection and redness and irritation at the injection site
    Cons
    •Raises risk of serious infections
    •Can cause the hepatitis B virus to reappear if you have a history of infection
    •Lymphoma and other cancers have been reported in people taking Enbrel (etanercept)
    •Available only as a brand medication so it can be expensive and isn't always covered by insurance
    •Needs to be given every week, unlike Humira (adalimumab), which is given every other week
    Pros and Const for JAK inhibitor
    Pros
    •Can treat many different inflammatory conditions
    •Available as a tablet and a liquid
    •The tablet only needs to be taken once a day
    Cons
    •Can raise risk for infections
    •Not the best option for people with severe liver or kidney problems
    •Not safe for use during pregnancy

  • Common Side Effects of Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

    Common Side Effects for
    •Infection (including common cold/flu) (50%)
    •Injection site reaction (37%)
    •Diarrhea (8%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (25%)
    •Acne (16%)
    •Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection (8%)
    •Headache (6%)

    Note: Side effects listed were reported by people who took Rinvoq for eczema.

  • Warnings of Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

    Common Side Effects for
    •Serious infections
    •Cancers
    •Nervous system effects
    •Heart failure
    •Bleeding and infections
    Common Side Effects for
    •Serious infections
    •Possible higher risk of death for people with rheumatoid arthritis
    •Risk of cancer
    •Possible risk of heart attack, stroke, and other blood clots
    •Severe allergic reaction
    •Stomach and gut tears
    •Abnormal lab results (e.g., blood cell counts, cholesterol levels)
    •Possible harm to unborn babies
    •Medication in stool

  • Prices with our coupons for Enbrel vs. Rinvoq

    Learn more about Enbrel
    Learn more about Rinvoq

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