Key takeaways
Rinvoq (upadacitinib) and Otezla (apremilast) are both medications used to treat inflammatory conditions, but they work differently and treat different conditions. Rinvoq is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that helps with various types of arthritis, eczema, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. It's taken once a day and is currently only available as a brand-name medication. On the other hand, Otezla is a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor used for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and mouth sores from Behçet’s disease. It has a more complex dosing schedule that starts low and gradually increases to reduce side effects like nausea and diarrhea. Unlike Rinvoq, Otezla has a generic version approved but not yet available until at least 2028. Rinvoq can raise the risk of serious infections and blood clots, while Otezla may cause weight loss and has a risk of depression. Both medications require careful monitoring and have specific guidelines for use with other medications and during pregnancy.
