Rinvoq Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

There are many treatment options for people living with an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease. Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is one example. Rinvoq is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. It’s typically prescribed if you’ve tried other treatments without success.

There are many things to know before starting a medication that can help you take it safely, including what dosage you should take. Below, we’ll detail typical Rinvoq dosages provided by the medication’s manufacturer. But keep in mind that your prescriber may suggest a different dosage for you.

What’s the typical Rinvoq dosage for adults?

Most people take Rinvoq once a day. But your specific Rinvoq dosage depends on why you’re taking it. It’s generally recommended to take the lowest effective dose to help minimize side effects.

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You can take Rinvoq with or without food. You should also swallow the tablet whole — don’t chew, split, or crush the medication. This can interfere with how your body absorbs the medication.

Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

The typical Rinvoq dosage is the same for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as for ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Adults should take 15 mg by mouth once daily.

Atopic dermatitis

The typical Rinvoq dosage for most adults with atopic dermatitis (eczema) is 15 mg by mouth once daily. But if it’s not effective enough, your prescriber may increase your dose to 30 mg once daily. If it still isn’t working, they may ask you to stop taking Rinvoq.

For adults 65 and older, the recommended dosage for eczema is 15 mg once daily. The manufacturer doesn’t suggest dose increases for older adults.

Ulcerative colitis

For treating ulcerative colitis (UC), Rinvoq has two dosages: a starting dose and a maintenance dose. The starting dosage of Rinvoq for UC is 45 mg by mouth once daily for 8 weeks. After that, the dosage is usually reduced to 15 mg once daily. Depending on your symptom severity and response to Rinvoq, your dosage may remain at 30 mg once daily.

Crohn’s disease

The recommended Rinvoq dosages for Crohn’s disease are similar to what’s used for UC. The starting dosage is 45 mg by mouth once daily for 12 weeks. Then, it’s typically reduced to 15 mg once daily. Depending on your symptom severity and response to Rinvoq, your dosage may remain at 30 mg once daily.

What’s the typical Rinvoq dosage for children?

Rinvoq is FDA approved to treat atopic dermatitis in children who are 12 years and older and weigh at least 88 lbs (40 kg). The usual Rivoq dosage for children is 15 mg by mouth once daily. But it can be increased to 30 mg once daily by your child’s healthcare team if needed.

As mentioned, you shouldn’t cut, chew, or crush Rinvoq tablets. If your child has trouble swallowing pills, talk with their medical care team. They may need to take a different medication.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Yes, Rinvoq has some recommended dosage adjustments for certain health conditions. There are also drug interactions that can affect your dosage.

Make sure to let your medical care team know about any kidney or liver issues you have, or if you have a history of blood cell problems. And provide them a current medication list so they can screen for interactions and make sure you’re prescribed the right dose.

Good to know: Your medical care team should let you know if you need to adjust your Rinvoq dosage. Don’t make changes to your dosage without your prescriber’s OK.

People with kidney disease

The kidneys help clear Rinvoq from the body. So if they’re not working as expected, medication can build up in the body. This can raise your risks of side effects. If you have mild or moderate kidney disease, you’ll likely take the standard Rinvoq dosages as described above.

The suggested Rinvoq dosages for people with severe kidney disease are as follows:

• Atopic dermatitis: Take 15 mg by mouth once daily. This is also the maximum recommended dosage.

• UC: Take 30 mg by mouth once daily for 8 weeks. After that, reduce the dosage to 15 mg once daily. The maximum recommended maintenance dosage is 15 mg once daily.

• Crohn’s: Take 30 mg by mouth once daily for 12 weeks. After that, reduce the dosage to 15 mg once daily. The maximum recommended maintenance dosage is 15 mg once daily.

• All other uses: Follow the standard Rinvoq dosage instructions for your age and health condition.

Rinvoq isn’t recommended if you have end-stage kidney disease. This medication hasn’t been well studied in this population. So experts aren’t sure what dosage may be safe or effective.

People with liver disease

The liver helps break down Rinvoq. Similar to the kidneys, if the liver isn’t working as well as it should, you may have a higher risk of side effects. If you have severe liver disease, it’s recommended to avoid taking Rinvoq.

The suggested Rinvoq dosages for people with mild or moderate liver disease are as follows:

• UC: Take 30 mg by mouth once daily for 8 weeks. After that reduce the dosage to 15 mg once daily. The maximum recommended maintenance dosage is 15 mg once daily.

• Crohn’s: Take 30 mg by mouth once daily for 12 weeks. After that reduce the dosage to 15 mg once daily. The maximum recommended maintenance dosage is 15 mg once daily.

• All other uses: Follow the standard Rinvoq dosage instructions for your age and health condition.

People taking certain medications that interact with Rinvoq

You may need a lower Rinvoq dosage if you take certain interacting medications. Some medications raise levels of Rinvoq in your body and increase the risk for side effects. The suggested dosage adjustments to manage this interaction are the same as those for people with severe kidney disease.

Examples of medications that have this interaction with Rinvoq include:

• Oral azole antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox)

• Medications that contain ritonavir (Norvir) such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir)

• Macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice

People with low blood cell counts

Rarely, Rinvoq can lower the levels of red and white blood cells in the body. If this happens, your prescriber may ask you to temporarily stop taking Rinvoq. Once your blood cell counts return to a normal range, you should be able to restart the medication. Because of this risk, your medical care team will likely ask you to go for certain blood tests before starting and while taking Rinvoq.

What happens if you miss a dose of Rinvoq?

If you miss a dose of Rinvoq, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s getting close to time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose. Then continue with your regular schedule. Don’t take an extra or double dose to make up for a missed one.

What should you do if you take too much Rinvoq?

You’re unlikely to have significant problems if you accidentally take an extra dose or two of Rinvoq. But you may notice more side effects than usual, such as headache or nausea. Still, it’s a good idea to contact your medical care team if you take too much Rinvoq.

There isn’t much research about what can happen if you take an excessive amount of Rinvoq. If this happens, contact your care team or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance on what to do next. If you’re having symptoms that seem severe or life threatening, get emergency medical help by calling 911 or going to the nearest ER.

How to save on Rinvoq

There are several ways to save on Rinvoq, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with a copay card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $5 per month for Rinvoq using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for the manufacturer’s patient assistance program, which offers Rinvoq free of cost.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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