Key takeaways:
Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. It’s usually taken once daily, and it treats inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.
A common Rinvoq dosage is 15 mg by mouth once daily. But your dose can vary depending on why you’re taking it. People taking Rinvoq for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease often take a higher dose for a few weeks when first starting it.
If you have kidney or liver disease, you may need to take a different Rinvoq dosage. Drug interactions can also play a role in dosage adjustments.
There are ways to save on Rinvoq. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you access the medication for $0 per month. A patient assistance program is also available.
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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.
Adult Rinvoq dosage for 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.
Adult Rinvoq dosage for 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 working well 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 ages 65 and older, the recommended dosage for eczema is 15 mg once daily. The manufacturer doesn’t suggest dose increases for older adults.
Adult Rinvoq dosage for 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 (2 months). After that, the dosage is usually reduced to 15 mg once daily. Depending on your response to Rinvoq, your dosage may remain at 30 mg once daily.
Adult Rinvoq dosage for 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 (3 months). Then, it’s typically reduced to 15 mg once daily. Depending on your response to Rinvoq, your dosage may remain at 30 mg once daily.
Adult Rinvoq dosage for giant cell arteritis
The recommended Rinvoq dosage for giant cell arteritis is 15 mg by mouth once daily. When you first start taking it, you’ll also likely be taking a corticosteroid (steroid) such as prednisone. Over time, you’ll slowly lower (taper) your steroid dosage until you’re no longer taking it. After you finish the course of steroids, you’ll remain on Rinvoq 15 mg once daily.
What’s the typical Rinvoq dosage for children?
Rinvoq is FDA approved to treat atopic dermatitis in children ages 12 and older who weigh at least 88 lbs (40 kg). It’s also approved to treat psoriatic arthritis and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in children ages 2 and older who weigh at least 22 lbs (10 kg).
Your child’s specific Rinvoq dosage depends on why they’re taking it.
Children’s Rinvoq dosage for atopic dermatitis
The usual Rivoq dosage for children with atopic dermatitis 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.
Managing interactions: You may need to take a lower Rinvoq (upadacitinib) dosage if you take certain medications. Learn more about Rinvoq interactions here.
What to expect: Taking the lowest effective Rinvoq dosage can help limit side effects. Read about common and rare side effects and ways to manage them.
Comparing options: Rinvoq is one of several Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Pharmacists discuss the JAK inhibitors available and how you can save on each.
Children’s Rinvoq dosage for psoriatic arthritis and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA)
Children’s Rinvoq dosages for psoriatic arthritis and pJIA are based on your child’s body weight. There’s a liquid version of Rinvoq available called Rinvoq LQ. This dosage form provides lower dosages for children who weigh less than 66 lbs (30 kg). It can also be helpful for children weighing 66 lbs or more who have trouble swallowing pills.
The table below details children’s Rinvoq dosage information for psoriatic arthritis and pJIA.
Child’s body weight | Rinvoq LQ dosage | Rinvoq tablet dosage |
|---|---|---|
22 lbs to less than 44 lbs (20 kg) | 3 mL (3 mg) by mouth twice daily | Not recommended |
44 lbs to less than 66 lbs | 4 mL (4 mg) by mouth twice daily | Not recommended |
66 lbs or more | 6 mL (6 mg) by mouth twice daily | 15 mg by mouth once daily |
How do you take Rinvoq?
You can take Rinvoq or Rinvoq LQ with or without food. If you take Rinvoq tablets, you can take them any time of day. Rinvoq LQ should be taken twice a day, about 12 hours apart. Just be sure to take your doses around the same time(s) each day. This helps your body maintain consistent levels of medication.
If you’re taking Rinvoq tablets, swallow them whole — don’t chew, split, or crush them. This can interfere with how your body absorbs the medication.
If your child is taking Rinvoq LQ, it should come with an oral syringe and bottle adapter. The adapter goes in the neck of the bottle and makes it easier to draw up doses. The syringe is reusable. Rinse it with water after using it. If you lose the syringe, contact your pharmacy. They can provide you with a replacement.
How to store Rinvoq
Store Rinvoq tablets in their original bottle at room temperature. This helps protect the tablets from light, which can cause the medication to break down over time.
Store Rinvoq LQ at room temperature. If your child receives more than one bottle from the pharmacy, only open one at a time. Each bottle is good for 60 days after opening it. If your bottle has been open for longer than this, don’t use it. Dispose of any leftover medication at a medication disposal location. Your pharmacist can provide you with more information on how to properly dispose of unused Rinvoq LQ.
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 disease: 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 disease: 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 copay cards and patient assistance programs 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 $0 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.
Frequently asked questions
If you take Rinvoq tablets, you can take them once a day at any time of day. It helps to take it at a time when you’re most likely to remember it. And try to take it about the same time each day. If your child takes Rinvoq LQ, you should give it to them twice a day. Try to give doses at opposite ends of the day, such as in the morning and before bedtime.
There are no known interactions between Rinvoq and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). But ask your healthcare team before taking one. Other medications that treat inflammatory conditions, such as steroids and methotrexate (Trexall), do interact with certain pain medications. What’s more, ibuprofen isn’t recommended for people living with UC or Crohn’s disease. Your prescriber and pharmacist can recommend pain relievers that are safe for you to take.
If you take Rinvoq tablets, you can take them once a day at any time of day. It helps to take it at a time when you’re most likely to remember it. And try to take it about the same time each day. If your child takes Rinvoq LQ, you should give it to them twice a day. Try to give doses at opposite ends of the day, such as in the morning and before bedtime.
There are no known interactions between Rinvoq and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). But ask your healthcare team before taking one. Other medications that treat inflammatory conditions, such as steroids and methotrexate (Trexall), do interact with certain pain medications. What’s more, ibuprofen isn’t recommended for people living with UC or Crohn’s disease. Your prescriber and pharmacist can recommend pain relievers that are safe for you to take.
The bottom line
Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is an oral medication that treats several inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. A common Rinvoq dosage for adults is 15 mg by mouth once daily. If you’re taking Rinvoq for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, you’ll likely take a higher dosage for a few weeks when you first start it. Children’s Rinvoq dosages are based on their body weight.
You might need to take a different Rinvoq dosage if you have certain health conditions or take medications that interact with it. Your medical care team can help determine the best dosage for you.
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References
AbbVie. (2022). U.S. FDA approves Rinvoq® (upadacitinib) to treat adults and children 12 years and older with refractory, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.
AbbVie. (2024). Rinvoq (upadacitinib) now available for pediatric patients two years and older with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
AbbVie. (2025). Rinvoq- upadacitinib tablet, extended release, Rinvoq- upadacitinib solution [package insert].
Charles-Schoeman, C., et al. (2024). Impact of upadacitinib on laboratory parameters and related adverse events in patients with RA: Integrated data up to 6.5 years. Rheumatology and Therapy.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Upadacitinib.
Nemours Children’s Health. (2021). Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
PubChem. (2025). Upadacitinib. National Library of Medicine.
