Baracitinib, to pause or continue?

[Inanotherlife]

Hello again,

I’m 2 weeks in now on Baracitinib but developed a sore throat, headache & mild temperature a few days ago. Whatever it is, it’s going onto my chest and that never bodes well for me.

I checked with Rheumatology and they said to see how I go on but stop taking it i need antibiotics.

What do others do in this situation?

Thanks x

[KittyJ]

I think you should do as your rheumy advises as they know you, what other people have been told won’t necessarily be relevant to you. 🤞🏻 it doesn’t need antibiotics

[Inanotherlife in reply to KittyJ]

thank you, they just leave the decision for you to make though and I really don’t know know what to do for the best..

[KittyJ in reply to Inanotherlife]

well they said stop taking it if you have antibiotics so just do that, the decision is then made for you 😊

[Inanotherlife in reply to KittyJ]

true, but how do you know when to push for them? My GP likes to wait whereas I’ve seen locums or out of hours who are happy to give them as a precaution.

[Madmusiclover]

I stop at slightest hint of trouble. It’s so fast acting and such a short half life I figure it’s worth it. I restart when I feel well, need antibios or RA goes off alarming.

[Inanotherlife in reply to Madmusiclover]

thanks for replying, if I do stop it, my RA will quickly worsen again. Would I increase the steroids and take NSAIDs to try and counter that? So fed up of the cycle

[Madmusiclover]

I think you need to talk to Rheumy about that.I don’t tolerate oral steroids. Let’s hope it doesn’t develop further. I got the requisite two chest infections in my 1 year of Bari but none since. I hear you re cycle. Let’s hope it stops going round for you soon. I fear Bari is starting to be less effective for me. Year 4.

[Deeb1764]

I am on this and get quite a few chest infections. My consultant said stop for first 4 days then get back on to it. I think it all differs to consultant but I find I need my RA drug too or I come out the other side into a flare so it keeps me balanced as such. So discuss with your team on best ways forward if not feeling comfortable about it all.

[Inanotherlife in reply to Deeb1764]

thanks, I took it today but will give it a miss tomorrow. Always hard to say if it’s a bacterial infection rather than viral, my GP likes to wait a while to see and I’d rather not take antibiotics if not needed, on the other hand I can quickly get worse if leave it too long.

[sylvi]

That is the advice i was given from my rheumy team to stop the drug on taking it.xxxx

[Runrig01]

I’m on a different biologic, even if I’m not on antibiotics, if I feel ill I hold off till I feel better. Baracitinib Is known to reduce viral clearance, so continuing increases the risk of it becoming bacterial and needing antibiotics. The reason you hold off is to give your immune system a better chance to fight any infection. So I definitely wouldn’t increase your steroids unless instructed by your team, as then your swapping one immunosuppressant for another, and still making it difficult for your body to clear any viral infection.

[Inanotherlife]

thanks silvi & Runrig01

I’m not taking the Baracitinib today. I’m still on 7.5mg pred. By this evening my RA will be causing a lot of pain so is it a case of just using NSAIDs and pain killers until I feel better with my chest?

Sorry for all the questions, I’ve just always had biologic injections weekly or monthly rather than a daily tablet.