Any help about Baricitinib?

[Ankspon]

I’ve been on various medications and biologics over the 42 years of having RA and Ankylosing Spondylitis. I started taking 2mg Baricitinib about 17 days ago. A few odd minor side effects and I haven’t had an acute very painful flare up so far, but still morning stiffness. R foot and R hand stiff and painful.

I would be grateful to hear about other’s experiences.

[Madmusiclover]

at 4mg it’s been the only drug that worked for me.

[Ankspon in reply to Madmusiclover]

Thank you for this encouragement. Pleased it’s worked for you. Anything to look out for re side effects?

[Madmusiclover in reply to Ankspon]

None at all from me. Unless you count shingles….

[emmajj1971]

I went onto baricitinib during covid as it was safer to be on that than have my rituximab infusions but it did nothing for me I started having flares and my liver enzymes creeped up so I had to go back onto rituximab infusions. Give it time because we are all different and it might work for you.

[HevsK]

I’ve been on 4mg Baricitinib for a couple of years and it’s been a wonder drug for me although off it at the moment as in hospital with chest infection. Counting down the days till I can start it again and reduce the steroids! Good luck with the med - it’s the best one I’ve had in 45 years!

[Amnesiac3637]

I was on Baricitinib for three years. Best one out of all the very many I’ve had over the past 35 years. No side effects at all (though we’re all different in the way we react) it worked almost immediately - within days I had less swelling in my hands- and it gave me three pretty good years of more energy and less pain on 4 mgs daily. Then I caught covid in 2022 and it just stopped working. I mourn it!

You may have to be a bit more patient if you’re on a half dose and seventeen days isn’t going to give you the full effect ( if after three months and it doesn’t give you any relief then you can say it hasn’t had the desired outcome) so keep on with it and hope it works as well for you.

[Green230461]

I have been on baricitinib for three years and it has been very good

[Leics]

I was on baricitanib for about 2 1/2 years and like you only on the 2mg dose because of immune suppression. I found after a few weeks it did help me but not to the extent I wanted it to so asked if they would up the dose to 4mg which they agreed. Unfortunately I then developed a chest infection which didn’t respond well to antibiotics and I had to stop the Baricitanib for a few weeks. So back down to the 2mg dose and then it didn’t work at all and I took it for a fair while after my infection. It did help me though but being hypogamma the infection risk was worth it for a while, unfortunately my immunoglobulins reduced further and I got one infection after another. What I’m trying to say is give it a while longer and see how you go.

[Bettina1865]

I'm in 4mg and have been for two years. I'm also on hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate and together they work well. Didn't have any side effects really

[Ankspon in reply to Bettina1865]

Thank you to everyone for your helpful replies. I’m on 2mg rather than 4mg Baricitinib as I tend to get infections on biologics. Enbrel worked wonders and was about 8/10 for 17years and then after a knee replacement 2 years ago it stopped working. Tried several drugs since including steroids so hoping Baricitinib will work. It’s good to read about your different experiences and know we are on similar paths coping with these diseases.

[Ali_H]

I’m on 15mg MTX once a week and 2mg of baricitinib daily and am doing very well on this combination (reduced from 4mg of baricitinib as was getting too many chest infections). No side effects.

All the best

Ali

[126Jessie]

I’ve been in barticinib for 4 months now. Had a few tummy issues when I started this drug but they settled after a month. I am getting on really well. It appears to have worked on my pain pathways for existing damaged joints and brought relief, especially at night. Only downside is skin has been a bit unsettled and slow to heal ( I get acne rosacea) other than that I think it is going well. Best of luck with it. Lots of people respond well to this drug, getting good results x

[Ankspon in reply to 126Jessie]

Thank you for the information about tummy issues. I have acid reflux and had a very bad episode last night. I’ve just read Baricitinib can make this problem worse so I’ll be careful with my diet. Good to hear that it’s working for you. It’s certainly helping with my mobility and I’m walking better. I’m grateful for your info re skin too.