Talking to your doctor

It’s important to track your RA symptoms and talk to your doctor about how you're feeling. Even mentioning small things that have changed can help with managing your RA. The more your doctor knows about your overall health and how your symptoms are affecting your ability to do things at work and at home, the better prepared he or she will be to evaluate which treatment is most appropriate for you.

To get started, you may want to ask yourself these following questions:

Am I noticing changes in my RA symptoms, such as joint pain, stiffness, or swelling?
If joint swelling was present, has it decreased or does it still persist?
Have I seen changes in my physical function in performing day-to-day tasks?
How many times a week am I feeling like I’ve had a “good” day with RA?
What does a “good” day with RA mean for me?
Am I able to do the tasks I enjoy doing?
What is something I have trouble doing because of my RA? How do I go about doing that thing differently because of my RA?
What are some of the activities I’d do more often if my RA was better controlled?
Have I taken too many sick days?

To prepare for a conversation with your doctor, click the button below to help define your treatment goals. Then print your answers. You can take it to your next doctor's appointment and they can get a better sense of how you have been managing your RA.

Additional helpful resources and tools are available from the Arthritis Foundation at arthritis.org.

PURPOSE AND SAFETY SUMMARY WITH WARNINGS

PURPOSE AND SAFETY SUMMARY WITH WARNINGS

Important Facts About Olumiant^® (O-loo-mē·ant). It is also known as baricitinib.

Olumiant is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have tried at least one other medicine called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist that did not work well enough or could not be tolerated. The medicine comes in a tablet and is taken orally.

WARNINGS

Olumiant may cause serious side effects. Some people who have taken Olumiant have had:

Serious infections, including tuberculosis (TB), shingles, and others caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Some people have died from these infections. Olumiant can make you more likely to get infections or make them worse. Your doctor should test for TB before starting Olumiant and watch for TB symptoms during treatment. You should not start Olumiant if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor tells you it is okay. While taking Olumiant, tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of an infection, such as:
- fever, sweating, or chills
- muscle aches
- cough
- shortness of breath
- blood in phlegm
- weight loss
- warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
- diarrhea or stomach pain
- burning with urination or urinating more often than normal
- feeling tired
Cancer and immune system problems. Olumiant may increase your risk of lymphoma and other cancers, including skin cancers.
Blood clots in the veins of your legs or lungs. This may be life-threatening and cause death. While taking Olumiant, tell your doctor right away if you have any signs and symptoms of blood clots, including swelling, pain or tenderness in the leg, sudden chest pain, or shortness of breath.
Tears in the stomach or intestines. This happens most often in people who also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or methotrexate. While taking Olumiant, tell your doctor right away if you have fever and stomach-area pain that does not go away, and a change in bowel habits.
Changes in laboratory test results. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your white and red blood cells before and while you are taking Olumiant. Your doctor should also check certain liver tests. You should not take Olumiant if your blood cell counts are too low or your liver tests are too high. If your results change, your doctor may pause your treatment with Olumiant. Your doctor should also check your cholesterol approximately 12 weeks after you start this medicine and as needed after that.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

The most common side effects of Olumiant include:

upper respiratory tract infections, such as a cold or sinus infections
nausea

cold sores
shingles

These are not all the possible side effects of Olumiant. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

BEFORE USING

Before you use Olumiant, tell your doctor if you:

Are being treated for an infection, have an infection that won’t go away or keeps coming back, or think you have symptoms of an infection.
Have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
Have had hepatitis B or C, cancer, or blood clots in the veins of your legs or lungs.
Live, have lived, or have visited parts of the country that increase your risk of fungal infections. These may include the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and the Southwest. Ask your doctor if you do not know if you have lived in an area where these infections are common.
Have other medical conditions, including kidney or liver problems, low blood cell counts, diabetes, lung disease, HIV, or a weak immune system.
Have any stomach-area pain or have been diagnosed with inflammation in the large intestine or ulcers in your stomach or intestines.
Have recently received or plan to receive a vaccine. People taking Olumiant should not receive live vaccines.
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not take Olumiant and breastfeed.
Are taking other medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor, if you take a medicine called probenecid or any other medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis. For example, you should not take any of the following medicines while taking Olumiant since this may increase your risk of infection:
- tocilizumab (Actemra^®)
- etanercept (Enbrel^®)
- adalimumab (Humira^®)
- infliximab (Remicade^®)
- rituximab (Rituxan^®)
- abatacept (Orencia^®)
- anakinra (Kineret^®)
- certolizumab pegol (Cimzia^®)
- golimumab (Simponi^®)
- tofacitinib (Xeljanz^®/Xeljanz XR^®)
- sarilumab (Kevzara^®)
- azathioprine or cyclosporine
Are under age 18. It is not known if Olumiant is safe and effective in children.

HOW TO TAKE

Take Olumiant exactly as your doctor says.
Take Olumiant once a day with or without food.

LEARN MORE

For more information, call 1-800-545-5979.

This summary provides basic information about Olumiant but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about Olumiant and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if Olumiant is right for you.

Olumiant^® is a registered trademark owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective trademark owners.

BA CON BS 01JUL2019

Please click to access full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning about Serious Infections, Malignancies, and Thrombosis, and Medication Guide.