Baricitinib

Common side effects of Baricitinib includes:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Take the medication with or after food if you experience nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, severe sore throat
• Urinary tract infections

Inform your doctor if any side effect persists, if you are unable to tolerate them or if the side effects become serious.

Baricitinib may reduce your body's ability to fight against infection. You should consult a doctor immediately if you develop a fever or feel unwell. Inform the doctor whom you consult that you are taking Baricitinib as the medication may need to be stopped while you are having an infection.

You may need to have regular blood tests to monitor your blood counts and cholesterol levels when on Baricitinib.

Rare but serious effects Include:

• Signs of liver problems like dark or tea-coloured urine, yellowing of the eye whites or skin
• Signs of stomach ulcer like black tarry stools, vomiting coffee ground material, severe stomach pain.
• Signs of blood clots in the lung, heart or legs like shortness of breath. sudden onset of leg swelling or severe chest pain.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult your healthcare professional immediately.

• Avoid crowded places and direct contact with any sick person
• Do not consume raw or undercooked food

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• The medication should be stopped for at least 1 month prior to conceiving.
• If you are a woman of childbearing age, you should use effective birth control during treatment on Baricitinib and for at least one week (ideally 1 month) after the last dose.
• Breastfeeding is not recommendled while on this medication
• You have a history of:
  • Kidney or liver or stomach conditions
  • Tuberculosis
  • Hepatitis 8 or Hepatitis C
  • Cancer
• You have infections or low blood counts.
• You are planning to receive any vaccines and you must avoid any live vaccinations.

Avoid eating raw, undercooked or half-cooked food.

Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other medications as they may interact with Baricitinib. These include:

• Over-the-counter medications
• Nutritional supplements
• Traditional or herbal remedies

Pneumococcal. influenza (flu) and Hepatitis B vaccinations are safe and may be given if required. Avoid live vaccines such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), OPV (oral polio vaccine), yellow fever or BCG (tuberculosis). Discuss with yovr doctor before receiving any vaccines.

Your doctor will prescribe a suitable dose for you.

You may take the medication with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole, do not crush or chew.

Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.