Olumiant

What is this medication? Olumiant is the brand name for baricitinib, a prescription medicine that belongs to a class of drugs known as Janus kinase inhibitors. It is primarily used to treat adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis when other treatments like tumor necrosis factor blockers have not worked well or cannot be tolerated. Additionally, the medication is approved to treat adults with severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes significant hair loss. In certain clinical settings, it is also used for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 in hospitalized adults who require supplemental oxygen or advanced respiratory support.

The medication works by interfering with specific pathways inside the body's cells to block proteins called enzymes. By inhibiting these enzymes, Olumiant helps to reduce the inflammation and overactive immune response responsible for symptoms like joint pain, swelling, and hair loss. It is typically taken as an oral tablet once daily. Because it affects the immune system, healthcare providers usually monitor patients for potential side effects such as serious infections, blood clots, or changes in cholesterol levels during the course of treatment.