UPADACITINIB

72/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by AbbVie Inc.

Upadacitinib Adverse Events: Pain and Infections Most Common

110,317 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About UPADACITINIB

UPADACITINIB is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by AbbVie Inc.. Based on analysis of 110,317 FDA adverse event reports, UPADACITINIB has a safety score of 72 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for UPADACITINIB include PAIN, ARTHRALGIA, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, COVID-19, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for UPADACITINIB.

AI Safety Analysis

Upadacitinib has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100, placing it in the elevated concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 110,317 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Abbvie Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Pain, Arthralgia, Drug Ineffective. Of classified reports, 66.3% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Pain-related reactions are the most frequent, with arthralgia and pain in extremities being the top complaints.

Serious adverse events, particularly infections and falls, are concerning, making up over 66% of reports. The majority of reactions are non-serious, but the diversity of reactions indicates a broad safety profile.

Patients taking Upadacitinib should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Upadacitinib is associated with various musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal side effects, and patients should be monitored for signs of infection and falls. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 72/100

Upadacitinib received a safety concern score of 72/100 (elevated concern). This is based on a 66.3% serious event ratio across 72,777 classified reports. The score accounts for 110,317 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This elevated score indicates a notable proportion of serious adverse events and warrants careful monitoring.

Top Adverse Reactions

PAIN4,942 reports
ARTHRALGIA4,342 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE4,175 reports
COVID 193,131 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS3,037 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY2,575 reports
FATIGUE2,433 reports
FALL2,255 reports
SURGERY2,204 reports
HEADACHE1,792 reports
THERAPY INTERRUPTED1,783 reports
PNEUMONIA1,779 reports
DEATH1,630 reports
BACK PAIN1,598 reports
DIARRHOEA1,583 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING1,583 reports
NAUSEA1,567 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION1,567 reports
ILLNESS1,488 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS1,478 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,461 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS1,426 reports
MALAISE1,424 reports
RASH1,384 reports
DYSPNOEA1,359 reports
ACNE1,325 reports
PYREXIA1,298 reports
JOINT SWELLING1,284 reports
KNEE ARTHROPLASTY1,261 reports
INFECTION1,191 reports
HERPES ZOSTER1,177 reports
DIZZINESS1,167 reports
PRURITUS1,134 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED1,115 reports
COUGH1,067 reports
VOMITING1,047 reports
ARTHRITIS1,046 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE1,037 reports
INFLUENZA1,035 reports
ASTHENIA1,005 reports
SINUSITIS978 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN935 reports
CATARACT931 reports
SPINAL OPERATION931 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED915 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE907 reports
OSTEOARTHRITIS868 reports
COLITIS ULCERATIVE861 reports
CROHN^S DISEASE861 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT DECREASED856 reports
INFLAMMATION849 reports
UNEVALUABLE EVENT847 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED829 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER813 reports
HYPERTENSION807 reports
CHEST PAIN804 reports
BLOOD CHOLESTEROL INCREASED767 reports
ARTHROPATHY758 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED751 reports
SWELLING714 reports
HIP ARTHROPLASTY712 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER702 reports
DERMATITIS ATOPIC697 reports
SEPSIS686 reports
LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES658 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA655 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS614 reports
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED609 reports
ANAEMIA607 reports
KNEE OPERATION606 reports
HOSPITALISATION602 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS602 reports
THROMBOSIS598 reports
PSORIASIS587 reports
GAIT INABILITY577 reports
ALOPECIA571 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL566 reports
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT549 reports
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS546 reports
NEOPLASM MALIGNANT545 reports
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION544 reports
CONSTIPATION529 reports
INSOMNIA522 reports
BRONCHITIS516 reports
PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY514 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT509 reports
DECREASED APPETITE506 reports
ERYTHEMA506 reports
CONTUSION504 reports
ECZEMA503 reports
NEPHROLITHIASIS500 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER481 reports
JOINT RANGE OF MOTION DECREASED477 reports
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION476 reports
PRODUCT RESIDUE PRESENT475 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM470 reports
DEPRESSION466 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY466 reports
SKIN CANCER457 reports
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN440 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Pain and arthralgia are the most reported reactions.
  • Serious events such as pneumonia, death, and falls are notable.
  • A wide range of reactions, including infections, falls, and musculoskeletal issues, are reported.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 48,021, Male: 20,013, Unknown: 11. The most frequently reported age groups are age 63 (1,240 reports), age 60 (1,218 reports), age 61 (1,215 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 72,777 classified reports for UPADACITINIB:

  • Serious: 48,271 reports (66.3%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 24,506 reports (33.7%)
Serious 66.3%Non-Serious 33.7%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female48,021 (70.6%)
Male20,013 (29.4%)
Unknown11 (0.0%)

Reports by Age

Age 631,240 reports
Age 601,218 reports
Age 611,215 reports
Age 621,212 reports
Age 641,201 reports
Age 591,138 reports
Age 651,104 reports
Age 581,102 reports
Age 571,029 reports
Age 661,012 reports
Age 67977 reports
Age 68957 reports
Age 69941 reports
Age 55906 reports
Age 70906 reports
Age 56889 reports
Age 54831 reports
Age 71812 reports
Age 53783 reports
Age 52760 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Upadacitinib is associated with various musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal side effects, and patients should be monitored for signs of infection and falls.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Upadacitinib, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include pain, arthralgia, drug ineffective, covid-19, rheumatoid arthritis. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Monitor for signs of infection, particularly in elderly patients. Report any serious adverse events to healthcare providers immediately. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with the FDA requiring post-marketing studies to further evaluate the safety profile of upadacitinib.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Upadacitinib?

The FDA has received approximately 110,317 adverse event reports associated with Upadacitinib. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Upadacitinib?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Upadacitinib include Pain, Arthralgia, Drug Ineffective, Covid-19, Rheumatoid Arthritis. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Pain (4,942 reports), Arthralgia (4,342 reports), Drug Ineffective (4,175 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Upadacitinib.

What percentage of Upadacitinib adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 72,777 classified reports, 48,271 (66.3%) were classified as serious and 24,506 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Upadacitinib (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Upadacitinib break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 48,021, Male: 20,013, Unknown: 11. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Upadacitinib?

The most frequently reported age groups for Upadacitinib adverse events are: age 63: 1,240 reports, age 60: 1,218 reports, age 61: 1,215 reports, age 62: 1,212 reports, age 64: 1,201 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Upadacitinib?

The primary manufacturer associated with Upadacitinib adverse event reports is Abbvie Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Upadacitinib?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Upadacitinib include: Pain In Extremity, Fatigue, Fall, Surgery, Headache. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Upadacitinib?

You can report adverse events from Upadacitinib to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Upadacitinib's safety score and what does it mean?

Upadacitinib has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100 (elevated concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Pain-related reactions are the most frequent, with arthralgia and pain in extremities being the top complaints.

What are the key safety signals for Upadacitinib?

Key safety signals identified in Upadacitinib's adverse event data include: Pain and arthralgia are the most reported reactions.. Serious events such as pneumonia, death, and falls are notable.. A wide range of reactions, including infections, falls, and musculoskeletal issues, are reported.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Upadacitinib interact with other drugs?

Upadacitinib is associated with various musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal side effects, and patients should be monitored for signs of infection and falls. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Upadacitinib.

What should patients know before taking Upadacitinib?

Monitor for signs of infection, particularly in elderly patients. Report any serious adverse events to healthcare providers immediately.

Are Upadacitinib side effects well-documented?

Upadacitinib has 110,317 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Serious adverse events, particularly infections and falls, are concerning, making up over 66% of reports. The volume of reports for Upadacitinib reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Upadacitinib?

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with the FDA requiring post-marketing studies to further evaluate the safety profile of upadacitinib. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to UPADACITINIB based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

AbacavirRitonavirCobicistat
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.