Olumiant (baricitinib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to:

Olumiant comes as an oral tablet. It’s not available as a generic.

Olumiant belongs to a class of medications known as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. JAK inhibitors are part of a group of drugs known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Dosage summary

The following chart summarizes Olumiant’s dosage. Milligrams is abbreviated as mg. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Olumiant formOlumiant strengthsTypical dosage
oral tablet1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg• 2 mg per day for RA
• 2 mg or 4 mg per day for alopecia areata
• 4 mg per day for COVID-19

For information about the dosage of Olumiant, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Olumiant, including details about its uses, see this article.

This article describes typical dosages for Olumiant provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Olumiant, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Here’s some information about Olumiant’s dosage.

Olumiant form

Olumiant comes as an oral tablet.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, Olumiant can be taken in other ways. This is most often done for severe COVID-19 treatment. See “How to take Olumiant” below for details.

Olumiant strengths

Olumiant is available in three strengths: 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg, and 4 mg.

Typical dosage

The following information describes the dosage that’s commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for rheumatoid arthritis

The typical dosage of Olumiant for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is 2 mg per day.

Your doctor may prescribe Olumiant alone or in combination with certain disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for RA. An example of these DMARDs is methotrexate (Trexall, Otrexup). Olumiant is a type of DMARD.

Dosage for alopecia areata

Olumiant may be prescribed in a dosage of 2 mg per day or 4 mg per day for severe alopecia areata.

If your doctor starts you on the 2-mg dose, they may raise your dose to 4 mg if the lower dose doesn’t work well enough.

If you have complete or nearly complete hair loss on your scalp, your doctor may start your Olumiant treatment with a 4-mg dose. If the drug helps your hair grow, your dose might be lowered to 2 mg per day.

Dosage for COVID-19

The recommended Olumiant dosage for severe COVID-19 treatment is 4 mg per day. Olumiant is given with breathing assistance, as part of in-hospital treatment for COVID-19.

Long-term treatment

Olumiant is meant to be used as a long-term treatment for alopecia areata and RA. If you and your doctor determine that Olumiant is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

For COVID-19, Olumiant is taken for 14 days or until you are discharged from the hospital, whichever is sooner.

The Olumiant dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • your levels of white blood cells
  • your level of hemoglobin (a type of protein in red blood cells)
  • how well your kidneys are working
  • how well your liver is working
  • if you take a type of drug called an organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) inhibitor, such as probenecid (Probalan)
  • which condition you’re taking Olumiant for and how severe it is

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Olumiant dosage.

Dosage adjustments

If you have moderate renal (kidney) problems, your doctor will likely decrease your dose of Olumiant to 1 milligram (mg). This is referred to as a renal dose. If you have severe kidney problems, your doctor will not likely recommend Olumiant.

If you miss a dose of Olumiant, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as usual. You should not double up on doses to make up for a missed dose. Taking multiple doses at once can increase your risk of side effects.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

Olumiant comes as an oral tablet that you swallow. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In some cases, Olumiant can be given in other ways besides swallowing the tablet.

If recommended by your doctor, you can dissolve Olumiant tablets in water and drink the solution. After drinking it, you should swish some water around in the cup, and drink that water too. This is to make sure you swallow your whole prescribed dose. Follow the specific instructions from your doctor about how to do this. You should not crush Olumiant tablets unless your doctor recommends doing this.

Healthcare professionals can also give Olumiant through a tube that’s placed in your stomach, mouth, or nose. This is typically done if needed for COVID-19 treatment.

You‘ll take Olumiant once daily, with or without food. Try to take it at the same time every day. This helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body so Olumiant can work effectively.

Accessible drug labels and containers

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Olumiant in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

It’s important that you do not take more Olumiant than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Olumiant

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Olumiant. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Olumiant for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Olumiant without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Olumiant that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Olumiant. These additional articles might be helpful to you:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.