What it is used for
- Treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in people who need systemic treatment
- Reducing itch and skin inflammation when topical treatments are unsuitable or insufficient, after specialist assessment
How it is used
- Take the tablet as prescribed by the dermatologist at a consistent time, with or without food, and swallow it whole with water
- Do not crush, split or chew the tablet, and do not change the amount or stop treatment yourself
- Continue moisturisers and topical treatments recommended by your doctor and do not add an immune-suppressing medicine without approval
- Carry the patient alert card and attend blood-count, lipid and infection checks when scheduled
Possible side effects
- Nausea, upper-abdominal pain or vomiting
- Headache or dizziness
- Acne or inflamed hair follicles
- Infections such as herpes simplex, shingles or respiratory infection
- Changes in blood cells, blood fats or muscle enzymes
Who should not use it
- An active serious systemic infection, including active tuberculosis
- Severe liver disease
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Allergy to abrocitinib or any tablet ingredient
Before and while using it
- Tell your doctor immediately about fever, persistent cough, painful urination or an infected wound; a doctor-directed temporary interruption may be needed
- Tuberculosis, hepatitis and blood counts require screening before treatment and monitoring during it, with latent tuberculosis treated according to plan
- Get urgent care for leg pain or swelling, chest pain, breathlessness, sudden weakness or speech difficulty; these may be a clot or major heart problem
- Your doctor discusses alternatives if you are older, a current or former long-term smoker, or have cardiovascular or cancer risk
- Cancer risk, including skin cancer, may rise; check your skin and report a lump, non-healing sore or new change
- Do not receive a live vaccine during treatment, and review needed vaccines before starting
Medicine interactions
- Strong immunosuppressants, biologic medicines and other Janus-kinase inhibitors can increase infection risk and are not usually combined with it
- Certain antifungals, antibiotics and epilepsy medicines can alter abrocitinib levels and require a treatment review
- Antiplatelet or blood-thinning medicines may increase bleeding, particularly if platelet counts are low
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- It must not be used in pregnancy; use effective contraception during treatment and for the period stated in the leaflet after stopping, and tell your doctor immediately if pregnancy occurs
- Do not breastfeed during treatment
How to store it
- Keep tablets in the original pack away from moisture and out of children's reach
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.