Cibinqo (Abrocitinib)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Cibinqo Used For?
Cibinqo contains abrocitinib, which belongs to a group of medicines called Janus kinase inhibitors. It is specifically designed to treat adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema.
Primary Uses
Cibinqo is used to treat adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema). It can be used alone or with other eczema medicines that you apply to your skin. The medication has been shown to improve skin condition, reduce itching, and help with symptoms of pain, anxiety, and depression associated with atopic dermatitis.
How It Works
Cibinqo works by reducing inflammation and itch in atopic dermatitis. It helps improve sleep disturbance and overall quality of life by targeting the underlying inflammatory processes that cause eczema symptoms.
Good to know: Cibinqo has been shown to improve not just skin symptoms, but also associated pain, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and overall quality of life.
How to Take Cibinqo
Always take Cibinqo exactly as your doctor has told you. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a full glass of water and taken at about the same time each day for best results.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose is either 100 mg or 200 mg once daily, depending on your doctor’s assessment of your treatment needs, how well your condition is controlled, and other medical conditions you have. The maximum daily dose is 200 mg. If you’re taking 200 mg, your doctor will decrease your dose to 100 mg once daily when your condition is well controlled. If you have moderate-to-severe kidney problems or are taking certain other medicines, your dose may be 50 mg or 100 mg once daily. Do not split, crush, chew, or break the tablet before swallowing. It doesn’t matter if you take it before or after food, but taking it with food may help if you experience nausea.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose and it’s more than 12 hours before your next dose is due, take it as soon as you remember, then continue with your normal schedule. If it’s less than 12 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or change the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upper abdominal pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Cold sores
- Acne
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Blood clots in lungs, legs, or pelvis (painful swollen leg, chest pain, shortness of breath)
- Shingles (painful skin rash with blisters and fever)
- Frequent or worrying infections (fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers)
- Cancers, including skin cancers
- Increased cholesterol and cardiovascular disease events
- Rapidly spreading painful rash, blisters or sores (eczema herpeticum)
Important Warnings
Cibinqo carries important safety warnings and should only be used when no other suitable treatment alternatives exist for certain high-risk patients.
Who Should Not Take Cibinqo
Do not use Cibinqo if you are allergic to abrocitinib or any ingredients, have a serious infection including tuberculosis, have severe liver problems, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking antiplatelet therapies (except low-dose aspirin) during the first 3 months of treatment.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have heart disease or risk factors, history of blood clots (DVT or PE), cancer or history of cancer, infections, tuberculosis exposure, herpes/shingles history, hepatitis B or C, liver problems, low platelet count or bleeding disorders, smoke or have smoked, or plan vaccinations. Your doctor will do blood tests before and during treatment to monitor lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, hemoglobin, platelet count, and cholesterol levels.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Cibinqo must not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 1 month after the last dose. The medicine may pass into breast milk.
High-Risk Patients: This medicine should only be used if no other suitable treatments are available for patients with heart disease history, stroke, heart disease risk factors (including current/past smokers), cancer risk factors, or those 65 years and older.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Cibinqo and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, or supplements you’re taking.
- Fluvoxamine (depression medicine)
- Fluconazole (antifungal)
- Rifampin (antibiotic)
- Antiplatelet medicines
- Antacids, famotidine, or omeprazole (stomach acid medicines)
- Dabigatran, clopidogrel (stroke medicines)
- Digoxin (heart failure medicine)
- Phenytoin (seizure medicine)
- Ciclosporin, other Janus kinase inhibitors (baricitinib, upadacitinib)
- Biologic antibody therapies
- Apalutamide, enzalutamide (prostate cancer medicines)
- Efavirenz (HIV medicine)
Alcohol & Driving
Cibinqo has no or negligible influence on your ability to drive and use machines, but you should be careful with alcohol until you know how the medicine affects you.
Alcohol
Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Cibinqo until you know how the medicine affects you. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Cibinqo has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the original pack until it’s time to take them, as they may not keep well if removed from the pack. Store in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Keep out of reach of children and do not use after the expiry date.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Cibinqo, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify exact timing, but Cibinqo works by reducing inflammation and itch in atopic dermatitis. Your doctor will monitor your response and may adjust your dose based on how you respond to treatment.
Yes, it doesn’t matter if you take Cibinqo before or after food. However, if you experience nausea, taking your tablet with food may help improve the nausea.
Do not stop taking Cibinqo suddenly or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor needs to manage any changes to your treatment.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Cibinqo until you know how the medicine affects you. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Patients aged 65 years and older may be at increased risk of infections, heart attack, and some types of cancer. Your doctor may decide that Cibinqo is not suitable for you if you’re in this age group.
If you miss a dose and it’s more than 12 hours before your next dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s less than 12 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose.
Yes, your doctor will do blood tests before you start and while you’re taking Cibinqo to check for low white blood cell counts, low hemoglobin, low platelet count, and increased cholesterol levels.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.