Apoquel: What Is It? Is it Safe for Humans?

What is Apoquel® for dogs? 

Apoquel® is the brand name for a prescription medication called oclacitinib. This medication is known as a JAK inhibitor because it blocks an enzyme called janus kinase (JAK), which is responsible for activating many different bodily responses, especially within the immune system.

Oclacitinib specifically blocks the JAK-1 type enzymes responsible for inflammation and allergic reactions. For this reason, it is used for the treatment of allergic itching conditions. Apoquel® is only approved for use in dogs.  Other medications used for the management of skin itchiness in dogs include glucocorticoids, modified cyclosporine, lokivetmab (Cytopoint® injection), antihistamines, and essential fatty acids.

Can humans take Apoquel®?

Oclacitinib is not indicated for use in humans. There are other medications similar to oclacitinib that were created for use in humans, which affect the body in slightly different ways. These similar medications are known as “tinibs” because their drug names all end in “tinib.” 

“Tinibs” are used in humans to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. One member of this group, baricitinib, was approved for emergency use by the FDA for use in children ages 2-18 years old to decrease inflammation due to COVID-19 infections. This specific use has not been approved for other drugs in the “tinib” class. Baricitinib is only used in severe COVID-19 cases where a patient requires oxygen treatment due to inflammation in the lungs and has a severe immune response to the infection. This is not a medication that would be prescribed and used for patients who are not hospitalized. Medications in this class should not be substituted for one another, as each is formulated to treat specific illnesses. They are not interchangeable.

Can Apoquel® treat COVID-19 infections in humans?

No. Apoquel® is not indicated or approved for use in humans. This medication is only approved for use in dogs. The medical use in dogs is to treat itching and inflammation, not COVID-19 infection.  

What to do if someone accidentally takes Apoquel®?

There is no antidote for oclacitinib. Overdose symptoms are treated individually. There is no antidote. In order to minimize the risk of accidental ingestion, it is recommended to deliver the dose to your dog immediately upon unwrapping the medication from the package. If oclacitinib is accidentally ingested, it is recommended to obtain medical advice from a physician and/or to call Poison Control. Help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

What are the side effects of oclacitinib?

JAK inhibitors are very effective targeted medications. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are among the most common side effects experienced by dogs. Less frequent side effects include cancer and blood disorders. FDA has issued warnings about serious side effects with other medications in this class including risk of severe heart-related events, cancer, blood clots and death. Oclacitinib is similar to these medications, so caution is advised when using it. Studies in dogs did find oclacitinib should not be used in dogs who have a history of neoplasms, mange, or impaired immune systems.  In dogs with cancer, this medication did make the condition worse in some cases.

Oclacitinib is not indicated for dogs 12 months of age and younger or less than 3 kg bodyweight. It is also not regarded as safe to use in pregnant or lactating dogs, or in breeding dogs.

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