Otezla (apremilast) is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate.
Otezla is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
Treat plaque psoriasis differently
Treat psoriatic arthritis differently
*Certain restrictions apply. *Certain restrictions apply; eligibility not based on income.
Otezla® (apremilast) is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate.
Otezla is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
You must not take Otezla if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla.
Otezla can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, especially within the first few weeks of treatment. Use in elderly patients and the use of certain medications with Otezla appears to increase the risk of having diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Tell your doctor if any of these conditions occur.
Otezla is associated with an increase in depression. In clinical studies, some patients reported depression, or suicidal behavior while taking Otezla. Some patients stopped taking Otezla due to depression. Before starting Otezla, tell your doctor if you have had feelings of depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior. Be sure to tell your doctor if any of these symptoms or other mood changes develop or worsen during treatment with Otezla.
Some patients taking Otezla lost body weight. Your doctor should monitor your weight regularly. If unexplained or significant weight loss occurs, your doctor will decide if you should continue taking Otezla.
Some medicines may make Otezla less effective, and should not be taken with Otezla. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines.
Side effects of Otezla include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection, runny nose, sneezing, or congestion, abdominal pain, tension headache, and headache. These are not all the possible side effects with Otezla. Ask your doctor about other potential side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or planning to breastfeed. Otezla has not been studied in pregnant women or in women who are breastfeeding.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-332-1088.
Please click here for Full Prescribing Information.
We asked a few people who take Otezla for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis to share their experiences around living with the condition, working with their doctor, and ultimately choosing Otezla. Watch and read their stories below.
Remember: Not everyone responds to Otezla, and those who do respond may respond differently. The stories below may be different from your own.
Cory’s psoriasis threatened to put a stop to his musical life on the road. Thankfully, switching his psoriasis medication to Otezla helped his career stay on track.
Watch his storyErrin is a published historian who didn’t want psoriasis to get in her way.
Read Errin’s storyErrin is a published historian and doctoral candidate in European history. She’s also a dancer, softball player, wife, and dog owner. In other words, Errin leads a busy life—which is why she didn’t want plaque psoriasis to get in her way.
Errin started with topical treatments, but they weren’t right for her—between the time commitment and the results she experienced, they just weren’t worth it. Phototherapy and laser therapy worked for a while, but her plaques would always come back.
After seeing a commercial for Otezla, Errin was intrigued; she liked that Otezla is a pill that works differently. “I knew there were potential side effects, but I still wanted to talk to my doctor about Otezla. I immediately called my dermatologist’s office to schedule an appointment.”
“I met with my dermatologist, and together, we decided that Otezla would be a good fit for me.”
Finally, Errin feels like she’s gained some of her confidence back. After taking Otezla for over a year now, she is satisfied with the results. As she puts it,
“Everyone will have different results, but personally, Otezla is working for me.”
Bob’s plaque psoriasis interfered with his passion for riding motorcycles.
Read Bob’s storyBeing on the bike, open road ahead of him, is one of the only things, Bob says, that makes him feel free.
His plaque psoriasis, on the other hand, makes him feel the opposite. He’s had it for years, and as much as he wishes it wasn’t, psoriasis is a big part of Bob’s life. His symptoms first started in his mid 30s, following his divorce. As a single dad, he found himself taking his daughters to their social activities, including the local pool. At first, he thought nothing of it.
Then one day, one of the girls said, “What is that on your back?” Sure enough, Bob had red, scaly patches on both his back and his arms.
“I started to wear a t-shirt to cover up whenever I went to the pool.”
By the time he was in his 40s, Bob noticed the patches were getting larger, and were also appearing on his elbows and knees. At first, he thought it was just irritation, and for the most part, he ignored it—but he couldn’t ignore the reactions of those around him, especially children, who looked at him like he was a monster.
“Red and scaly skin could be intimidating to people, especially children.”
Bob’s father had lived with psoriasis for years, and as soon as he saw the patches on Bob’s skin, he told him what it was, and recommended he see a dermatologist. So Bob made an appointment, and got the diagnosis that confirmed his suspicions: he had plaque psoriasis.
“My initial reaction was, ‘Why is mine so much worse than my dad’s?’”
His dermatologist put him on topical creams and scheduled him for UV light therapy, which he tried for a little while. Then he tried other oral treatments, but had trouble finding one that worked for him. By the time he was 50, he felt like he’d tried it all—so his doctor recommended injections. Frustrated, Bob agreed to give them a try. While they worked for a little while, Bob wasn’t satisfied with the results.
“I wasn’t a big fan of either of those treatments.”
He started doing research online, determined to find a different treatment. That’s how he stumbled upon Otezla® (apremilast). He asked his dermatologist about Otezla, and she told him it wasn’t an injection or a biologic, but instead, a pill he’d take twice a day. Bob’s dermatologist mentioned that the Otezla Prescribing Information has no requirement for ongoing lab monitoring or initial lab testing, and discussed the risks and benefits of Otezla.
Bob and his dermatologist decided he should try it. After taking Otezla for 4 months, Bob noticed that his skin was looking clearer. Finally, he’d found a treatment that worked for him. Now, when he hops onto his bike, it’s not to escape his psoriasis. As he says, “I ride because I want to—and finding a treatment that worked for me was one of the things that got me to this point.”
Christy was a shy child, and as a teenager, struggled with her body image.
Read Christy’s storyWhen her symptoms first appeared, Christy did some research online, and narrowed it down to eczema or psoriasis—so when her dermatologist delivered the diagnosis, Christy wasn’t surprised.
“I knew psoriasis was something I’d always have to live with.”
Christy’s dermatologist prescribed a steroid cream, which cleared up a plaque on her ankle—but her plaque psoriasis continued to spread, first to her legs, then to her elbows and arms.
“I tried not to focus on how bad it might get, and tried to take life day by day.”
As Christy’s symptoms worsened, her confidence dropped. She stopped wearing shorts and dresses, covering her plaques with long sleeves. When her peers at work made hurtful comments, asking if her symptoms were contagious, she didn’t challenge them.
“I let my desire to hide hold me back from my life. My world was shrinking.”
In addition to creams, Christy tried laser and tanning treatments, but nothing gave her the results she was looking for. She asked her dermatologist what else she could try, and he told her about Otezla. Christy decided she was ready for something different.
“I jumped at the opportunity to try a different treatment.”
Although it took some time, Christy’s symptoms improved. After 4 months on Otezla, her plaques became clearer. For the first month, she had an upset stomach and nausea, but these symptoms have become less frequent over time.
After joining an online support group, Christy was inspired to talk about her struggles with psoriasis, and to share her story as an ambassador for Otezla. Though she still has insecurities, she’s learned not to let them consume her. Instead, Christy has learned to focus on the positive.
“Don’t focus on the negatives of psoriasis. Focus on what you can do to manage it.”
Jennifer's plaque psoriasis symptoms made her self-conscious. With Otezla, she's living differently.
Watch her storyOtezla isn’t an injection, biologic, or cream.
It’s different—it’s a pill.
*Certain restrictions apply. *Certain restrictions apply; eligibility not based on income.
Otezla® (apremilast) is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate.
Otezla is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
You must not take Otezla if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla.
Otezla can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, especially within the first few weeks of treatment. Use in elderly patients and the use of certain medications with Otezla appears to increase the risk of having diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Tell your doctor if any of these conditions occur.
Otezla is associated with an increase in depression. In clinical studies, some patients reported depression, or suicidal behavior while taking Otezla. Some patients stopped taking Otezla due to depression. Before starting Otezla, tell your doctor if you have had feelings of depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior. Be sure to tell your doctor if any of these symptoms or other mood changes develop or worsen during treatment with Otezla.
Some patients taking Otezla lost body weight. Your doctor should monitor your weight regularly. If unexplained or significant weight loss occurs, your doctor will decide if you should continue taking Otezla.
Some medicines may make Otezla less effective, and should not be taken with Otezla. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines.
Side effects of Otezla include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection, runny nose, sneezing, or congestion, abdominal pain, tension headache, and headache. These are not all the possible side effects with Otezla. Ask your doctor about other potential side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or planning to breastfeed. Otezla has not been studied in pregnant women or in women who are breastfeeding.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-332-1088.
Please click here for Full Prescribing Information.
You must not take Otezla if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla.
Otezla can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, especially within the first few weeks of treatment. Use in elderly patients and the use of certain medications with Otezla appears to increase the risk of having diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Tell your doctor if any of these conditions occur.
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