Active Psoriatic Arthritis:
Active Psoriatic Arthritis:
Plaque Psoriasis:
Oral Ulcers Associated with Behçet’s Disease:
Otezla is a needle-free option with no initial or routine blood tests required.
Otezla treats inside the body, where inflammation starts.
We know helping someone you care for begin a new treatment can be scary.
Let’s go over what you can expect in the first few weeks so you can feel more comfortable
and confident as your child gets started.
With no initial or routine blood tests required, your child can get started on treatment right away.
Otezla is a pill with dosing options for children.
After completing their sample pack:
After completing their sample pack:
When your child starts on treatment, they will slowly increase their dose over the first 5 days of treatment until they reach the recommended dose. This is known as titration.†,‡
| Body Weight | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 & Beyond | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| >110 lbs |
AM | 10 mg | 10 mg | 10 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | 30 mg |
OR 75 mg Otezla Extended-Release |
| PM | - | 10 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | 30 mg | 30 mg | ||
| 44 lbs to <110 lbs |
AM | 10 mg | 10 mg | 10 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | |
| PM | - | 10 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | 20 mg | ||
Kids and teens with severe kidney disease will follow a different dosing schedule.
You can give Otezla or Otezla Extended-Release with or without food— whichever works best for your child. The tablet should be swallowed whole and should not be crushed, split, or chewed. Otezla should be stored below 86° F and Otezla Extended-Release should be stored between 68° F and 77° F.
When taking Otezla Extended-Release, you may sometimes see part of the tablet in your child’s stool. This is not a cause for concern, this is the outer shell of the tablet. By the time you see it, the medicine inside has already been absorbed by the body.
†Pediatric patients with severe kidney disease: for initial dosage titration, it is recommended that Otezla be titrated using only the AM schedule shown above for appropriate body weight category and that the PM doses be skipped. From day 6 on, for pediatric patients weighing more than 110 lbs, reduce dosage to 30 mg once daily. For pediatric patients weighing 44 lbs to less than 110 lbs, reduce dosage to 20 mg once daily.
‡Otezla Extended-Release is not recommended for pediatric patients with severe renal impairment.
As with any treatment, your child may experience side effects.
The safety profile of Otezla in pediatric patients was established in a clinical study of 245 moderate to severe plaque psoriasis patients 6+. The most common side effects are seen below.
| Most common side effects (up to week 16) | Otezla 163 patients | Placebo 80 patients |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea | 32 (20%) | 8 (10%) |
| Nausea | 32 (20%) | 2 (3%) |
| Abdominal Pain | 32 (20%) | 8 (10%) |
| Vomiting | 29 (18%) | 2 (3%) |
| Headache | 17 (10%) | 4 (5%) |
| Fever | 10 (6%) | 1 (1%) |
| Common Cold | 10 (6%) | 3 (4%) |
| Upper Abdominal Pain | 9 (6%) | 4 (5%) |
Ask your doctor about potential side effects, and be sure to let them know about any side effects that bother your child or don’t go away as they may be able to help manage it.
So, you and your doctor have decided Otezla is right for your child. Here’s what happens next.
The Otezla Co-Pay* Program may help eligible patients with commercial insurance pay as little as
$0 out of pocket for Otezla per month. Caregivers of kids and teens 18 and under can contact
Amgen® SupportPlus at 1-844-4OTEZLA (1-844-468-3952) to complete enrollment,
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM ET.
*Eligibility criteria and program maximums apply. See AmgenSupportPlus.com/copay-terms for full Terms and Conditions.
Enroll in the Otezla Co-Pay Program to pay as little as $0*
Call 1-844-4OTEZLA (1-844-468-3952) to complete enrollment, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM ET.
Receive your digital co-pay card immediately by email
Screenshot, save & share your co-pay card information for when your specialty pharmacy contacts you
Don’t miss the call from your specialty pharmacy
Once your doctor has given your prescription to a specialty pharmacy, they will call you to arrange delivery of Otezla
The ONLY way to receive your Otezla is to answer the specialty pharmacy’s call, so save them as a contact in your phone
Your Otezla will be on its way to your door
Whether you are considering Otezla for your child, or they’re just beginning treatment,
Get even more information about Otezla, how it works, and getting started with treatment. All in a downloadable brochure.
With the help from a dedicated Nurse Partner†, savings offers on Otezla and more, you'll never have to do it alone.
Call 1-844-4OTEZLA (1-844-468-3952)
to enroll
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM ET.
†Amgen® Nurse Partners are not part of your treatment team and do not provide medical advice, nursing, or case management services. Patients should always consult their healthcare provider regarding medical decisions or treatment concerns.
Do not take Otezla 30 mg tablets or Otezla XR 75 mg extended-release tablets if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla/Otezla XR
Otezla/Otezla XR can cause serious side effects, including:
Some medicines may make Otezla/Otezla XR less effective and should not be taken with Otezla/Otezla XR. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines.
The most common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, tension headache, and headache. These are not all the possible side effects with Otezla/Otezla XR. 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.
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 the Full Prescribing Information for Otezla/Otezla XR.
Prescription Otezla® /Otezla XRTM (apremilast) is used for the treatment of:
Active Psoriatic Arthritis:
Plaque Psoriasis:
Oral Ulcers Associated with Behçet’s Disease:
Do not take Otezla 30 mg tablets or Otezla XR 75 mg extended-release tablets if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla/Otezla XR.
Otezla/Otezla XR can cause serious side effects, including:
