Approved Uses Otezla® (apremilast) is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with:

  • Plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate.
  • Active psoriatic arthritis.
  • Oral ulcers associated with Behçet’s Disease.

What is plaque psoriasis?

Many people think of plaque psoriasis as a condition that causes red skin, but it’s actually a chronic autoimmune disease that starts inside the body.

The immune system and psoriasis

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake.

When people develop psoriasis, it’s because the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells.

Learn about how Otezla works to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

While there’s no cure for plaque psoriasis, Otezla can help you achieve clearer skin.

Plaque psoriasis causes a variety of symptoms

  • Plaque psoriasis appears on the skin as raised, red patches covered with a silvery buildup of dead skin cells
  • Patches are often silvery white, flaky, and scaly—and can be itchy and painful
  • It most commonly appears on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp
  • It can also appear on the hands, feet, eyelids, ears, mouth, and lips
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SCALP

ELBOW

BACK

KNEES

HAND

NAIL

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Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

Plaque psoriasis symptoms

  • Plaque psoriasis appears on the skin as raised, red patches covered with a silvery buildup of dead skin cells
  • Patches are often white, flaky, and scaly—and can be itchy and painful
  • It most commonly appears on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp
  • It can also appear on the hands, feet, eyelids, ears, mouth and lips
Track your symptoms
VIEW PHOTOS OF PSORIASIS SYMPTOMS

KNEE

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

SCALP

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

BACK

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

ELBOW

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

HANDS

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

NAIL

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have.

Did you know?

Up to 30% of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in and around the joints.

Clicking the link below will bring you to the website on how Otezla works, specifically for people with psoriatic arthritis.

Otezla for psoriatic arthritis

Important Safety Information

You must not take Otezla if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla.

Otezla can cause allergic reactions, sometimes severe. Stop using Otezla and call your healthcare provider or seek emergency help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing or swallowing, raised bumps (hives), rash or itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or arms.

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 complications from having severe 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.

The most common side effects of Otezla include diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, 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.

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.

APPROVED USES

Otezla® (apremilast) is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with:

  • Plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate.
  • Active psoriatic arthritis.
  • Oral ulcers associated with Behçet’s Disease.
Important Safety Information

You must not take Otezla if you are allergic to apremilast or to any of the ingredients in Otezla.

Otezla can cause allergic reactions, sometimes severe. Stop using Otezla and call your healthcare provider or seek emergency help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing or swallowing, raised bumps (hives), rash or itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or arms.

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