How Otezla® (apremilast) Works for Plaque Psoriasis
Indications
Approved Uses Otezla® (apremilast) is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with:
  • Plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate. Read more >
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. Read less >

How does

Otezla work?

The exact way in which Otezla helps improve
symptoms isn’t completely understood.

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Otezla treats plaque psoriasis where it starts

Below, see how Otezla works from the inside out to reduce inflammation in your immune system.

Cell growth speeds up
In plaque psoriasis, the immune system becomes overactive, causing cell growth to speed up and form plaques on the skin.
PDE4 enzyme
An enzyme called PDE4 that lives inside immune
cells is believed to play a
role in this rapid cell growth.
Plaque psoriasis patches and plaques on arm
Otezla works to reduce PDE4 activity which means less inflammation and fewer plaque psoriasis symptoms.

Otezla helps to treat plaque psoriasis—whether you have a little or a lot.

PDE4, phosphodiesterase 4.

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See results

Otezla can help you achieve clearer skin after just 4 months.
TAKE A LOOK
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What to expect on Otezla

Find out about managing side effects, seeing results, and more.
GET THE DETAILS
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How Otezla works

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HOW OTEZLA WORKS

Approved Use

Otezla® (apremilast) is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate.

How Otezla Works

Plaque psoriasis is caused by an overactive immune system. One of the key players in this process is an enzyme in skin and immune cells called PDE4. An overactive immune system triggers inflammation inside the body which causes skin cells to multiply rapidly and build up outside. While the exact way in which Otezla helps improve symptoms isn’t completely understood, we do know it works inside cells targeting PDE4 to help reduce inflammation. And less inflammation inside can mean clearer skin on the outside.

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 see the Full Prescribing Information for Otezla by clicking the link at the top of the page.

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,