... arthritis. My hands, wrists and finger joints actually hurt more. Don't know if it's the medicine or I'm just getting worse
Otezla - I've been taking it for a few months. The psoriasis has cleared but nothing for the?
Question posted by mjadler77 on 4 June 2014
Last updated on 5 April 2021 by KarrieC
5 Answers
KarrieC
5 April 2021
My doctor put me on cymbalta at the same time and it definitely helps with the pain.
papatterson
18 March 2017
Hi! Otezla is helping me a lot. Here's a few bits of advice for the headache, for me, it was mostly a sinus headache so if I took Mucinex, didn't bother me much. ALSO, here is what really works. I take Otezla after lunch or in the afternoon and don't feel any side effects. Then when my stomach is empty I take it at about midnight. It seems that I get more of a headache, etc. on an empty stomach. Then when I wake up, I feel fine. As far as any swelling, try some potassium. The initial swelling seemed to be more salt related and general fluid retention. Potassium is good at regulating that. Also B complex helps there. Also magnesium is good for the muscles, etc. I have been on a lot of heavy duty meds (got horrible infections when on remicade - though it helped a lot and felt worse on the enbrel so... +other meds for other things). I have found that with many meds, taking the right supplement helps as they seem to deplete some while others a different vitamin.
I only had a little diarrhea and took pepto bismal at first which helped. Also some probiotic is helpful. I didn't have much of a problem there though.
photogal
24 March 2017
Am on day 5 and am just starting to get headache and the runs. Also my head feels strange. Thanks for your advice will try it.
colonel1
25 July 2014
I am about 30 days now. Fairly new to arthritis. Psoriasis gone, most joint pain improved (I think) awakened last night with terrible headache and real bad joint pain... felt like it was coming in flashes... thought, maybe allergic response. I took advil went back to bed (what else can you do) awoke hours later pain gone. Still trying to work through head aches, several a day and diarrhea which is improving somewhat. Everything back to normal this afternoon.
kakebrooke
17 Jan 2015
Started Otezla 6 weeks ago and experienced most of the side effects in first few weeks. Reported to Celgene waking up with every joint in my limbs and hands inflamed and swollen. It was worse than ever, but one or two Advil later it was much better and hasn't returned. My concern is that the scalp psoriasis is not getting better. How long before you saw improvement in the psoriasis and was it in your scalp?
Cesca
19 Jan 2015
Hi! I've been on Otezla for around 5 weeks. Not as good with the pain as Enbrel, which I can't take anymore due to lung infections. I was dealing with the discomfort... it was better than not taking anything! However, I also had a severe flare/up last night & this morning,along with chills. Will take either Advil or Alleve. Re Ur headaches; altho they tell U it doesn't matter if U take Otezla with food or not... I've found if I take it with food, the headaches are not so bad. Good luck!
photogal
11 Feb 2017
Started taking otezla 11 days ago and my side affects are bad. ache all over, headache. upset tummy, hard to sleep without nightmares. Anyone else going through this?
flsmith77
7 July 2014
I've been on Otezla now for 3 weeks and I'm pretty sure my pain and joints are much worse, or I've developed the worse flare I've had in over 15 years. I'm calling my rheumatologist tomorrow and I hate to give him the bad news. He was so sure this drug would actually "cure" me and he never has used that word with me before.
AlaninNJ
4 June 2014
I'm now on it for 7 weeks, I just told my Reumitologist the same thing. Improvements with Psoriasis and my Athritis seems a little worse. Funny thing is it's not FDA approved for Psoriasis yet.
He's confident it will improve in a month or so more.
Good luck, keep posting.
kakebrooke
17 Jan 2015
How many weeks before you first noticed psoriasis improvement? I am in week 6 and no change.
Related topics
psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, medicine, otezla
Further information
- Otezla uses and safety info
- Otezla prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Otezla (detailed)
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