Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Spo...
• June 3, 2020

Otezla (apremilast) "Started Otezla 4 months ago. I had had a strep throat that caused me to develop guttate psoriasis, which I've never had before. That alongside my psoriatic arthritis and regular psoriasis. I was pretty much covered head-to-toe and miserable. After having six months of methotrexate, I really didn't want to be back on a med. The pain from it all got unbearable, so I went in for an appointment and was recommended Otezla because of my concerns with some of the stronger medicines. At first, it felt similar to methotrexate with the nausea and stomach issues, so I was used to that. However, I am now almost 5 months in, and at 40 years old, I feel like my memory is gone. I've never had any issues with my memory or fogginess. I have read that psoriatic arthritis can cause this, so who knows. All I know is that I can't take the nausea, the headaches, the GERD, and I believe severe memory issues. I am discontinuing it."

• kol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 10, 2019

Otezla (apremilast) "I was prescribed this drug after methotrexate caused liver damage. I started it in June 2018 mainly for my psoriatic arthritis. Within the first week, I was able to ditch my cane and could walk on my own, and pain was all but eliminated. That being said, I did have fairly mild side effects for about 2 weeks. I was having bowel movements multiple times a day, and nothing was solid for that 2-week period. I did lose quite a bit of my appetite for about a month or 2. I thankfully did not have any nausea or anything. Flare-ups still caused issues, however, they were much more manageable. That being said, it did nothing for my psoriasis at all, which was a little disappointing. Towards the end of December 2018, the drug has become less effective. I have new joints showing symptoms of arthritis and am going to my specialist this coming Friday to discuss options. While it lasted, it was a miracle drug. I got about 6-7 months of solid relief, hence the 7 rating. Worth a try if your doctor recommends it."

• CGK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2019

Otezla (apremilast) "Just started taking Otezla on March 20th. I started out with the low dosage, and I am now currently at 30 mg twice a day. In 6 days, I have lost 4 pounds, mainly from the diarrhea, and have had some headaches. However, I will keep going with this as I am waking up with no stiffness or pain from the psoriatic arthritis, which is a huge bonus. The only thing I really need to watch is the insomnia. Last night was not a good night for me as I tossed and turned all night, but that very well could be from the prednisone I am also taking, but only for another week or so. I am hopeful Otezla will continue to work for me because I refuse to take biologics that my doctor wanted to put me on."

• lha...
• July 12, 2015

Otezla (apremilast) "I have tried other medications, and nothing worked. This medication started working very quickly. I loved it was oral and not a shot. I was starting to give up and thought I would have to quit working. I was 35 years old with 2 young girls. I was not ready to give up."

• Tri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "I have been on Otezla going on my 4th year. I had plaque psoriasis and swelling of joints. I was nauseous for maybe 2 weeks when I started. My ring finger was a size nine, and now it’s a size five. That’s how much swelling has gone down for me. All my plaque was completely gone by the 3rd month, which included my whole head, my ears, and unmentionable parts! I don’t have depression or any other side effects. For me, this drug is amazing!"

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2015

Otezla (apremilast) "So far, I have had none of the side effects they warn you about. Pain and swelling are reduced. The only downside is that it could take up to 16 weeks to receive the full benefits. Wish it worked quicker."

• Fif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2015

Otezla (apremilast) "I was diagnosed with PA in 2005. Was on MTX, Enbrel, Humira. In 2011, I was taken off the Enbrel because I developed basal cell carcinoma and was told that the BC was from the suppression of my immune system. Now the PA came back with a vengeance in July 2015. I went to my Rheum, and she told me of Otezla and started me on sample packs. She said it does not suppress the immune system, so of course I was so happy. Still, as of today, I am not approved by my ins co. They say I need to try Enbrel, Humira, and Stellara!!!! My Dr is running out of sample packs, and I am livid now because I just got off the phone with the Ins Supervisor, and she said Otezla does suppress the immune system and I should be trying the other 'Preferred Drugs'...HELLO???? HELP."

• nea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "I have had psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for 10 years. I have tried all kinds of creams, nothing has helped. Until this pill! OMG, I'm completely amazed at how much my psoriatic arthritis has improved with this pill. I would cry every day with pain in my joints. The pain I would have in my neck was so bad. This is an amazing pill, and everyone should try it. For my psoriasis, it has helped some, but for my psoriatic arthritis, it has been amazing. Plus, do the $0 copay because my insurance wanted $3,500 a month, and I couldn't do that at all. Thanks so much for this pill! It literally has saved my life from daily pain!"

• Str...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

Otezla (apremilast) "Was on the starter pack of Otezla, progressively ramping up the dose. Nausea, diarrhea, and eventually vomiting as I reached higher doses. I don't think I was on it long enough to notice any positive effect because the side effects were debilitating and left me nearly bed (toilet?) ridden. Maybe you'll have better luck than me :/ If you are someone who is sensitive to meds and/or generally gets side effects, keep that in mind."

• acm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "Otezla had recently been approved. After three months on Otezla, my skin was mostly clear (psoriasis returned fast post-Embril). I was able to stop ibuprofen completely. The pain was reduced to 1/10. Anti-nausea meds helped with stomach discomfort of Otezla side effects. Fourteen months in, the nausea was getting worse, lasting all day. Tremors. Appetite non-existent. Fatigue and anxiety increasing to unbearable levels. Spending more time in bed than not. Pain returning to joints... especially hands, feet, and lower back. Stopped Otezla three weeks ago. Appetite is back, nausea and diarrhea gone. Anxiety minimal. Energy level much higher. Was only going to stop Otezla for two weeks. I believe I am done with Otezla. Quality of life decision."

• Wat...
• October 1, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "When I started Otezla, I was having moderate arthritis effects. Right away I had head and neck pain. Throughout the 4 months I was on it, I lost 10 lbs, had no appetite, nausea, bad flu flares, sometimes rapid heartbeat, and no discernible relief. At the 4-month mark, I experienced a massive spasming of my scalp and neck muscles. As in tetany. You need your neck to sit up, lay down, walk, drive. I couldn't do anything. I like to think my pain threshold is high, but this brought me to my knees. I've been on more prednisone with Otezla than ever before, just to counteract all the flares and tendon pain. I'm off Otezla now for 4 days and still cannot move my neck properly. I hope with time it goes away. No benefits, lots of aggravation. Not a good med for."

• Dea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 1, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "I am 60, and I have had Psoriatic Arthritis since I was 20. So, 40 years of trying all kinds of topical medications, cortisone creams, sunlight and UVB treatments, Dead Sea trips, and eventually Methotrexate. 6 months ago, my dermatologist suggested I try Otezla. My insurance refused to pay for it and suggested all kinds of biologic medications. I refused the biologic meds after reading of dangerous side effects. Otezla approved me on a temporary bridge program while we are fighting the insurance. Initial results were astonishing. Both the arthritis pain and the psoriasis were gone! I stopped taking the Methotrexate. About 3 months after I started taking Otezla, some psoriasis patches came back, though the arthritic pain is minimal."

• lin...
• January 2, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "Couldn't go up 1 flight of stairs without my heart rate jumping to 140 and was very short of breath. I also experienced severe pain in hip joints 40% of the time. My body felt like it was dying. I was only on it 1 month."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2017

Otezla (apremilast) "I have been on Otezla for 2 months now and have experienced a remarkable clearing of my lesions. Both knees, which were 90% affected, have almost entirely cleared up. The face lesions have dried up and are almost unnoticeable now. The scalp, which was almost completely affected, has cleared up to the point that I'll soon be getting rid of the ever-present ball cap! (YES!!!) I feel that in one month, at my follow-up appointment with my dermatologist, I am going to kiss her smack dab on the lips! My wife has given me permission. Still haven't noticed a pronounced difference in my two thumbs, which have swollen at the joint over the last year or so. Hopefully, they will get better as well so I can get back to playing the guitar."

• NJS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

Otezla (apremilast) "I've been on Otezla 30 mg twice a day for one week, and so far, I've had no side effects at all. My joints are slightly better already. I'm staying positive that the side effects won't appear, and I see some gradual improvement in my plaque and arthritis."

• Mol...
• December 1, 2015

Otezla (apremilast) "I was on the 28-day starter pack, made it to the regular dose of 30 mg 2x a day. Severe headaches like I have never experienced before, I have had migraines for over 40 years, these were worse. MD reduced the dose to 30 once a day. Still had some headaches, jaw pain, and nausea. The side effects have outweighed the good-no real improvement in hands-will stop taking Otezla. It also made me extremely moody and angry."

• Jos...
• September 1, 2017

Otezla (apremilast) "I took Otezla twice, two years apart. My first experience helped my psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis within 3 months with minimal side effects. I had loose stool for a couple of days and a mild headache. Then I developed a very aggressive breast cancer and was advised to stop Otezla. I underwent chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomies, and reconstruction. One year later, I began taking Otezla again because my psoriasis and PA came back with a vengeance, as predicted. Four months into treatment, I developed breast cancer in my sternum. Once again, I quit the Otezla and have since undergone radiation treatment. I did not tick the boxes for a patient at high risk for breast cancer. I feel my cancer may well have been a direct result of Otezla."

• cde...
• July 23, 2017

Otezla (apremilast) "Since the first pill on Otezla, I started to get severe sinus headaches that could not be remedied by Tylenol or Advil. Nasal congestion began shortly after that, as did steady head pain. I am now 7 days on the pills and I am stopping due to these headaches, loose bowel movements, sinus congestion and pain, headaches, and most importantly, insomnia! I have been up 2 days straight and have stopped these pills last night. Since being on these pills, I have not slept more than 2 hours per night, if at all. My foot pain has been lessened, as well as the pain in my fingers, but the side effects are just not worth it. Still getting sharp pains in my toes and difficulty with hip joint and knees, which I did not have before starting Otezla. Not the drug for me!"

• Fio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "My dermatologist put me on this medication using starter packs while they worked with the insurance to approve it. I lost my appetite completely. I was exhausted, I almost lost my hearing, and I got a serious upper respiratory infection. I had constant diarrhea and nausea and practically no sleep. I had to quit when I got the respiratory infection as I could hardly breathe. Why on earth is more testing not done with these drugs? The pharmaceutical companies churn out arthritis medication one after the other, all of them with horrible side effects and outrageous pricing. How dare they try to charge almost $3000 a month for a drug with such poor results? Back to methotrexate and ibuprofen, at least I can afford them."

• car...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 9, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "I have tried other biologics and nothing worked. I started on the Otezla and immediately started to see a difference. I have Sjögren's syndrome secondary with dry mouth and dry eyes, and the Otezla stopped those symptoms and I was able to come off that medicine. My psoriasis is gone by 95 percent. I use a topical for the spot on my elbow. I occasionally have headaches and pain in my knuckles, but overall it is life-changing for me."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2015

Otezla (apremilast) "After about a month and a half, with both psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, I don't think Otezla has helped either condition for me. Side effects have been minimal; very mild diarrhea and some limited loose stools. Joints seem the same to slightly worse, patches seem the same. After the fight I had to put up for insurance approval, the results are a huge disappointment thus far. Will continue to four months. This is my very first, non-topical, med."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "I’ve been on Otezla for almost 6 weeks for psoriatic arthritis. It improved my psoriasis almost immediately, but then the change slowed way down. No patches have totally cleared yet, though they do look better. No noticeable effect on pain yet. Unfortunately, the GI side effects seem to be getting worse instead of better, to the point where I don’t want to eat anything. I’m also consistently having headaches and increased fatigue. I’m going to try taking only one pill a day, but if that doesn’t get the side effects to a manageable level, I’ll have to stop."

• Gli...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "I've had psoriasis for 35 years and arthritis for perhaps 30. For about 9 years, I took Enbrel and methotrexate with very good results. Despite my long-term success with this combo, about 6 months ago, I decided to replace Enbrel with Otezla, primarily because I wanted to decrease my use of immunosuppressants and because of the cancer risks associated with Enbrel. For the first 2-3 weeks, I had the expected side effects, the worst being having to move my bowels 5-6 times a day. Also, some headaches. Now, six months in, I think I am ready to go back to Enbrel. My scalp psoriasis used to be almost non-existent but is now getting bad. Same for my elbows/forearms. I also have many aches and pains that I've never had before...."

• Huc...
• January 3, 2017

Otezla (apremilast) "I have been taking Otezla for about 8 weeks. I experienced nausea, frequent bowel movements, headaches, and a lack of appetite. Although the severity tapered off after a few weeks, they still continue. As I did more research into others who have taken it, I have experienced 2 trips to the ER due to inflammation in my feet, and I feel so fatigued and don't want to do anything...but I feel better if I move around a bit...but I get worn out pretty easy, and then my feet are killing me. I'd like to say I feel better than when I started...and in some ways, I do. I used to feel like my joints were fusing together, I couldn't walk up or down stairs, and I couldn't open a bottle of water. I feel a lot looser now and can do some things. I still hurt."

• Pou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 30, 2015

Otezla (apremilast) "I started taking this in August 2014. Initially, I did get the headaches and nausea. Once I got through the starter pack, it was starting to resolve. I have lost about 18 lbs, but that's a good thing. I'm not finding that it works really well for me - not like the injectables. I have large patches of psoriasis on my legs and arms, and a smaller one on my scalp. I'm using steroid ointment on these, but nothing is making them go away. I was still hurting pretty badly, even with the drug. My rheumatologist gave me something called Leflunomide 20 mg (Arava) to boost the Otezla. It seemed to work a little better for my joints after that. I am still on 5 mg oral prednisone and Diclofenac 2x a day for inflammation. I'm a pretty tough case."