Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis User Reviews (Page 5)

• Texas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "I’m one week into my starter pack. I don’t usually have side effects from my many other meds I’m taking but Otezla is much different. The side affects for me are exactly the same as when I had Covid. I have diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, extreme weakness and tiredness. They are lowering the dosage to see if that helps the symptoms. If I don’t get some relief pretty quickly I’m not sure I’m going to continue this medication. The cure is worse than the disease."

• Jmj
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2016

Otezla (apremilast) "Within weeks my plaque psoriasis disappeared. Chronic diarhea caused me to stop taking it. P came back within weeks. Several months ago I was in a motorcycle accident and sprained my wrist. Never got better, got worse. Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Thinking of trying it again. Don't know if I can take living on the toilet. Hoping my body will get used to it but not opptomistic."

• Severe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2023

Otezla (apremilast) "Ever since I started this a few weeks ago I wake with terrible headaches, vivid dreams and night sweats. I can live with nausea but the upper belly back pain and indigestion are too much. Not sure so far if it is worth what I’m living with"

• Unity
• June 1, 2017

Otezla (apremilast) "8 days in. No relief and as the Enbrel I was taking wears off I am hurting so bad I had to start a course of prednisone. I feel nauseous and depressed. Beautiful weather outside and I don't care. I'm in a farm room watching TV. Miserable and not myself. Called my doctor so we will see what he says to do. I may follow up this post with further results. To be fair it's only Day 8 maybe it will improve"

• Otezla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "My Dr put me on Otezla for my Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis. I have been on it now for a month and a half. Last week, I went to the ER with severe stomach pain. After having a CT, blood work and other tests that came up with nothing to cause this pain, I went home with a script for pain meds. After reviewing 'new' things in my life, I decided that Otezla would have to be the next thing to try. So I contacted my Dr and she agreed to have me go off of it for a week to see what would happen. Every day since then my pain has lessened and lessened. Now, 4 days later, I can breathe without pain, get up by myself, walk semi normally and go almost all day without a pain pill. I can only expect that this will continue until the pain is totally gone - at least I hope that will be the result as there is no other reason for this pain. I hope no one else experiences what I have. I will be dropping Otezla permanently."

• Hausf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "When ointments are not as effective as they used to be, I started researching other treatments for Psoriasis. It's a constant battle on my head and wearing black is becoming more difficult. I'm not considering injection therapy so Otezla seemed the perfect solution. Side effects began on day 2 and started to subside after 2 weeks. However, the tension headaches got worse and I stopped treatment after 2 1/2 weeks. I saw little impact on my psoriasis, but I probably didn't take it long enough. However, my Psoriatic Arthritis was completely gone, which of course is acting up again. I so wished this would have worked for me."

• BSK
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 16, 2024

Otezla (apremilast) "Interestingly Otezla can work at a once daily dose with fewer side effects. I never got to the twice daily dose & it was stopped by my doc because of weight loss & fatigue. However, I went back on it when other meds weren't helpful & tolerated it better."

• Bridget
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "I took this drug for 11 months and finally had to come off it. From Feb to May I did notice an improvement with pain but in June my hands and feet had such nerve pain I could hardly walk and had trouble planting my little garden. I was told the nerve pain could not be from Otezla. From day one I had 2 hours with diarrhea and was told that too would pass. It didn't. I stopped the drug in December before Christmas and the nerve pain and diarrhea completely stopped. Mind you I still have sore feet and hands but feel so comfortable. I had been on Methtrexate and Humira before this drug and they too had massive problems. I have always had Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but now my Surgeon said it was undiagnosed diverticulitis that I had kept controlled by diet. These drugs made my bowel much worse and now I need a section removed. How sad is that. Is there even a good drug out there?"

• Jbuch...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "I started taking Otezla last week I have had severe diarrhea , vomiting , headache and mild dizziness. My Dr.told me to wait til All symptoms disappear then start with one pill and see. I don’t know how I’m going to tolerate this drug"

• Julie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2022

Otezla (apremilast) "Female 54. Scalp psoriasis for 15 years. Psoriatic Arthritis & Osteoarthritis for 15 years. Giant Cell Arteritis 2022. Mild Atherosclerotic Disease main arteries 4 years. Was put on Otezla 6 weeks ago. Had loose bowel movements for 4 weeks, settled now. No real other side effects. I don't drink, I, don't smoke. I'm 3 stone overweight. Stopped eating processed food/fried food/crisp/chocolate/cake/fizzy pop. I feel Otezla is suiting me now, scalp calmed down it used to bleed and was so scaly. Good luck to you all, its not easy is it, just try small changes, to enhance the drugs, not rely in them and carry in bad patterns. Personally I quite like this earth we live on so trying my hardest to stay on it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 30, 2017

Otezla (apremilast) "I have been taking Otezla for psoriatic arthritis as well as psoriasis. At first I thought it was a miracle drug helping with the pain and the patches. I did have terrible (and I mean terrible) problems with my stomach. While it improved slightly, after a year and a half it still kills my stomach. I am going to get off of it because it stopped helping with the pain and my skin is worsening. I stuck with it despite the nonstop bowel movements (and headaches) because I thought it was helping, but now that I'm reverting back it isn't worth the nearly debilitating side effects."

• GAgirl
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "My dermatologist put me on Otezla for Granuloma Annulare. Mine is rare in that it is widespread and "recalcitrant." I have been on it for almost 2 weeks now. I have nausea and bathroom urgency throughout the day, though it is lessening as the days go by. I have not yet reached to full dose as I was instructed to take a dose only on a full stomach and I am too nauseous to eat two large meals a day. So I'm up to 30 mg once a day. The headaches have mostly subsided so it gives me hope that I will get acclimated to the other side effects. However I am so uncomfortable and full of aches and pains and exhaustion that I can't tell if I'm depressed or not! I sure don't feel like doing anything at all. So time will tell. I revisit the derm at 5 weeks. So far, I have not noticed any changes in my GA lesions."

• non...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "After getting psoriatic arthritis, I was told to sign up for otezla with the no copay card by a doctor. So I went online, got the no copay card, started the process to obtain Otezla. The company sent me a 28 day starter pack. And that was it. My next doctor visit the doctor asked how it was going. I explained the 28 day supply I received was great, but I didn't get anymore. The doctor had a nurse call to find out why I only received one month worth. The nurse managed to get another month sent to me after that visit, and again, that was all. When I called the doctor to explain I only received one month, I was told by the nurse that the company said I was noncompliant. The company never told me what I was non compliant for. So I suppose if you get the no copay card, this is the way they treat people."

• syb
• March 29, 2018

Otezla (apremilast) "Though I had no side effects when taking other biologics - or any meds - I had terrible respiratory stuff while on this so went off after a week or so. The way they tested it didn't allow me to know what to expect as they seemed they have data only at a 4 month or so mark. I wouldn't recommend it."

• Shane
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 30, 2022

Otezla (apremilast) "It worked with most side effects in the first month. My hands felt great 30% swelling down. The toughest part of the long term plan is being able to pay for it. At first it is free all is good until the co pay runs out. Next the pharmacy calls to say your prescription is ready but they need an extra 1200$ to refill. Next I check my insurance plan. I picked the highest level plan the most expensive. They say oh no we won’t pay until it hits 4500$. Then after that we will only cover 70% that would leave again 1200$ a month to pay out of pocket. I don’t know anyone who is able too be on this drug for any long term. It’s the old drug dealer scam. Give it to you for free until you get hooked on it. Then start squeezing the money out of you. The company that makes this drug are no better than the street dealers. I had no choice to stop taking it. Too bad they can’t make it affordable for the average person."

• Maddie
• December 22, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "I started this medication about 3 weeks ago. I have psoriatic arthritis. I am having all the side Effects of the medication. I’m going to the bathroom immediately after eating something small. I’m going to try to make it to 8 weeks. It has helped my pain levels, but it hits hard on the stomach. Hopefully it goes away in the weeks to come. I’m allergic to steroids and biologics. I’m coming to a point where every medication doesn’t agree with me. I’m hoping it gets better!"

• Tom...
• September 24, 2018

"My doc treated me for psoriatic arthritis & psoriasis. He started me on both Cosentyx & Otezla. After 3 doses of Cosentyx & 6 weeks of Otezla, my psoriasis was completely gone & my ankles & fingers felt better. He stopped the Cosentyx and got the Otezla approved. I was lucky as I didn't have any side effects. Not sure how I would have know which drug was causing something anyway. I have now been on Otezla for 2 years. Only once have a had a flare with my ankles and my doc just added Cosentyx for 3 more doses and then stopped it while keeping me on Otezla. Did the trick. I have lost about 10 pounds but I think that is because I feel so good and can walk the dogs again. Funny thing is that my LDLs have gone down a bunch. Thankfully, I get Otezla through their zero dollar deal. My only compliant is the jokers at the Otezla Support Hot Line. They are rude and it took my doc a long time to get it approved so he had to give me samples for about the first 6 months."

• Chris...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2017

"My rheumatologist put me on Otezla, September 2016. It cleared my scalp and ears about 4 weeks in. It has done minimal 2 help my Psoriatic arthritis. My fingers swell and my back, hip and ankle still bother me . My biggest concern is I have been on Otezla for nine months now and I'm developing severe eye pain. It's getting more annoying as the days go by. Also the fatigue you have is overwhelming. This has been my experience so far. Skin better, joints not. The flares are awful. I get fevers and joint pain and swelling."

• Speck...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2022

Otezla (apremilast) "I have been taking this medication for 10 weeks now. My psoriasis has progressively gotten worse. I'm about 90% covered. I'm miserable. The nausea, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, muscle cramps, stinging itching pain.... Yeah I need to get off of this medication. I've become agoraphobic, I don't want anyone to see me like this. I'm miserable."

• Mount...
• February 6, 2019

"I have had psoriasis since I was 16, now 79. Nothing has given me relief until now. Years ago I took methotrexate and dealt with so many side effects that I couldn’t take the drug. Afterwards plaques on my scalp would build in one day. My nails became painful and stayed loose to the cuticles, and my arthritis was extremely painful and disfiguring. I was given starter packs of Otezla October 2018 and saw a difference in the first month. Minimum side effects, slight stomach discomfort, for me. I finally feel human without the pain and embarrassment."

• Batty
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "I'm currently taking Cosentyx and Otezla for the absolute life sucking psoriatic arthritis pain that developed after I had thyroidectomy for cancer and Its my experience that both of these drugs together have helped my pain/skin a lot and neither helped me much on their own “crazy”. For people experiencing upset stomach with Otezla you need to eat a little before taking it and that feeling will go away and the diarrhea will also subside."

• Ryan...
• August 16, 2017

"I lasted 3 weeks and a bit more on this drug. If you don't like sleep, love headaches and stomach pain all day every day and to top it all off irritability then this is the drug for you!!! I went from being my usual calm self to an enraged, confused moron. Not to mention the heart palpitations. Maybe just me, needless to say I clearly don't recommend it."

• Danrack
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2021

Otezla (apremilast) "I have just started Otezla. It’s a bit rough with diarrhea but I can manage. That said I have been trying to work with Otezla Connect. They are simply awful. I am into call number six with no return calls. Terrible business model."

• Zeva
• May 20, 2017

"This medication was the WORST one yet. I felt like I was dying. I had a cough that lasted 3 months, and it brought on horrendous migraines which I now must take anti seizure medication to control and throbbing pain in my temple and wound up in the ER because the pain was blinding. Since I started this medication I have been in the ER twice, once for the migraine that made me vomit for 2 straight hours and then the pain in my head. The day I stopped Otezla the cough and pain in my head disappeared. I am getting discouraged because I have had this painful disease for 40 years and I am tired of the disappointment after trying numerous drugs that make me feel worse. Humira worked the best but unfortunately it stopped working after 4 years."

• FlusyG
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2017

"I rate Apremelast on a 50/50 basis. I've just finished the 2 week starter pack and have had wide lot of side effects on and off. But today - BAM! Headache, nausea, uncontrollable bowel.....I've only just gone back to work after 2 months of chronic PSA and now have had to blow out today because of this drug. As a total plus though, my psoriasis has halved in such a short time, so I'm going to persevere with this med. wish me luck :)"