Otezla and Weight Loss: What Users Say

• Kgi...
• February 19, 2020

For Plaque Psoriasis "I've been on Otezla for 3 months. Psoriasis cleared up within a month. Experienced weight loss, headaches (for the first few days), and diarrhea (for about a week). Overall, for me, it's worth the side effects, especially since they go away over time."

• RED...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 10, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "I like to travel, and the last thing I need is a further compromised immune system. Otezla sounded like a good option, so I talked to my doctor about it. She was cautious, as they had two other folks on it, and one was quitting because of the side effects, and the other hadn't shown any progress as of yet. I started in October of 2015, and the only side effects I suffered were minor tension headaches for the first few weeks and weight loss. I helped me lose 30 pounds. Seven months and 98% clear, with my arthritis almost gone also. I haven't felt or looked this good in 20 years. Completely changed my life."

• Hoc...
• July 1, 2015

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have psoriasis and have been on Otezla for 7 months now. For me, it has not worked. If I stop using any steroid creams for more than 5 days, it comes back. I was told by the Otezla support nurse that if it did not work within 16 weeks, it typically would not work. Side effects I had were nausea, headaches, and weight loss. I never get headaches, and while on this medication, I got them pretty regularly. The nausea was tough, but I found taking this with food helped. I really hoped that it would have worked, as it seems to be a much safer option than the injectable options."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2015

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have severe psoriatic arthritis, but I do not have the rash. I've been on this medicine for just a week, but I notice improvement already. I am pretty nauseous all the time, and it seems like I may lose weight because of it... But, frankly, I need to lose 110 lbs anyway, so... win-win?"

• Les...
• September 12, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "I've been on Otezla a little over a year now, and I think I will be stopping tomorrow after I visit my dermatologist. The pros: much of my psoriasis cleared within weeks, especially on my neck and scalp. When doing UV treatments with the Otezla, I was near 95% clear. I had all the side effects, like tension headaches, stomach issues, and weight loss. However, I would take that and clearer skin over my psoriasis. I've had psoriasis for 24 years now, and I have tried everything from steroid creams, UV, and biologic injections. I thought Otezla was the best! However, over the last month, I have been experiencing anxiety and depression. I get stressed out so easily, and having panic attacks has never been me. I cannot function normally."

• HRi...
• March 3, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "I'm on Day 10 with this medication and am already seeing significant improvements in my psoriasis! My doctor told me it may take a month or more to see any change, so this is a pleasant surprise. I had read about the side effects and was expecting the first while to be rough, but man! I can't keep anything down, and the diarrhea is unreal! I've found aspirin helps the headaches, so those aren't so bad. I've lost 8 pounds since I started Otezla, which is a bonus, but I wouldn't say it's the best diet plan I've ever been on... I'm hoping the side effects subside as my body gets used to the medication, and I'm very hopeful to see more improvements in my psoriasis!"

• ddp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "I've been on Otezla for 10 months now, and I'm 95% clear. I had really bad psoriasis on both feet and some on my hands. Also lost some weight. Since taking this medication, my glucose has steadily gone up, so my PCP put me on metformin, which is not helping. Has anyone been diagnosed with diabetes after taking Otezla? Please let me know because the doctors say it's not related, but I have read a few users that this has happened to like me. Also, I'm having some back pains. Thanks."

• JP ...
• February 8, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "Been on it for over a year (with a one-month hiatus in there). First of all, I take psyllium husk fiber every day and have NO diarrhea... definitely recommend that people on (and not on) Otezla do that. Do get occasional headaches but not too bad. Psoriasis is under control. Had bad plaques but those are mostly red skin areas now. Biggest improvement on the face... which makes this worth it to me. I do enjoy the side effect of weight loss. Would definitely recommend that one with bad psoriasis give it a try (and stick out the first couple weeks). Still need to use a few topicals as well."

• RJ1...
• February 5, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "I am using Otezla and have been for the past 5 months now. Before taking Otezla, I only had plaque psoriasis on my scalp. It would get very dry and hard, and when I would scratch my scalp, it would bleed. The side effects were nothing too hard to get used to. I have lost some weight, but overall, the plaque psoriasis has cleared up to where it is more manageable and less scaly. On my body, the only time I had a bad case of psoriasis was when I got mosquito bites on my legs, and it turned into red scaly patches all over. I used this sea salt scrub every day when I showered, and it went away. Now, with using sea salt as a regular monthly regimen all over my body, I only have psoriasis on my scalp."

• Zfg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2015

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I started taking Otezla in January 2015 and stopped in August due to price. It definitely helped my psoriasis and also psoriatic arthritis, but not completely. There are many side effects that are not mentioned. I had a very bad backache, and also my Hb A1c went up to 6.2, though I am not diabetic, and I also lost weight on Otezla. After stopping Otezla, now A1c is 5.7, and backache is better too."

• Bam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2018

For Plaque Psoriasis "Been psoriatic since 1999, sometimes very bad. I am 51 years old. I have been on Otezla for about 3 months, and my skin has cleared. Initially, it was bad when I followed a timed regimen to take the medicine twice daily. I changed that (my decision) to take it along with two large meals, which for me is brunch and dinner. Since my stomach movements are now too frequent, my skin is clear besides significant loss of weight, good bpm score, lesser exhaustion, and more energy for exercise! Good job, Celgene."

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2020

For Behcet's Disease "I have had Behcet's disease for 33 years and can no longer take any drugs that suppress my immune system because after using Enbrel and prednisone, I developed two life-threatening systemic fungal infections. So we decided to try Otezla, considering it is a 3rd generation of thalidomide -- which has been used for Behcet's in the past. I used Otezla for two months before I just couldn't deal with the side effects. So I cannot recommend Otezla for these reasons: 1) it caused severe diarrhea and 8 lbs weight loss, despite treatments for these GI symptoms; 2) it caused severe headaches unresponsive to multiple other medications; and 3) it only helped my mucocutaneous ulcerations, which are annoying but not disabling, and did nothing for my painful Behcet's arthritis, CNS involvement, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, and other BD symptoms. If your main symptoms of Behcet's are oral, genital, and skin ulcers, sure, go ahead and try it. But be warned."

• Sab...
• December 3, 2015

For Plaque Psoriasis "I started on this in September 2014. Went through a very rough 3 months of sickness, some weight loss, dizziness, diarrhea, and some vomiting. Finally, they subsided. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, I scheduled surgery on my back. The pre-surgery nurse told me to stop the medicine, so I did. I get a call this week from another doctor telling me the medicine shouldn't affect surgery, to continue as usual. So I start back up the same day, because of course both my hands and feet have already started with the blisters and peeling within 2 weeks of not taking the medicine. Now, 2nd day back on the medicine and I'm not functioning. Headache, can't open my eyes, if I do, I throw up. I don't know what to think."

• spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2017

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have been taking Otezla for five months with no improvement in my psoriatic arthritis. I had minor psoriasis plaques on my elbows. It is definitely clearer. My joints have shown no improvement. I have lost a considerable amount of weight while on Otezla and am now quite underweight. I will have to discontinue the drug because of the weight loss and the fact that it has done nothing for the arthritis."

• Gb7...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2016

For Psoriatic Arthritis "My psoriatic arthritis started about 36 months ago. I tried light therapy and was on Enbrel for about 8 months with limited improvement from either treatment procedure. My back, head, and legs were very covered with psoriasis and were extremely itchy. My scratching exacerbated the problem, and I had bleeding sores all over my legs. One year ago, I went on Otezla, and within 4 months, my back and head were completely clear, and my legs were vastly improved. I did not experience any side effects to speak of, although I did lose 10 lbs. Currently, my legs are about 80% clear, however, after about 5 months of use, the palms of my hands and my feet were severely infected with psoriasis to the point where they were cracking and bleeding no matter how much I tried to look after them."

• CW9...
• June 4, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "I was given this medication after my insurance stopped covering Enbrel (which worked awesome for me) at the beginning of 2015. To me, this medication was the worst of all worst for my body. While taking this medication, I experienced every side effect that it stated and never subsided. I experienced massive headaches, diarrhea, and MAJOR weight loss. I had lost 10 - 15 pounds within a 3-month period. Now that it has been almost a year and a half, I am STILL struggling to gain my weight back. The extreme weight loss now has caused joint issues that have prevented me from doing my daily routine activities. It didn't do much for my plaque psoriasis either. I wouldn't suggest this medication to anyone."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "I've always had mild psoriasis growing up since my grandma and dad had it. This year I stopped using clobetasol propionate topical cream, and my psoriasis got so bad I finally turned to western medicine! I tried Otezla starter pack for two months and lost about 10 pounds, thank God, but my psoriasis seems like it got worse! I'm going to stop taking the medicine as it has spread all over my body and face :("

• how...
• January 19, 2016

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Thought this would be a perfect treatment for newly diagnosed but relatively minor hand PsA for the past 13 years. Did experience some weight loss that I attribute to frequent and loose BMs. There was a detectable mood change, but again, tolerable. My worst problem was muscle spasms that started in one hip, migrated to the lower back, and then to the other hip, to the point of not sleeping. I stopped and ramped up slower, which seemed to help, but started coming back. Never had any previous problems with side effects of any meds before. I have what should be good benefits working for a world-class employer, but they would not cough up without trying the immune suppressive stuff first. Currently on sulfasalazine, which seems to help enough."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2023

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have been on Otezla for over 2 years, and it appeared to be working just fine. Great reduction in swelling and arthritis pain. Very little itching and skin flares. Six months ago, I started having stomach issues with severe cramping and constant diarrhea after a colonoscopy. Upper GI diverticula were found, and once inflamed, caused severe cramping and pain. That problem was solved with antibiotics. Two months more of cramping and an 8 lb weight loss was solved within a day by stopping Otezla. Never again. These are known side effects."

• Vel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2024

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have had psoriasis for a majority of my life. I haven’t worn shorts or a bathing suit for about 22 years. Let me tell you, I’m 2 months in, just enough time to see if these meds would work for me. Within a month, I noticed all my plaques disappeared. My legs and body are about 90% clear. By next month (July 2024), I should be able to wear shorts and a bathing suit confidently. I have never been confident, but right now I feel beautiful thanks to these meds. Don’t think you can’t get rid of psoriasis and live again. The only side effect I had was weight loss, but I’m gaining it back, lol. I can now go out with my friends, wear cute outfits, and have relationships without being scared they'd think I was gross. DON'T EVER GIVE UP, try it, Otezla makes me feel like a goddess, lol."

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have been on Otezla for about a month now, and the only side effect I have is weight loss, which I love. Seems to be working."