Apremilast and Pain: What Users Say

• Age...
• April 21, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I had a horrible reaction to this drug. I am a healthy 29-year-old with awful scalp plaque psoriasis. I’ve tried every topical steroid with no change. After years of desperation, my new dermatologist recommended Otezla. I was excited for something different to treat this disease. The first day taking it, I immediately felt strange: lethargic, slightly dizzy, and just “out of it,” but I didn’t think anything of it. The next morning, I woke up hardly able to move my body, severe nausea, and vomiting immediately. I slept all day, and the worst part was that my body felt pain in every area. My back hurt, my joints, my muscles. It was absolutely horrible. There is no way I could continue taking this medication and function normally; it’s very perplexing to see people successful on this medication, but I guess everyone has a different reaction. Anyone else have the same experience? I would take an itchy, flaky scalp a MILLION times over this medication."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2019

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Starting on month 2. I first noticed the inflammation in my hands reducing. I had a finger that I couldn't straighten or bend. I can now do both. Also, doing a lot less limping. There is still foot and ankle pain, but with definite improvement. They say full effect can take 4 months, but I feel this is working for me, and I am happy to not be on a biologic."

• Mol...
• December 1, 2015

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "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."

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Happy with the clearance but am struggling with the side effects. I'm 8 weeks into this treatment and have had problems with my digestive tract. I started taking a probiotic at the recommendation of my pharmacist, and that's helped a lot. The pain is probably my biggest issue at this point, and if it gets worse, I may consider discontinuing, as the pain areas are hips, back, shoulders, wrists, and elbows. Sometimes my knees as well. So pretty much everywhere but not all the time. I have had psoriasis for 52 years, and this is the clearest my skin has been in my memory."

• Sti...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2016

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "I was prescribed Otezla for psoriatic arthritis in my knees and psoriasis on my knees and shins. After 6 months of regular usage, my knee pain has resolved, but my psoriasis remains entirely unaffected (I had way better visible skin results using Triamcinolone cream once a day at bedtime). But what I wanted to share is why I came off Otezla this month: I lost 23 pounds these last 3 months, developed a bowel problem where I had to rush to #2 after most meals, lost some appetite in general, and worst of all, I developed terrible anxiety and fears that I never experienced before. I also lost my sense of joy overall, even though I did not quite reach the lows of depression. I am on day #2 of no Otezla. I am starting to feel better already."

• Gue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2016

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Side effects are tremendous, severe headaches, diarrhea, and nearly living on the toilet, fever, and aches and pains all over. Been taking it for 3 weeks to see if I will ever get used to the side effects and they will subside, so far, no. Not sure how much longer I can last on Otezla. Was really hoping it would help..."

• Net...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2016

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "I've been on Otezla for about 6 weeks. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but I feel worse than before I started on it. Lower backache, horrible pain in my head and face. Can't get a good night's sleep as my hips hurt. The headaches are the worst, trying to work with a daily headache. I don't have much psoriasis as it cleared up years ago, just some on my scalp now. The doctor says to give it at least 14 weeks to work. Don't know if I'll last that long with the pain in my head/face. I get the meds straight from the company, so don't know how much they actually cost."

• big...
• September 8, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "The very first day I took Otezla, it felt like I was going to vomit, but I didn't, so I continued taking it. Then after taking the second and third ones for the evening, I started having pains in my right shoulder. I thought I slept funny. But the pain was still bearable, and I thought it would go away, so I continued taking it, although I began having a hard time sleeping. The seventh day/evening, it got worse. Right after I took the evening pill, the pain in my right shoulder went all the way to my arms and my right fingers. I was up until 3 in the morning, I couldn't sleep and thought of going to urgent care. The next morning, both of my arms were in pain, I decided to stop taking Otezla. I should not have taken it in the beginning."

• pro...
• August 11, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Third and last day on Otezla. Took fourth 10 mg pill at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast. Slight headache, no nausea, no depression. Not feeling myself. I had to make a conscious effort not to 'zone out' all day. BP is up. Had disturbing dreams last night and woke up with pain in hands, ankles, and back. Every plaque is itching like crazy. I have stopped taking this drug."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2022

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "What worked: solved 30% of psoriasis. What didn't work: at 5 months, it plateaued and stopped working, and my shoulders began hurting. However, I kept taking it for a few months, hoping for the best. Eventually, I stopped when my shoulders became unstable and felt like they'd fall out of the socket. I quit Otezla, but the shoulders continued going downhill. It's two years later, I now have rotator cuff and labrum rips (from 1:00 to 11:00). Disclosure: twelve years ago, I had to stop taking Quinolones due to tendon pain (but no tears). My uneducated guess is that Otezla is contraindicated in those with existing tendon damage or that Otezla itself is capable of causing tendon rupture. Time will tell with others reporting."

• Jim...
• January 24, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "All was okay while I was taking Enbrel injections, and then after months my doctor told me to take a new medicine that was safer. So I took Otezla. I took the starter kit and continued to 2 pills per day. Nausea, diarrhea, and headaches started then. The doctor told me that in the first month all these things happen. Then, after 2 months, I had brutal headaches, fatigue, and pain in some of my fingers, my legs, and also in my back. The back pain is the worst of all. I wake up early every morning with strong back pain. When I cough, I also have pain. First, I thought that the pain was because of the bed, then I realized that it was the side effects of the medicine. I still continue the therapy and am waiting to change back to injections."

• Den...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2018

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Coming off Enbrel after 14 years, I had numerous bouts with kidney stones. Then, most recently, last year, I had numerous blood clots in the leg I gave myself shots in. Asked my PA about any other drugs. He suggested Otezla. I have been on it for 3 months, and my legs, feet, toes, ankles, and Achilles ligaments have continually been in pain, switching from day to day, and I am currently barely able to walk. I am a very good bowler and bowl in highly competitive competitions. I have gotten to the competition and couldn't even move. I never know from day to day if I will be able to compete or not. It costs hundreds of dollars to compete, and I have not even come close to being competitive at any. I have had to withdraw from some because of the pain I'm in."

• Bat...
• March 31, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I started Otezla in Nov 2016. I don't find it effective for my moderate to severe psoriasis at all, in fact, I'm having breakouts in places that never had them before, and to make my issues worse, I'm riddled with pain unlike anything I had ever felt in my 42 years of being a psoriasis sufferer. The worst pains happen when walking, and I can only pinpoint 2 possible reasons for the pain: Otezla or Synthroid, or a combo of both. I started Otezla and Synthroid roughly at the same time, but after reading many posts, the pain seems common with both meds. Personally, I could try and deal with pain if Otezla worked better, or at least not break me out in areas that never had them. I eat a little before and after taking the pill and have not suffered diarrhea or nausea at all."

• Thi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I do not believe enough of a control group was used. I took this drug along with two compounds for two months. I developed horrible, excruciating pain up my left leg, worse than sciatica. Also, when I woke up and tried to walk, it felt like rocks were under my small toe. The dermatologist wanted me to take a lesser dose instead of quitting cold turkey! No bueno! I have grown to love my psoriasis and use the topicals. Good luck out there."

• Ral...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I started September 1st, 2017, with the starter pack. Had the usual symptoms that everyone is talking about. Toughed it out. Then the monthly dosage started after the starter pack finished. About the third and a half week, I had pain in the lower left side of my stomach. I stopped the pill for a week. Pain was gone. So I thought, let's try again. I then started the pill only in the evenings. Basically half dose. Since the start till now, October 20, 2017, my plaque psoriasis has been noticeably reduced. Halving the half (1 pill a day) dose has also calmed my usual symptoms. I am tempted to start back on 2 pills a day again."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2016

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Started taking Otezla 12 days ago. I have experienced headache, nausea, fatigue, swollen and painful joints, upper right abdominal pain, swollen belly on the right side, feet pain, back pain, mild diarrhea, no ambition, hoarseness, light-colored stools. I still have to take indomethacin for joint inflammation and pain. I thought this drug would relieve my pain and prevent inflammation and further joint damage, instead, it has made it worse. I don't see the advantage of continuing to use it along with an anti-inflammatory drug. I might as well stick with indomethacin."

• GAg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2018

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "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 the 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."

• Cus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2022

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Was put on this drug as a trial, and it started to clear my psoriasis within 3 days, which I thought was amazing, no flaking basically. However, after a week, my feet had swollen up to balloons, and I could barely walk from pain. I was sent to a rheumatologist, and he thought I got a virus or it's the medication. I stopped taking the Otezla right away, and the swelling and pain subsided. For the last year now, I get bouts of pain in joints in my feet with no swelling, just pain. I never had psoriatic arthritis before I started this med, and I now have it on occasions. This medication has 28% one-star bad reviews on it, why is it being pushed so much when methotrexate and other biologics are better?"

• Poo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2018

For Plaque Psoriasis "This is my fourth day on this drug. Had no side effects yet, but it seems the skin condition is getting worse day by day. My body burns, hurts, and itches... I have plaque psoriasis on my legs and pustular on my arms and trunk. Till now, I see no change. I just hope it works for me the way it did for many."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2022

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have been on this medication for about 16-17 days, and my symptoms are still coming and going. I had GI issues for the first 7-8 days before they started to go away. I had complications with having to skip one of the doses a day 2 times that I’m thinking have somewhat brought back my symptoms. Stomach's upset, gurgling, going to the restroom, pain, body is also shaky, weak, and tense/on edge when my stomach gets like this. Indecisive if I want to stay on this medication or not."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 4, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Ok, I am extremely upset! I have been on and off this drug for over a year. Last year around this time, I got a horrible rash on my hands, on the tops down to my wrists, pain in my breasts that is unbearable with four swollen lumps. I was set to go for a mammogram and ultrasound, but my breasts hurt so much I couldn’t imagine them squashing my dense breasts-no way! Then the depression the past year of wanting to hide away in my room, away from my family and wishing I don’t wake up, and no explanation as to why! I had palmoplantar pustulosis psoriasis and psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis as well as fibromyalgia. Well, my last visit, I told my doctor, and he, for the first time in six to seven years, was very flippant, saying to see my general practitioner, which he knows-he is mine."

• dr ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2016

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Had flu-like body aches, constant urge to defecate, and brutal migraines from day 3. Fatigue was all-consuming. Rather deal with the joint pain!"

• Bad...
• May 13, 2015

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "I am on day 6 of this medicine today. So far, I have had a headache, more frequent bowel movements, and yesterday I developed pain in my left arm at my joints: shoulder, elbow, and fingers as well."