Skip to main content

How much does Otezla cost?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on April 19, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

The cash price of Otezla is around $5096 for a month’s supply of medication (60 tablets) using an online coupon. Your cost will be different based on your pharmacy location, insurance, or any discounts you may have. The manufacturer Amgen offers the Otezla $0 Co-pay Card Program for eligible patients.

Related: Otezla Price Guide, Discount Coupons and Patient Financial Assistance

If you have private, employer-based prescription coverage or insurance you have purchased yourself you may be eligible for the Amgen co-pay program, where your cost could be $0. About 95% of prescriptions for Otezla cost $0 for people in the Otezla Copay Card Program.

If you have private insurance and are having difficulty getting coverage for Otezla, you may be eligible for free medication through the Otezla Bridge Program while you await approval on your coverage.

If you have government-sponsored insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid, or TriCare or are paying cash, you are not eligible for the Otezla co-pay program, but may be eligible through the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) if you cannot afford your medication.

Call Amgen’s SupportPlus line at 1-844-4OTEZLA (1-844-468-3952), 8 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday for more information.

How do I get Otezla from a specialty pharmacy?

In the U.S., certain medications are coordinated through a specialty pharmacy. This pharmacy will send the medication directly to you through the mail and provide other drug-related information.

These medications may need special handling, such as refrigeration, fast shipping, or may need to be more closely monitored for any side effects. A specialty pharmacy will also submit your insurance for you and help answer your questions.

Amgen has also set up a program called SupportPlus that can help walk you through any insurance questions and work with your specialty pharmacy.

Related Questions

Can I get Otezla if I don’t have insurance?

If you are uninsured or underinsured and cannot afford Otezla, you may be eligible for the Amgen Safety Net Foundation Patient Assistance Program, a nonprofit sponsored Amgen. Representatives from Amgen can also help you explore coverage for Otezla through independent foundations, or state programs.

Bottom Line

  • The price of Otezla is around $5096 for a month’s supply of medication (60 tablets) using an online coupon, but most people do not pay this price.
  • Your cost will depend upon your pharmacy location, type of insurance, or any discounts you may have.
  • Amgen, the manufacturer of Otezla offers the Otezla $0 Co-pay Card Program for eligible patients and other options to help lower your cost of Otezla.
References

Read next

Otezla does not cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped, so it may be stopped suddenly, but there have been reports of people experiencing gastrointestinal complaints such as constipation, after they have stopped Otezla. This may be because Otezla tends to help bowels move much better, with some people reporting diarrhea or loose motions while on Otezla, and their stools become a lot harder once they have stopped Otezla. Other symptoms of their condition may also return. For this reason it may be better to reduce the dose of Otezla slowly over a week or two. Continue reading

Otezla is made by Amgen Inc, located in Thousand Oaks, California. Otezla is expensive because it is a brand name drug. The lower-cost generic option called apremilast was approved by the FDA in February 2021, but it is not yet on the U.S. market, possibly due to ongoing patent protection. Continue reading

No, Otezla does not cause weight gain, in fact, it is more likely to cause weight loss. In a pooled analysis of two large trials, ESTEEM 1 and ESTEEM 2, the average change in weight from the start of the trial to week 16 was -1.51 kg, or -3.33 lb for patients receiving Otezla 30mg twice daily. By week 52, approximately 19% of patients had lost more than 5% of their starting weight. Nobody described their weight loss as serious although two patients discontinued treatment because of weight loss. Continue reading

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups

Medical Disclaimer