Otezla and Upset Stomach: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• gee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2018

For Plaque Psoriasis "Otherwise healthy 50+ year old guy who's had this for 30+ years. Like every other drug I've tried, it works for a while, then it doesn't. Mine worked great for 2 weeks, kinda worked for maybe 2 more weeks, then it all came back worse than before. I had stomach aches after taking it and resorted to 'Tums,' acid reflux meds, and eating something when taking the med. Moving on to something else after 6-7 weeks."

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

For Psoriatic Arthritis "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."

• Mad...
• December 22, 2021

For Psoriatic Arthritis "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!"

• Bat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2021

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I'm currently taking Cosentyx and Otezla for the absolutely life-sucking psoriatic arthritis pain that developed after I had a thyroidectomy for cancer, and it's 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 an 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."

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

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."

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

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."

• Cai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 31, 2021

For Plaque Psoriasis "I recently went off Otezla after a year of use because not only did it not even help, my psoriasis got so much worse. The plaques I already had got thicker and larger, and just before I stopped taking it, my entire chest and neck broke out in over 20 new spots, and people kept telling me it looked like I was breaking out with a rash. I had to go back to using my greasy steroid cream, but I can't use it on every spot or I'd go through a tube a day. And now I have to suffer with rebound rosacea on my face due to a reaction from the steroids. And since I am one of the lucky few who get psoriasis on their eyelids, I now have to get a different ointment to use on my face, and it burns like mad. And my insurance doesn't want to cover it without jumping through hoops every time I need a refill because, without insurance, one tube costs $330. My life is now more miserable since Otezla because along with all of the side effects like upset stomach, diarrhea, and headaches, I got none of the benefits."

• jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2015

For Plaque Psoriasis "Well, I have been on Otezla for 3 days now, and they were not kidding about the side effects: serious headache and stomach aches. Hanging in there, let's wait and see."