Apremilast and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Suz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 30, 2023

For Plaque Psoriasis "After three years of light treatment and creams of various types, I was prescribed apremilast, and within four weeks, nearly all of my plaque psoriasis disappeared. The only side effect was diarrhea every morning just once. I have taken this drug for two years, and three months ago, I slowly reduced the dose until I stopped it altogether. Now I am taking it again as psoriasis has returned big time. It has worked for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2023

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Otezla helped clear some of my psoriasis, but my whole body aches horribly. I did get nausea and diarrhea at the beginning, but it went away, however, my whole body is in pain, so I’ve decided to stop taking it. I feel like an eighty-year-old with horrible pain, and I wasn’t aware that this was a side effect, I thought it was menopause. As soon as I stop taking it, my body aches stopped."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2021

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Started taking a few weeks ago and finally stopped taking it yesterday. Still get nausea and diarrhea after taking each dose. The last few days, my symptoms seem to worsen. I become severely depressed, couldn't concentrate, and felt lightheaded and short of breath all the time. Yesterday, I had to leave work because I became so shaky and lightheaded I almost passed out. I have no history of any of these issues and strongly feel it was the medication. After researching, the negative effects rate is higher than the success rate. I'm mad I started Otezla in the first place."

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

Apremilast 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."

• Sum...
• January 16, 2022

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I started Otezla yesterday morning, trying to treat scalp psoriasis. I have had severe diarrhea since yesterday afternoon, lasting all through the night. I also developed a severe headache and nausea, though I have not vomited yet. Since I’ve only had 1 pill and been this sick from it, it’s not for me. I’m sad I can’t take this medication, as I really had high hopes."

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

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I've been on Otezla for going on 5 weeks now and have seen a nice improvement in the breakthrough psoriasis I developed after 3 years of being on Cosentyx (which I'm still on). Otezla was prescribed as a bridge medication to help Cosentyx, and I must say it's has certainly helped with both my skin breakouts and the crippling psoriatic arthritis I have experienced for the past 5 years. I have not suffered from any of the reported issues like nausea or diarrhea because I eat a little something before I take Otezla, problem solved. I do get the occasional migraine, but I can’t say with certainty it's the Otezla causing it."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2021

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "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."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2022

Apremilast for Behcet's Disease "Was on Otezla for 2 and 1/2 months. Tried to hang in there. The mouth ulcers got worse, then I noticed a spot on my leg... Not sure if it has anything to do with Behcet's. When the doctor said it was psoriasis. I'm going to a dermatologist tomorrow, it got to be about 2 inches long and an inch wide, and then another one appeared. My lip became very ulcerated, and I had vaginal ulcers, which I have not had for several years. I had diarrhea, nausea, and headaches. My doctor and I finally decided that after that length of time my body could not tolerate it. The doctor decided that I needed to go on a prednisone regimen. It cleared up my mouth, but my lips kept getting worse. I am off the prednisone now for 2 days, and now I'm getting more ulcers in my mouth. I wish I had never heard of this drug."

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

Apremilast 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."

• Por...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2015

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have been using this medication only a week, I am now on full dosage and have had hardly any side effects, which was my main concern. The specialist said I could expect nausea, diarrhea, and some headaches, and possibly vomiting. He also made me aware that these effects would wear off after a couple of weeks of my body adjusting to the medication. I have actually had a couple of small headaches (took paracetamol), a touch of nausea, only when I was moving up to the next level on tablets, and more regular bowel movements...not a bad thing. I feel fine, the psoriasis is starting to clear already :-)"

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2022

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Be aware-this medication has a lot of negative side effects!! I was on Otezla for approximately 4 months, until I could no longer cope with all the side effects. The first week-stomach pain, diarrhea, I felt dizzy and couldn't focus. As I continued to take the medication, I started feeling extreme anxiety, panic attacks, physically and mentally stressed and depressed, it tore my guts up so bad it felt like I may have been trying to get an ulcer. Along with the weird stomach issues, I started not having an appetite whatsoever, which caused me to lose 20 lbs. (which I didn't need to lose). This made me feel weak and sicker. I also had bad insomnia, and if I did sleep, I awoke exhausted!!! I wish it had worked-but in my 6 years of dealing with my plaque psoriasis, this med has been the worst side effects I have had from a med. My skin did show some improvement, but the negative impact on my mental/physical well-being was just not worth it for me. I'm so happy for those it works for!"

• Iva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2023

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have to say that this is not for me. Side effects after the second day: diarrhea, headache, nausea, and today was the worst day after 10 days. I had diarrhea and vomiting at the same time! lol, it was really disgusting, so I'm gonna stop taking this. I did not notice an improvement in my psoriasis. I will continue to use my betamethasone ointments. Good luck!"

• Rie...
• November 17, 2015

"I have been on Otezla for approximately 3 weeks. The first week I had severe headaches and diarrhea. After the 1st week, the side effects subsided. The skin is clear, no rashy red inflammation. Hands not all cracked and bloody. So far, I would recommend Otezla. However, the winter is the worst time for me, so I will let you know how it goes."

• Pal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have only been on it 3 weeks. One loose stool and one time bloated feeling, but don't know that I can attribute these to taking the Otezla. Seems to be working!"