Apremilast and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Wta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2020

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have been on Otezla for 22 days for plaque psoriasis. I have been nauseous, had diarrhea, severe headaches, and muscle aches with my legs, lower back, and neck. Not able to sleep at night, even with sleeping pills and using a heating pad. I have missed several days of work. I decided today to go off the medication. I don’t feel I can tolerate the side effects. I don’t feel the psoriasis has improved that much. Not worth feeling rubbish like I am feeling!"

• Dal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I've been prescribed every topical, and spent so much on UV therapy. I was then put on methotrexate. Had some good results, but constant liver and kidney functions, blood tests, and the upcoming liver biopsy to check for damage were not worth it. I also started to lose my hair, it started to thin out terribly after a month. I went to another physician and was prescribed Otezla. I’ve been on this medication for about a month. Already, my knees, elbows, torso, crack of my ass (inverse psoriasis), and my penis (TMI) have cleared up well. The back of my scalp had flaky plaques and heavy dandruff, and it’s almost totally clear. Otezla also seems to boost the effectiveness of topical meds for really stubborn areas. Websites and reviews warn of depression, headaches, and GI upset. I haven’t experienced any of these, but a little insomnia. I hope the results of this medication continue. I can't tell you how great it is to finally find a medication without endless monitoring. I am happy with Otezla."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have had psoriasis symptoms for 25 years. I tried Ultravate, Dovonex, and light with no success. Changed my diet, symptoms faded, a few spots here and there. I had strep and developed guttate psoriasis. Tried cyclosporine, was like dying each dose. BP climbed to 200/100 but cleared up. Strep throat again, onto prednisone. I gained weight, couldn't sleep, and was moody. Insurance refused Otezla. Doc put me on methotrexate. Methotrexate requires blood draws and liver biopsies; worked on the spots caused strong brain pain. Discontinued methotrexate, started Otezla. Initially diarrhea and headaches, the headaches ended after two or three weeks, the diarrhea lasted 3 weeks. The sores on my hands were the first to go, then the irritated skin on my forearms. It's been 4 weeks and the progress is slow but visible. I use the Otezla app to track the spots using photos. The wife noted she is seeing clearer skin also."

• 1 m...
• April 15, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I was reluctant to try this, but after 20+ years of fighting psoriasis, I figured it was worth a try. I read all the reviews first, so I'm contributing to the database for others. I had some stomach discomfort for a few days, some brain fog, and a few nights of bad sleep. My skin started to clear by day 5 (not sure about nails yet), but I really struggled with the afternoon second dose, so I'm sticking to just 1 tab in the AM and nothing else. That keeps my skin about 80% clear, and I can take care of the rest via topical steroids. A month into this, and I still feel a little 'high' after my AM tab, but very happy with the results. Good luck."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2019

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "I did read reviews before starting Otezla and was scared of the adverse reactions mentioned in almost every review. I am taking Otezla for a month now. I do not see any changes in my psoriasis yet, but I don't have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Just a mild headache, manageable. A couple of nights of light insomnia, but it went away in a week. I am kept going, will see how it works."

• eer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I was okay with pushing through the vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and headaches. Then all of a sudden, the muscles in my legs cramped and seized up. Unrelenting, excruciating pain for 3 days. Went to a sports medicine clinic. They gave me a shot and muscle relaxers. Things started to improve. Well, yesterday, Christmas Eve, my muscles in my legs, then in my arms and hands, started up. I started getting pustular psoriasis in places I never had it. Horrible. Cannot sleep. I purposefully missed a dose of this stuff to see what would happen, and after about 12 hours it faded. Needless to say, it ruined my Christmas, and I’m stopping this drug."

• fhw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

Apremilast for Behcet's Disease "I took this medication for 18 days and was really hoping the side effects would be minimal, as there are very few good choices for Behçet's disease (BD) and I do not want to take a biologic. Began with the starter pack. Diarrhea was the first side effect but was managed with Imodium. This was followed by increasing nausea, insomnia, and complete loss of appetite. Then crying jags set in. The final straw for me was the excruciating headaches that were not responsive to any medication. I became unable to work or function on this medication and had to discontinue. You couldn't pay me to take another dose."

• CGK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2019

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Just started taking Otezla on March 20th. I started out with the low dosage, and I am now currently at 30 mg twice a day. In 6 days, I have lost 4 pounds, mainly from the diarrhea, and have had some headaches. However, I will keep going with this as I am waking up with no stiffness or pain from the psoriatic arthritis, which is a huge bonus. The only thing I really need to watch is the insomnia. Last night was not a good night for me as I tossed and turned all night, but that very well could be from the prednisone I am also taking, but only for another week or so. I am hopeful Otezla will continue to work for me because I refuse to take biologics that my doctor wanted to put me on."

• cde...
• July 23, 2017

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "Since the first pill on Otezla, I started to get severe sinus headaches that could not be remedied by Tylenol or Advil. Nasal congestion began shortly after that, as did steady head pain. I am now 7 days on the pills and I am stopping due to these headaches, loose bowel movements, sinus congestion and pain, headaches, and most importantly, insomnia! I have been up 2 days straight and have stopped these pills last night. Since being on these pills, I have not slept more than 2 hours per night, if at all. My foot pain has been lessened, as well as the pain in my fingers, but the side effects are just not worth it. Still getting sharp pains in my toes and difficulty with hip joint and knees, which I did not have before starting Otezla. Not the drug for me!"

• Geo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I’ve been taking Otezla for two months. It started out okay, but now the side effects are starting - headaches, insomnia, agitation (including shaky hands), and extreme nausea. Not sure if this is related to the Otezla, but I have bronchitis, which is actually a side effect. My psoriasis hasn’t started to clear, so I’m going to stop. The side effects are too overwhelming."

• Joj...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 21, 2019

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "It worked okay for the first six months. However, depression, worsened insomnia, eventually an extreme reaction of high heart rate and blood pressure, landing me in the emergency room. I would not recommend this drug to someone who already has insomnia or an already high or borderline high heart rate/blood pressure."

• Mar...
• October 19, 2016

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have been on Otezla for one month now, and my psoriasis is almost clear and no itching! I have scalp and ear psoriasis, and it also comes down on my forehead. Now you can see where it was by the discoloring, but no scales! I have had virtually no side effects. Once in a while, a slight headache that feels more like a sinus ache over one eye. No weight change. No nausea. Some wakefulness at night, but no tiredness during the day. I also take Tramadol for back pain. I don't see a big change in joint pain, but am hopeful for some relief. Happy so far!!"

• 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."

• J J...
• November 27, 2020

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "Pros - Side effects of apremilast have not seemed particularly debilitating (unlike meds like acitretin) - No need for regular blood tests and checkups - No risk to kidney functionality - It alleviated certain aspects of my psoriasis, such as skin dryness and irritability - Can drink alcohol and take over-the-counter medication. Cons - Being on the medication seems to have slowed the spread of my guttate psoriasis but has NOT stopped it - My psoriasis patches are still visually very present (despite dryness improving) - I've had psoriasis appear on areas of my skin that it has previously never affected - face, hands, forearms in particular. To remedy this, I've upped my use of steroid-based ointments, which I had hoped to kick - Mild side effects, occasional insomnia + I will need to go to the toilet about an hour after taking a tablet. Headaches occasionally, but not debilitating. - The few occasions where I have missed a day's treatment, I've noticed my psoriasis will flare dramatically."

• Top...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2017

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "I have been taking Otezla for about 6 months, after about 6 years of Neotigason and various creams. The Neotigason can have side effects on the liver and requires constant monitoring via blood tests, with the result that I was often noncompliant with horrible flare-ups of my moderate to bad plaque psoriasis. Now with Otezla, the outcome is fantastic, 98 percent clear up, with just light pink marks on forearms left. Scalp and face totally clear, which is great. If I cut down on a dose, it comes back. Had the odd headache, loose stools, odd patch of insomnia. Can live with all of it. Biggest problem is the cost, extremely expensive, even after being subsidized here in Israel."

• mid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 10, 2018

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "1 year on Otezla, and my TSA, ALT, and glucose levels have all doubled. While Otezla does not indicate the need to have monthly liver tests, I strongly encourage anybody starting to take this medication to discuss with their doctor getting baseline and recurring blood work done for at least the first year. I started Otezla in July of 2017. The reasons for taking it were to treat psoriasis of the nails, dactylitis (swollen fingers), and a few stubborn psoriasis patches in the hairline, in the ear, and a patch of inverse psoriasis. Pros: Dactylitis gone in a month, 1-year nail psoriasis improved 60%. I still have psoriasis patches, but they are smaller and less frequent. There is a slight reduction in inverse psoriasis. Cons: TSA, ALT, and glucose levels doubled in a year. Bowel movements occur within an hour after eating anything, and really any other time of day, including waking you up in the middle of the night."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2017

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "On Otezla for a short time, 4 weeks. Must come off it because of surgery, right shoulder rotator cuff. Up to this point, minor side effects, but did cause some sleep issues, which could also be contributed to by my upcoming surgery. Had such good results with biologics for 15 yrs. until they lost their effectiveness. Now, as I get older, 67, would like to try something less immunosuppressive. Not encouraged by comments I read. But everyone is different, so I will stick it out for four months."

• pus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2023

Apremilast for Plaque Psoriasis "This product worked well for me. The type of psoriasis I have is very painful. With the starter pack, within the first 15 days, I was already getting a tremendous benefit. The worst side effects that I had were headache, diarrhea, and insomnia. For the record, the insomnia has stayed with me even after I have taken it for a while. It is a tremendous relief to not be in pain because my pustular psoriasis was on the bottom of my feet and the palms of my hands. Grateful."

• Spe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2022

Apremilast for Psoriatic Arthritis "I have been taking this medication for 10 weeks now. My psoriasis has progressively gotten worse. I'm about 90% covered. I'm miserable. The nausea, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, muscle cramps, stinging itching pain... Yeah, I need to get off of this medication. I've become agoraphobic, I don't want anyone to see me like this. I'm miserable."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2020

For Plaque Psoriasis "It's my 4th day on apremilast and I am experiencing side effects of sore throat, heartburn, indigestion, severe headache, insomnia, muscle pain. I don't find any changes apart from the side effects. It's worse than methotrexate."

• 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!"