Do you need to take Otezla forever?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 11, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Otezla may need to be taken long-term to manage symptoms caused by the chronic conditions it is approved to treat — psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Behçet's disease. But exactly how long it should be taken can vary because it can depend on factors like response, personal preference, and condition severity.

Symptoms of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Behçet's disease can come and go unpredictably, and chronic conditions such as these typically require lifelong management. Otezla may help reduce symptoms, prevent flare-ups and even lead to a remission, which is an extended period of time without symptoms.

For some people, Otezla can prevent symptoms of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Behçet's disease without causing any problematic side effects. In this case, the drug may be continued long-term to keep the condition under control. Long-term studies, ranging from 3 to 5 years, have shown that Otezla is safe for prolonged use.

Other people may not see any (or enough) improvement while they are on Otezla. They may also experience unwanted or severe side effects, and they may want to stop taking the drug or switch to a different treatment.

When you stop taking Otezla:

You may remain symptom-free (remission)
Your condition may look and feel similar to what it was before treatment (relapse)
Your condition may flare up worse than before (rebound).

In clinical trials, people with plaque psoriasis whose condition improved while on Otezla began to lose those improvements around 5 weeks after they stopped taking the medication.

Otezla can also cause side effects that are sometimes severe, including:

Diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
Weight loss
Emerging or worsening depression.

If any of these symptoms develop, the dose of Otezla may need to be lowered or even stopped altogether. However, stopping (or even switching) treatments can sometimes cause symptoms to relapse or rebound. It is important not to stop taking Otezla without talking to your doctor first.

How long does it take for Otezla to work?

Otezla (apremilast) is approved to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older (and weighing at least 20 kg), as well as psoriatic arthritis and Behçet’s Disease in adults. Patients may start to feel an improvement within the first few weeks, but symptoms can further improve over 12 to 16 weeks. Continue reading

How to stop taking Otezla?

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

What does Otezla do to the body?

In your body, Otezla blocks the action of the PDE4 enzyme to help control inflammatory symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling in conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Continue reading

Drug information

Otezla Information for Consumers
Otezla prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
Side Effects of Otezla (detailed)

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