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Home > Drug Category > Arthritis & Anti-Inflammatory Medications > Otezla and Equivalent

Otezla Information

BigMountainDrugs.com supplies only genuine Otezla from Canada shipped in Canadian packaging. The brand Otezla is manufactured by Amgen, the worldwide manufacturer of Otezla. This offer is neither endorsed nor authorized by Amgen Inc (the United States and Canadian distributor of Otezla). BigMountainDrugs.com has no affiliation whatsoever with Otezla or Amgen Inc.

Otezla (Apremilast) is used to treat active psoriatic arthritis in adults who cannot use other types of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) or who have tried one of these medicines and it did not work. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis with a skin rash. Psoriasis is a chronic skin and nail disease. Psoriatic arthritis causes inflamed, swollen, and painful joints. The rash may come before or after the arthritis symptoms. Otezla is also used to treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis if you cannot use phototherapy or systemic therapy or the treatments do not work. Plaque psoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that causes your cells to reproduce very quickly. This type of psoriasis causes thick, scaly patches called plaques on your skin, most commonly affecting the elbows. The drug is also used to treat mouth ulcers in people with Behcet’s disease (BD). BD is a rare type of inflammatory disease that affects many parts of the body. Psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and Behcet’s disease are usually lifelong conditions, and there is currently no cure. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors like Apremilast work for psoriatic arthritis by decreasing pain and swelling and may help improve flexibility in the affected joints. The drug also works for plaque psoriasis by reducing redness, thickening, and scaling of the skin that occurs with the condition. Otezla works for mouth sores in people with Behcet’s disease by helping to reduce the pain and improve the healing of these sores.

Otezla Side Effects

The most common side effects of Otezla may include diarrhea; nausea; headache; cold symptoms such as sore throat, stuffy nose, or sneezing; Call your doctor right away if you have any of the serious side effects such as:
• Mood changes;
• Severe diarrhea;
• Signs of an allergic reaction, e.g., abdominal cramps, hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting;
• Suicidal thoughts;
• Unexplained weight loss

Otezla Precautions

Do not use Otezla if you are allergic to Apremilast or any other ingredients in this medication. Before you start taking this medication, tell your doctor about your medical history, including if you have kidney disease; have depression, or suicidal thoughts; have an intolerance to certain sugars; have gut problems; are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding, or are planning to breastfeed. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription, OTC, herbal supplements, and vitamins. There may be a drug interaction between Otezla and other medications like carbamazepine; phenytoin; rifampin; St. John’s wort; primidone. Do not use Otezla if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This medication may harm your unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Do not use Otezla while breastfeeding without talking to your doctor. It is not known if Apremilast passes into your breastmilk. It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this drug. Do not give this drug to children less than 17 years old. It may harm them. Use your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. When you start taking Otezla, you will receive a “treatment initiation pack” with your doses listed and clearly labeled to ensure you take the correct tablet at the correct time. You may take Otezla with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole with water. Take Otezla at about the same time each day. If your condition has not improved after six months of treatment, you should talk to your doctor. Do not stop taking this drug without first talking to your doctor. Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 300C.

Do I need a prescription to order Otezla?

Yes, a prescription is required from your physician to order Otezla.