Psoriasis Relief Medication Otezla

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that is characterized by red, itchy patches that form on the person’s skin.

"Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin condition where you have red, scaly patches on the skin," Dr. Saakshi Khattri, a dermatologist/rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, previously told SurvivorNet. "It is a chronic condition, which can ebb and flow. You can have good days and bad days."

Although there is no cure, there are more effective treatments for psoriasis today than ever before. These patches are caused when the life cycle of skin cells is sped up, which results in excess cells building up on your skin. People who have psoriasis may not even know they have it as it often is asymptomatic until an outbreak occurs.Common symptoms associated with psoriasis:

•      Small scaling spots
•      Swollen or stiff joints
•      Burning, itching, or soreness of the skin
•      Small scaling spots
•      Cracked and dry skin that may itch or bleed
•      Ridged or thickened nails
•      Red patches of skin covered with silvery scales

The different types of psoriasis that may present:

• Plaque psoriasis- This is the most common type of psoriasis that may occur, causing itchy and tender, raised, dry skin patches.Nail psoriasis -affects the toenails and the fingernails and may even cause the nails to loosen from the nail bed.
• Guttate psoriasis Children and young adults are normally affected by this disease, it is typically caused by an infection such as strep throat.
• Inverse psoriasis The skin folds such as areas in the buttocks, groin, and breasts are mainly affected in this type of psoriasis. Sweating and friction in these areas may cause psoriasis symptoms to worsen.
• Psoriatic arthritis This type of psoriasis affects the person’s joints, as they become painful and swollen.
• Pustular psoriasis- This is a rare type of psoriasis that is characterized by the formation of patches of pus-filled blisters throughout the body.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis- This is another rare type of psoriasis that covers the entire body with a peeling, red rash that may have an intense burning sensation or be itchy.

Treatment options:

Although psoriasis is an incurable disease, there are treatment options available to help manage and alleviate the symptoms associated with an outbreak.

"When I see a psoriasis patient, I first determine the extent of their condition. If it's fairly localized, I'm able to treat the patient with topical therapy by itself," Dr. Linda Stein Gold, Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, said in a previous interview with SurvivorNet. "But if they have a more widespread condition, topicals alone are not practical."

Treatment options can be grouped into three categories:

• Systemic treatments. These are oral or injectable medications that work throughout the body. Systemic treatments are generally recommended when topical treatments no longer work. Different types of oral medications that are currently available include Methotrexate, Apremilast (Otezla), and Cyclosporine. Injectable medications are called biologic drugs or biologics. These biologic drugs target the immune system to help reduce and control some of the symptoms that the patient may be experiencing.

• Topical Treatments. Topical creams and ointments are applied to the affected area of the skin and used for mild to moderate psoriasis. Topical treatments include emollients (moisturizing treatments),  steroid ointments or creams (topical corticosteroids), Vitamin D analogues creams, calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus or pimecrolimus), coal tar, and Dithranol. Some patients may find that a topical treatment may be sufficient to control the condition.

•  Phototherapy treatment. This treatment makes use of artificial and natural light sources to help control and alleviate psoriasis symptoms. Phototherapy is generally administered in hospitals, specialists care centers and by a dermatologist. Different types of phototherapy treatment include Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), Ultraviolet B (UVB), and combination light therapy.

In this blog, we are going to be going into more detail about the oral medication Otezla (apremilast), the first FDA-approved treatment for all types of psoriasis severities.

What is Otezla?

Otezla (apremilast) is an oral prescription medication that was approved by the FDA in December 2021 for the treatment of adult patients that present with plaque psoriasis and who qualify for systemic or phototherapy treatment. Otezla is also prescribed to adults that present with active psoriatic arthritis.

How Otezla works

Otezla® works by inhibiting (blocking) the enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), which is specific for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) as it is known to affect certain cells such as the skin cells, contributing to inflammation in the body. The blocking of the PDE4 enzyme results in a reduction in inflammation in the patient’s body.

The Benefits of Otezla for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

The benefits of Otezla include:

• It is the only FDA-approved pill to treat all severities (mild, moderate, and severe) of plaque psoriasis.
• Otezla reduces PDE4 activity, reducing inflammation
• Otezla (a pill) can be a more efficient and convenient option for treating psoriasis than using topical and phototherapy treatments.
• Data suggests and proves that patients may, when taking Otezla, have clear skin on their scalps after just four months of treatment for severe plaque psoriasis.
• Results suggest that 75% clearer skin is achievable for some severe plaque psoriasis patients.

Otezla Side Effects

Although there are some great benefits to Otezla, you may experience some side effects with taking this oral medication. It is very important that if you experience any side effects, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Some common side effects that may be experienced include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Tension headaches
•  Headache
• Upper respiratory infection

These are not all the side effects you may experience with taking Otezla; thus, it is important that you consult your doctor if any symptoms persist or if there are any other side effects that are bothering you.

Warnings and Precautions

You should notify your doctor or healthcare specialist as soon as possible if you experience any of the following more serious symptoms:

• Depression or suicidal behavior
• Weight loss without trying to lose weight
• Notice any mood changes
• Experience any other side effects

Before taking Otezla, it is important to disclose to your doctor if you:

• Have any medical conditions, such as kidney disease
• Have ever had depression
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the future
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
• take any other medication, including non-prescription medications, as some medications can make Otezla less effective.

You should not take Otezla if you know you are allergic to apremilast or any ingredient listed in Otezla.

How Otezla Should be taken

You will take Otezla as prescribed by your doctor or healthcare specialist, normally taking the pill twice a day. To reduce the side effects, your doctor may recommend slowly increasing the dose during the first week so that by day 7, you will be taking the full dose. It is not necessary to take Otezla with meals, although you can. It is important to swallow these pills and not chew, crush, or split them. These pills need to be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you happen to miss a dose of Otezla (life happens), take the medicine as soon as you can, but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the forgotten pills. It is very important not to take two doses at the same time.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Can I use Otezla with other treatments (topicals or phototherapy)?
• What do I do If I start experiencing unpleasant symptoms?
• Can I still take Otezla if I suffer from depression?
• Will I experience increased weight loss?

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