Otezla (apremilast) is prescribed to treat psoriatic arthritis and certain other conditions. It works by reducing the activity of the immune system. Your response to this drug may depend on your medical history and diagnosis.
Otezla belongs to a class of medications called phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors. These drugs work by adjusting certain activity of the immune system.
The way a drug works is known medically as its mechanism of action.
Otezla is not an immunosuppressant drug, but it changes how your immune system uses inflammation for certain conditions. Specifically, Otezla decreases inflammation that your immune system causes. This helps to ease symptoms of the condition it’s treating.
The time it takes for Otezla to work for certain conditions varies. In studies of Otezla, some people experienced improvement in:
- plaque psoriasis after 16 weeks of treatment
- psoriatic arthritis after 16 weeks of treatment
- oral ulcers from Behcet disease after 12 weeks of treatment
Talk with your doctor to learn more about Otezla and how soon it may work to treat your condition.
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