Otezla
An oral, non-injectable route for psoriasis and Behçet's ulceration.
Otezla (apremilast) is a small-molecule PDE4 inhibitor taken as a tablet twice daily. It lowers inflammatory signalling without immunosuppression, requires no injections and no laboratory monitoring — which makes it a practical option for needle-averse patients and for milder disease.
- Oral
- Route
- Twice daily
- Interval
- 4–16 wks
- First results
- PDE4
- Target
- Dose titration
- Twice-daily tablets
- Weight and mood review
- 16-week assessment
Diagnosed first, treated second.
It is used in plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and oral ulcers of Behçet's disease. A short titration schedule limits the gastrointestinal effects of the first fortnight, and response is reviewed formally at sixteen weeks.
- 01Dose titration
- 02Twice-daily tablets
- 03Weight and mood review
- 0416-week assessment
- 05Escalation pathway
- Mild to moderate psoriasis
- Strong preference against injections
- Contraindication to immunosuppression
- Painful recurrent oral ulceration
- Patients who prefer no blood monitoring
How the treatment works
A sequence, not a single appointment — each step informs the next.
- 01
Suitability
Disease extent, joint involvement, needle preference and a review of mood and weight history.
- 02
Titration
A five-day step-up schedule to the full dose to reduce nausea and loose stools.
- 03
Full dose
One tablet morning and evening, taken continuously with meals.
- 04
16-week review
Formal response assessment; therapy continued, adjusted or escalated to a biologic.
Results measured, not promised.
What to expect
- 01Reduced plaque thickness and scaling
- 02Improvement in scalp and nail disease
- 03Fewer and less painful oral ulcers
- 04No injections and no blood monitoring
- 05Relief of psoriatic joint discomfort
Begin with a diagnosis,
not a guess.
Share a few details and the clinic will reply with available consultation times for otezla — one-to-one with Dr. Arely.
- Response
- Within 24 hours
- Consultation
- One-to-one, 45 min
- Assessment
- Trichoscopy included
- Location
- Dr. Arely Clinic
Frequently asked
Titration over five days markedly reduces the nausea and loose stools some patients feel initially.
No routine monitoring is required, which is one of its practical advantages.
Modest weight loss occurs in some patients and is checked at every review.
Treatment escalates to a targeted biologic without any washout complication.