Hypersensitivity : Cases of angioedema and anaphylaxis have been reported during post marketing surveillance. Avoid the use of OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR in patients with known hypersensitivity to apremilast or to any of the excipients in the formulation. If signs or symptoms of serious hypersensitivity reactions develop during treatment, discontinue OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR and institute appropriate therapy Diarrhea, Nausea, and Vomiting : Consider OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR dosage reduction or suspension if patients develop severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting Depression : Advise patients, their caregivers, and families to be alert for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or other mood changes and if such changes occur to contact their healthcare provider. Carefully weigh risks and benefits of treatment with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR in patients with a history of depression and/or suicidal thoughts or behavior Weight Decrease : Monitor weight regularly. If unexplained or clinically significant weight loss occurs, evaluate weight loss and consider discontinuation of OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR Drug Interactions : Use with strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers (e.g., rifampin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin) is not recommended because loss of efficacy may occur 5.1 Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity reactions, including cases of angioedema and anaphylaxis, have been reported during post marketing surveillance. Avoid the use of OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR in patients with known hypersensitivity to apremilast or to any of the excipients in the formulation. If signs or symptoms of serious hypersensitivity reactions develop during treatment, discontinue OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR and institute appropriate therapy
Diarrhea, Nausea, and Vomiting There have been reports of severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting associated with the use of OTEZLA. Most events occurred within the first few weeks of treatment. In some cases, patients were hospitalized. Patients 65 years of age or older and patients taking medications that can lead to volume depletion or hypotension may be at a higher risk of complications from severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Monitor patients who are more susceptible to complications of diarrhea or vomiting. Patients who reduced dosage or discontinued OTEZLA generally improved quickly. Consider OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR dosage reduction or suspension if patients develop severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
Depression Treatment with apremilast is associated with an increased incidence of depression. Before using OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR in patients with a history of depression and/or suicidal thoughts or behavior, carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treatment with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR. Advise patients, their caregivers, and families of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or other mood changes, and if such changes occur to contact their healthcare provider. Carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of continuing treatment with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR if such events occur. Psoriatic Arthritis : During the 16-week placebo-controlled period of the 3 controlled clinical trials, 1.0% (10/998) of subjects treated with OTEZLA reported depression or depressed mood compared to 0.8% (4/495) treated with placebo. During the clinical trials, 0.3% (4/1441) of subjects treated with OTEZLA discontinued treatment due to depression or depressed mood compared with none in placebo treated subjects (0/495). Depression was reported as serious in 0.2% (3/1441) of subjects exposed to OTEZLA, compared to none in placebo-treated subjects (0/495). Instances of suicidal ideation and behavior have been observed in 0.2% (3/1441) of subjects while receiving OTEZLA, compared to none in placebo treated subjects (0/495). In the clinical trials, 2 subjects who received placebo committed suicide compared to none in OTEZLA-treated subjects. Plaque Psoriasis : During the 16-week placebo-controlled period of the 3 controlled clinical trials in adult subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, 1.3% (12/920) of subjects treated with OTEZLA reported depression compared to 0.4% (2/506) treated with placebo. During the clinical trials, 0.1% (1/1308) of subjects treated with OTEZLA discontinued treatment due to depression compared with none in placebo-treated subjects (0/506). Depression was reported as serious in 0.1% (1/1308) of subjects exposed to OTEZLA, compared to none in placebo-treated subjects (0/506). Instances of suicidal behavior have been observed in 0.1% (1/1308) of subjects while receiving OTEZLA, compared to 0.2% (1/506) in placebo-treated subjects. In the clinical trials, one subject treated with OTEZLA attempted suicide while one who received placebo committed suicide. During the 16-week placebo-controlled period of the clinical trial in adults with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, the incidence of subjects reporting depression was similar to what was observed in the adult moderate to severe plaque psoriasis trials. Behçet's Disease : During the placebo-controlled period of the phase 3 trial, 1% (1/104) of subjects treated with OTEZLA reported depression/depressed mood compared to 1% (1/103) treated with placebo. None of these reports of depression was serious or led to discontinuation from the trial. No instances of suicidal ideation or behavior were reported during the placebo-controlled period of the phase 3 trial in subjects treated with OTEZLA (0/104) or treated with placebo (0/103)
Weight Decrease Weight loss may occur in adult or pediatric patients treated with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR. Regularly monitor the weight of patients treated with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR. If unexplained or clinically significant weight loss occurs, evaluate weight loss and consider discontinuation of OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR . Weight Loss in Adult Patients During the placebo-controlled period of the trials in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), weight decrease between 5%-10% of body weight was reported in 10% (49/497) of subjects treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily compared to 3.3% (16/495) treated with placebo. During the placebo-controlled period of the trials in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, weight decrease between 5%-10% of body weight occurred in 12% (96/784) of subjects treated with OTEZLA compared to 5% (19/382) treated with placebo. Weight decrease of ≥ 10% of body weight occurred in 2% (16/784) of subjects treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily compared to 1% (3/382) subjects treated with placebo. During the placebo-controlled period of the clinical trial in adults with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, weight decrease was similar to what was observed in the trials of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. During the placebo-controlled period of the phase 3 trial in Behçet's Disease, weight decrease > 5% of body weight was reported in 4.9% (5/103) of subjects treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily compared to 3.9% (4/102) subjects treated with placebo. Weight Loss in Pediatric Patients During the placebo-controlled period of the clinical trial in pediatric subjects 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, weight decrease between 5%-10% of body weight occurred in 12% (19/163) of pediatric subjects treated with OTEZLA compared to 2.5% (2/80) of pediatric subjects treated with placebo. Weight decrease of ≥ 10% of body weight occurred in 1% (1/163) of pediatric subjects treated with OTEZLA twice daily compared to 0% (0/80) of pediatric subjects treated with placebo. Closely monitor growth (height and weight) in pediatric patients treated with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR. Pediatric patients who are not growing or gaining weight as expected may need to have their treatment interrupted
Drug Interactions Co-administration of strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducer, rifampin, resulted in a reduction of systemic exposure of apremilast, which may result in a loss of efficacy of OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR. Therefore, the use of cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers (e.g., rifampin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin) with OTEZLA/OTEZLA XR is not recommended .