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OTEZLA SIDE EFFECTS

  • Generic Name: apremilast tablets
  • Brand Name: Otezla
  • Drug Class: DMARDs, PDE4 Inhibitors
Last updated on MDtodate: 10/10/2022

SIDE EFFECTS

The following adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

Psoriatic Arthritis Clinical Trials

OTEZLA was evaluated in 3 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials [Studies PsA-1, PsA-2, and PsA-3] of similar design in adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis. Across the 3 studies, there were 1493 patients randomized equally to placebo, OTEZLA 20 mg twice daily or OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily. Titration was used over the first 5 days. Placebo patients whose tender and swollen joint counts had not improved by at least 20% were re-randomized 1:1 in a blinded fashion to either OTEZLA 20 mg twice daily or 30 mg twice daily at week 16 while OTEZLA patients remained on their initial treatment. Patients ranged in age from 18 to 83 years, with an overall median age of 51 years.

The majority of the most common adverse reactions presented in Table 1 occurred within the first 2 weeks of treatment and tended to resolve over time with continued dosing. Diarrhea, headache, and nausea were the most commonly reported adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation for patients taking OTEZLA were nausea (1.8%), diarrhea (1.8%), and headache (1.2%). The proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis who discontinued treatment due to any adverse reaction was 4.6% for patients taking OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily and 1.2% for placebo-treated patients.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients on OTEZLA 30 mg Twice Daily and ≥1% Than That Observed in Patients on Placebo for up to Day 112 (Week 16)

Preferred Term Placebo OTEZLA 30 mg BID
Day 1 to 5
(N=495)
n (%)c
Day 6 to Day 112
(N=490)
n (%)
Day 1 to 5
(N=497)
n (%)
Day 6 to Day 112
(N=493)
n (%)
Diarrheaa 6 (1.2) 8 (1.6) 46 (9.3) 38 (7.7)
Nauseaa 7 (1.4) 15 (3.1) 37 (7.4) 44 (8.9)
Headachea 9 (1.8) 11 (2.2) 24 (4.8) 29 (5.9)
Upper respiratory tract infectionb 3 (0.6) 9 (1.8) 3 (0.6) 19 (3.9)
Vomitinga 2 (0.4) 2 (0.4) 4 (0.8) 16 (3.2)
Nasopharyngitisb 1 (0.2) 8 (1.6) 1 (0.2) 13 (2.6)
Abdominal pain upperb 0 (0.0) 1 (0.2) 3 (0.6) 10 (2.0)
a Of the reported gastrointestinal adverse reactions, 1 subject experienced a serious adverse reaction of nausea and vomiting in OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily; 1 subject treated with OTEZLA 20 mg twice daily experienced a serious adverse reaction of diarrhea; 1 patient treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily experienced a serious adverse reaction of headache.
b Of the reported adverse drug reactions none were serious.
c n (%) indicates number of patients and percent.

 

Other adverse reactions reported in patients on OTEZLA in clinical studies including extension studies:

Immune system disorders: Hypersensitivity

Investigations: Weight decrease

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Frequent bowel movement, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Decreased appetite*

Nervous System Disorders: Migraine

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: Cough

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Rash

*1 patient treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily experienced a serious adverse reaction.

Psoriasis Clinical Trials

The safety of OTEZLA was assessed in 1426 subjects in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adult subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who were candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. Subjects were randomized to receive OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily or placebo twice daily. Titration was used over the first 5 days. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 83 years, with an overall median age of 46 years.

Diarrhea, nausea, and upper respiratory tract infection were the most commonly reported adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation for subjects taking OTEZLA were nausea (1.6%), diarrhea (1.0%), and headache (0.8%). The proportion of subjects with psoriasis who discontinued treatment due to any adverse reaction was 6.1% for subjects treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily and 4.1% for placebo-treated subjects.

Table 2: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥1% of Subjects on OTEZLA and With Greater Frequency Than in Subjects on Placebo; up to Day 112 (Week 16)

Preferred Term Placebo
(N=506)
n (%)
OTEZLA 30 mg BID
(N=920)
n (%)
Diarrhea 32 (6) 160 (17)
Nausea 35 (7) 155 (17)
Upper respiratory tract infection 31 (6) 84 (9)
Tension headache 21 (4) 75 (8)
Headache 19 (4) 55 (6)
Abdominal pain* 11 (2) 39 (4)
Vomiting 8 (2) 35 (4)
Fatigue 9 (2) 29 (3)
Dyspepsia 6 (1) 29 (3)
Decreased appetite 5 (1) 26 (3)
Insomnia 4 (1) 21 (2)
Back pain 4 (1) 20 (2)
Migraine 5 (1) 19 (2)
Frequent bowel movements 1 (0) 17 (2)
Depression 2 (0) 12 (1)
Bronchitis 2 (0) 12 (1)
Tooth abscess 0 (0) 10 (1)
Folliculitis 0 (0) 9 (1)
Sinus headache 0 (0) 9 (1)
*Two subjects treated with OTEZLA experienced serious adverse reaction of abdominal pain.

 

Severe worsening of psoriasis (rebound) occurred in 0.3% (4/1184) subjects following discontinuation of treatment with OTEZLA.

Behcet’s Disease Clinical Trials

OTEZLA was evaluated in a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study (BCT-002) in adult patients with Behcet’s Disease (BD) with active oral ulcers. A total of 207 patients were randomized to receive OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily or placebo twice daily. Titration was used over the first 5 days. After Week 12, all patients received treatment with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily. Patients ranged in age from 19 to 72, with a mean age of 40 years.

Diarrhea, nausea, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection were the most commonly reported adverse reactions. The proportion of patients with BD who discontinued treatment due to any adverse reaction during the placebo-controlled period of the study, was 2.9% for patients treated with OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily and 4.9% for placebo-treated patients.

Table 3: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥5% of Patients on OTEZLA and with at least 1% Greater Frequency than Patients on Placebo; up to Week 12

Preferred Term Placebo
(N=103) n (%)
OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily
(N=104) n (%)
Diarrheaa 21 (20.4) 43 (41.3)
Nauseaa 11 (10.7) 20 (19.2)
Headache 11 (10.7) 15 (14.4)
Upper respiratory tract infection 5 (4.9) 12 (11.5)
Abdominal pain upper 2(1.9) 9 (8.7)
Vomitinga 2(1.9) 9 (8.7)
Back pain 6 (5.8) 8 (7.7)
Viral upper respiratory tract infection 5 (4.9) 7 (6.7)
Arthralgia 3 (2.9) 6 (5.8)
a There were no serious adverse reactions of diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.

 

SRC: NLM .

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