Once you start taking Apremilast (Otelal), do you need to continue taking it for a long time?

Apremilast is an oral phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, mainly used for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Its mechanism of action is to relieve skin lesions and joint symptoms by regulating cytokines mediated by immune inflammation. Because it targets the immune-inflammatory pathway rather than directly killing diseased and injured cells, the efficacy of the drug is closely related to continued medication.

In general, the maintenance of efficacy of apremilast depends on continuous administration. Clinical studies have shown that patients' symptoms may gradually return over weeks to months after stopping the drug, especially skin lesions or joint pain. It usually takes several weeks for the medication to take effect, so you need to be patient and adhere to the medication in the early stages of treatment, and follow up with your doctor regularly to evaluate the efficacy. If patients discontinue medication after achieving significant improvement, they may be at risk of disease relapse or worsening of symptoms.

In some cases, doctors may consider adjusting the medication plan based on the patient's condition, symptom relief, and adverse reactions. For example, for patients with stable disease and mild long-term symptoms, intermittent dosing or tapering regimens may be explored, but this must be done under the guidance of a professional physician. Unauthorized discontinuation of medication or arbitrary changes in dosage may result in unstable condition or decreased efficacy of the medication, so patients should not make their own decisions.

In addition, long-term adherence to medication requires attention to safety and tolerability. The adverse reactions of apremilast are mostly mild to moderate, including gastrointestinal reactions, headaches, weight changes, etc., which can usually be alleviated through dose adjustment or lifestyle management. Through regular follow-up, monitoring of blood routine and clinical symptoms, patients can use apremilast for a long time within a safe range to maintain efficacy, control disease progression and improve quality of life.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/