otezla

Storing Otezla, and how long it keeps

Quoted from this product’s own FDA label. Storage belongs to the product and its device, not to the drug in general — a pen and a tablet of the same medicine are kept completely differently.

• “Store OTEZLA tablets below 30°C (86°F).”
• “Store OTEZLA XR tablets between 20°C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].”

How long does Apremilast stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of apremilast is about 6 to 9 hours (terminal elimination half-life) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the terminal (beta) elimination half-life of the parent drug apremilast in healthy adults; plasma clearance is about 10 L/hr. Apremilast is NOT a prodrug, and its main metabolite, M12 (a glucuronide of O-demethylated apremilast, ~39% of circulating drug), is INACTIVE — so the parent's half-life is the one that matters and there is no longer-lasting active metabolite to report. Population effects the label names: liver — no dose change needed, PK is unaffected by moderate or severe hepatic impairment; kidney — unaffected by mild or moderate renal impairment, but in severe renal impairment a single 30 mg dose gave ~88% higher AUC and ~42% higher Cmax (label calls for dose reduction); older adults (65-85 yrs) — modestly higher exposure (~13% AUC, ~6% Cmax) versus younger adults. This is not a drug-test detection window or dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: OTEZLA (apremilast) — DailyMed label, Clinical Pharmacology 12.3.

Frequently asked questions

What does Otezla treat?

Otezla (Apremilast) may be used to treat psoriatic arthritis, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How is Otezla rated?

pharmaranks gives Otezla a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

Is there a coupon or discount for Otezla?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Otezla. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Otezla?

Otezla is marketed by Amgen Inc. You can see Amgen Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Otezla a brand-name or generic drug?

Otezla is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Apremilast. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Apremilast are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Otezla available over the counter?

No. Otezla is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Otezla come in?

Otezla is currently marketed as tablet and kit, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Otezla?

Otezla is classified as phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Otezla FDA-registered?

Otezla is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA210745. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Otezla been recalled by the FDA?

Otezla has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Otezla safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Otezla a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.