Otezla vs. Enbrel

Otezla (apremilast) and Enbrel (etanercept) are used to treat adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.

Enbrel is also used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Otezla is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor and Enbrel is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor.

Common side effects of Otezla include:

• diarrhea,
• headache,
• nausea,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• vomiting,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• abdominal pain,
• fatigue,
• indigestion/heartburn,
• decreased appetite,
• insomnia,
• back pain,
• frequent bowel movements,
• depression,
• bronchitis,
• tooth abscess, and
• sinus headache.

Common side effects of Enbrel include:

• Mild nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Redness or discomfort at the injection site
• Heartburn
• Weight changes
• Cold symptoms (cough, runny nose)
• Weakness

Serious side effects include:

• Seizures
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Skin changes (rash, pustules, blisters, patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped rash over cheeks and nose)
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Numbness and tingling, burning pain
• Vision changes
• Dizziness
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, confusion, neck stiffness, flu symptoms, itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing),
• Rapid weight gain
• Chest pain
• Ongoing cough
• Coughing up mucus or blood
• Black, bloody, or tarry stools
• Changes in mood or personality (in children)
• Joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizures (convulsions)

Otezla (apremilast) is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor used to treat adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.

Enbrel (etanercept) is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Otezla may interact with CYP450 inducers (such as rifampin).

Enbrel may interact with anakinra, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The recommended maintenance dosage is 30 mg twice daily taken orally starting on Day 6, after 5 days of an initial schedule of titration dosing.

Enbrel is available in three preparations; 0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept, 0.51 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept and 25 mg etanercept. All are used for injection; only the 25 mg strength is available in a multiuse vial, the others are available in a prefilled syringe. Starting dose is often 50 mg injected twice a week in adults and 0.8 mg per Kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 63 Kg. Other doses may be used.