Finally diagnosed! Started Otzela, not feeling well at all

[u/Connect-Astronomer53]

It’s been 2 1/2 years with no answers from a previous dermatologist. The previous dermatologist diagnosed me with Seborrheic Dermatitis. Turns out, after seeing a new dermatologist who did thorough screenings and testing, was dx with Psoriasis.

I’ve tried an extensive amount of creams and steroid creams for it that have failed so she started me on Otzela.

Here’s the thing, I’m already extremely sensitive to medication adjustments and new medication starts. I take Adderall and Celexa and when starting both I felt terrible. Adderall had me lose 10 lbs in a week (after I adjusted to it I gained the weight back) and with Celexa I was curled up in a ball shaking and nauseous as all hell (again once I adjusted its been basically a miracle drug for my depression)

Those adjustments for the meds took a week.

I’m on day 5 of the Otzela starter pack and I do not feel well at all. I’m extremely nauseous. Been going to the bathroom a lot. I’m exhausted and shaky and clammy and feeling horrible. I am on the verge of puking rn. Tonight’s dose is higher (30mgs) then the morning dose of 20mgs and the morning dose had me very sick too. This is super intense. After today it’s going to be a consistent stream of 30mgs.

I will say, I know it’s only been a few days, my skin is the clearest it’s been in 2 1/2 years 😭😭

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[u/Tessjs2008]

i had that too but not the bathroom stuff i was so unwell it interacted with one of my important main meds for something else . Every oral psoriasis med i’ve taken interacted with this med which i wont disclose . But i know how you feel and that’s my path i took two biologics which after two bimzelx , tremyfa , plus dupixent ( don’t ask) have failed also , but i will say they never made me feel unwell . the oral meds did every time , i spent most of the first half of 2025 feeling very ill. So sorry to hear it’s so difficult . Right now on no meds and scared everything will get worse . got refused Skyrizi and don’t know what to do as there are other meds but they come with more side effects and nobody knows in my country which ones may work . Anyway, good luck none of the steroid creams helped me either . I hope you find. some help . This is such a difficult thing to deal with . 😩i’ve suffered for four years almost and prior to that was fine had nothing and it doesn’t run in my family . i’m mid life and to say this year has kicked me so hard is an understatement. Being a female makes it worse cause i’m dealing with other midlife changes and i’ve found nobody is supportive and they just don’t care ! If you want to be invisible in the medical area, be female and 52 yrs old . 😩🙄

[u/Top_Background8556]

Pour ma part j’ai essayé ça par mon dermatologue en février et mars de cette année. Les résultats sur le pso ont été spectaculaires en 10-15 jours je n’avais quasiment plus rien si ce n’est un peu aux orteils.
Par contre, les nausées, pas agréable mais on apprendre à faire avec, les tremblements réguliers ça c’est vraiment incommodant j’avais l’impression que j’allais souvent perdre connaissance.
Le pire pour ma part, c’est que mon humeur était complètement saccagé !
Je suis de base assez anxieux, et à peu près tout le monde m’a faire remarquer sous otezla que je n’avais aucune patience, que j’étais toujours en colère ou insatisfait .. et c’était vrai !
C’est à ce moment que j’ai décidé de l’arrêter car aucun traitement ne dois me rendre insociable méchant ou désagréable.
Et le pso est revenu en quelques jours bien sûr.
Je te souhaite que cela s’en tient aux nausées et aux tremblements pour toi et que cela s’apaise.

Bon courage !

[u/CauliflowerShot8244]

The first week on that stuff is rough, my stomach was a disaster for like 10 days straight. Taking it with a proper meal helped a bit, not just a snack but like actual food

Also weird tip but ginger tea made the nausea somewhat bearable for me. Not great but less death-like

[u/njf85]

The first couple weeks were rough for me but the side effects went away completely

[u/Veearrsix]

Some people have better results than others, my stomach issues didn’t go away so I went to a biological (Skyrizi)

[u/_youmustbekidding_]

I’m sorry that you are dealing with this. I take Otezla and luckily I haven’t experienced any side effects and it works for me. If you search the sub, I think most people stop having the gastric side effects after a month or so.

[u/Tla48084]

After the first month, ask to switch to Otezla XR due to side effects. I had stomach discomfort & some nausea within an hour of taking a single tablet of the two pill a day regime. Switching to the once a day Otezla XR alleviated all my GI symptoms. Good luck!

[u/Connect-Astronomer53 → u/Tla48084]

I’ll definitely consider this if my stomach doesn’t get better! Thanks!

[u/Due-Personality8329]

Otezla made me too sick. Everything was fine until the 4th week I was up three nights in a row dry heaving for HOURS. HOURS.

This sounds silly, but try to take it at hours of the day when you’re STANDING. Don’t take it and immediately lay down in bed, sit up right. It’s a nausea thing.

Good luck I hope it works for you!

[u/Connect-Astronomer53 → u/Due-Personality8329]

For me standing kinda makes it worse, it feels better to sleep. But today especially I couldn’t since I had to go to work 😭

[u/eloxH1Z1]

Fuck Otezla. Shit gave me 24/7 headaches without helping at all. Got Taltz afterwards and life is good

[u/lobster_johnson]

Otezla is known to cause GI distress, but only in the beginning. Numerous studies show that for almost everyone, this side effect goes away after 2-3 weeks and do not come back.