Table 4.

Recommendations on Dose Titration and Maintenance, and Laboratory Monitoring

• Regarding laboratory monitoring, the panel considered that a complete blood count once or twice a year was sufficient for patients on apremilast monotherapy, and that other tests or procedures in patients on combination therapy should be performed keeping in mind monitoring recommendations of the other drug(s)

• The most relevant adverse events are gastrointestinal problems, headache, and weight loss. Prompt management of adverse effects can help to minimize their impact and enable patients to continue with treatment

• Apremilast should be titrated gradually and tailored according to the patient’s tolerance, especially in patients who do not tolerate standard dose titration

• Apremilast as 20 mg twice daily or 30 mg once daily can be considered as a long-term maintenance therapy in patients who have achieved clearance of their lesions