Let's take a minute to talk about your medication. 

This is Otezla, and it is used for conditions that have long-lasting inflammation. It helps treat psoriasis, and may improve the appearance of the skin. It also helps treat psoriatic arthritis, and may help reduce symptoms such as joint swelling and tenderness. 

You can take it with or without food. It's important to take the tablets whole. You should not crush, chew, or split them. You should take Otezla exactly as directed by your doctor. 

For the first 5 days of treatment, your doctor may start with a low dose and then increase it slowly. This should help reduce possible side effects, like diarrhea and nausea. Other side effects can occur with this medicine, like a mild headache, sore throat, or stuffy nose. If these or other side effects become reasons you want to stop taking Otezla, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 

You should always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicines, herbal remedies, or vitamins even if they don't require a prescription. 

As with any medicine, more serious side effects can occur. With Otezla, these include weight loss and depression. You should check your weight during therapy, and let your doctor know if you have unexplained weight loss. If you have changes in mood, depression, or even thoughts of suicide, these could be side effects of this type of medicine. If these happen, you should notify your doctor right away. 

For best results with Otezla, ask your doctor about additional patient programs and information that may be helpful to you.