Apremilast

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Date: June 2026, Version 1.0

Quick read

Apremilast is not often used during pregnancy because there is not enough evidence to say it is safe for the baby.

What is it?

Apremilast (Otezla®) is most commonly used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as mouth ulcers caused by Behçet’s disease.

Benefits

What are the benefits of using apremilast?

Apremilast can help keep inflammatory arthritis under control, which may reduce your symptoms and help prevent damage to your joints. It can also improve your health and wellbeing by keeping psoriasis and mouth ulcers under control.

However, apremilast is not recommended during pregnancy because there is not enough information to confirm that it is safe for your baby.

Risks

Are there any risks of using apremilast in pregnancy?

There is no information available about women who have taken apremilast during pregnancy, so it is unclear whether it can harm the baby.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to using apremilast in pregnancy?

Yes. If you are planning a pregnancy, your specialist will usually advise you to stop apremilast treatment. You may be offered a different medicine that is known to be safer during pregnancy.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?

Your doctor will be happy to discuss any concerns about medicines prescribed during pregnancy.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

As part of routine antenatal care, you will usually be offered a detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check your baby’s development. Women who have taken apremilast during pregnancy may be offered this scan from around 16 weeks.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.