Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Jamp Apremilast
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
JAMP Apremilast is used in adults to treat:
- Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
- Psoriatic arthritis. For these patients, JAMP Apremilast will be given alone or in combination with methotrexate. It will be given if you cannot use another type of medicine called ‘Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs’ (DMARDs) or if you have tried one of these medicines and it did not work.
- Oral ulcers associated with Behçet’s disease.
JAMP Apremilast is not approved for use in combination with any other medicines taken by mouth used to treat psoriasis, biological therapies (such as TNF antagonists and anti-IL-12/23 p40 antibodies) or with phototherapy (light therapy using UV light).
What it does:
JAMP Apremilast belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors. It contains the active ingredient apremilast which works by reducing the activity of PDE4. This results in less inflammation in the skin and joints.
When it should not be used:
Do not take JAMP Apremilast if you:
- Are allergic to apremilast or to any non-medicinal ingredient in the formulation
Have one of the following rare hereditary diseases:
- Galactose intolerance
- Lapp lactase deficiency
- Glucose-galactose malabsorption
because lactose is a non-medicinal ingredient in JAMP Apremilast.
Are breastfeeding. It is not known if JAMP Apremilast passes into your breast milk. JAMP Apremilast should not be used if you are breastfeeding.
- Are younger than 18 years old
- Are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. It is not known if JAMP Apremilast will harm your unborn baby. If you take JAMP Apremilast while you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about how you can be included in the JAMP Apremilast Enhanced Surveillance Program for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Apremilast
What the non-medicinal ingredients are:
Croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, iron oxide black (30 mg only), iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, lactose monohydrate, macrogol, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, titanium dioxide.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Tablets: 10 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
BEFORE you use JAMP Apremilast talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- Have kidney problems
- Have a history of the heart condition, tachyarrhythmia (fast heartbeat or heart palpitations)
- Have heart disease or congestive heart failure
- Have tuberculosis or a viral infection such as viral hepatitis, herpes infection or shingles
- Are using immunosuppressive drugs (such as cyclosporine)
- Have a history of depression and / or suicidal thoughts or behaviours
- Have low blood pressure
- Have any other medical conditions
- Are 65 years of age or older.
JAMP Apremilast can cause weight loss. Your doctor will need to regularly monitor your weight.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
As with most medicines, interactions with other drugs are possible. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including drugs prescribed by other doctors, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with JAMP Apremilast:
- Rifampin, used to treat tuberculosis
- Medicines used to control seizures such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine and phenytoin
- Medicines that suppress your immune system such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus
- Methotrexate to treat your psoriasis
- Biological therapies, such as TNF antagonists and anti-IL-12/23 p40 antibodies
- The botanical medicine St. John’s Wort.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Take JAMP Apremilast exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. JAMP Apremilast should be taken by mouth and swallowed whole, with or without food. The tablets should not be crushed, split, or chewed.
Usual adult dose:
The recommended dose is 30 mg twice a day. When you first start taking JAMP Apremilast, the dose needs to be increased gradually; therefore, you must follow the instructions below.
Dose titration schedule:
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of JAMP Apremilast, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time. Do not double dose.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Like all medicines, JAMP Apremilast can have side effects. If any of these side effects affect you severely, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Upper respiratory tract infection (e.g., common cold)
- Flu (body aches and pains, tiredness, fever)
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal discomfort, indigestion
- Fatigue, trouble sleeping
- Back pain
- Joint discomfort or pain
- Dizziness.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
|---|---|---|
| AM | ||
| AM | PM | |
| AM | PM | |
| 10 mg | ||
| 10 mg | 10 mg | |
| 10 mg | 20 mg | |
| Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 |
| AM | ||
| PM | ||
| AM | PM | |
| AM | PM | |
| 20 mg | ||
| 20 mg | ||
| 20 mg | 30 mg | |
| 30 mg | 30 mg | |
Overdose:
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much JAMP Apremilast, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.
MORE INFORMATION
If you want more information about JAMP Apremilast:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
Find the full Product Monograph that is prepared for
healthcare professionals and includes the
Consumer Information by visiting the Health Canada Drug Product Database website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); or by calling 1-866-399-9091.
JAMP Pharma Corporation
1310 rue Nobel
Boucherville, Québec
J4B 5H3, Canada
Date of Revision: JUL 14, 2025
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking JAMP Apremilast, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store JAMP Apremilast between 15-30°C.
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |||||||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||||||||
| COMMON | |||||||||
| Migraine | ✓ | ||||||||
| Depression | ✓ | ||||||||
| Weight loss | ✓ | ||||||||
| UNCOMMON | |||||||||
| Palpitations: Fast and / or irregular heartbeat | ✓ | ||||||||
| Allergic reaction: Rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing | ✓ | ||||||||
| Infection of the lungs: Shortness of breath, difficult and painful breathing, cough, wheezing and fever | ✓ | ||||||||
| Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (bleeding in the digestive tract): Black, tarry stool; blood coming from the rectum, blood in vomit | ✓ | ||||||||
| Severe diarrhea: Loose, watery stool | ✓ | ||||||||
| Severe nausea: Feeling the need to throw up | ✓ | ||||||||
| Severe vomiting: Throwing up | ✓ | ||||||||
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
Keep JAMP Apremilast tablets and all medicines out of reach and sight of children.