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Mint-Apremilast
Patient Information
About MINT-APREMILAST
MINT-APREMILAST is used in adults to treat:
- Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
- psoriatic arthritis. For these patients, MINTAPREMILAST 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.
MINT-APREMILAST is not approved for use in combination with any other medications taken by mouth used to treat psoriasis, biological therapies (such as TNF antagonists and anti-LL-12/23 p40 antibodies) or with phototherapy (light therapy using UV light).
What it does:
MINT-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 MINT-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 MINT-APREMILAST
- are breastfeeding. It is not known if MINT-APREMILAST passes into your breast milk. MINT-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 MINT-APREMILAST will harm your unborn baby. If you take MINT-APREMILAST while you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about how you can be included in the MINT-APREMILAST Enhanced Surveillance Program for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.
What the medicinal ingredient is:
- apremilast
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium
stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, titanium
dioxide, polyethylene glycol, talc, iron oxide red, iron oxide
yellow and iron oxide black.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Tablets: 30mg
Warnings & Precautions
BEFORE you use MINT-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.
- 65 years of age or older.
MINT-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 MINT-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 MINT-APREMILAST exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. MINT-APREMILAST should be taken by mouth and swallowed whole, with or without food. The tablets should not be crushed, spit, or chewed.
Usual adult dose:
The recommended dose is 30 mg twice a day. When you first start taking MINT-APREMILAST, the dose needs to be increased gradually; therefore, you must follow the instructions below:
Please note: MINT-APREMILAST is not available in the 10 mg and 20 mg strength tablets. Commercially available Apremilast 10 mg and 20 mg tablets should be used for dose titration.
Overdose:
If you think you have taken too much MINT-APREMILAST, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of MINT-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.
Additional Information
Side effects & what to do about them:
Like all medicines, MINT-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 (ex: common cold)
- flu (body aches and pains, tiredness, fever)
- decreased appetite
- abdominal discomfort, indigestion
- fatigue, trouble sleeping
- back pain
- joint discomfort or pain
- dizziness
Serious side effects, how often they Happen and what to do about them:
How to Store It:
Store MINT-APREMILAST at 15°C to 30°C.
Keep MINT-APREMILAST tablets and all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
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://www.canada.ca/en/healthcanada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffectcanada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
Note: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
More Information :
For more information or to obtain the full product monograph that is prepared for health professionals and includes this Consumer Information visit the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html); the manufacturer’s website www.mintpharmaceuticals.com, or by calling 1-877-398-9696.
This leaflet was prepared by:
Mint Pharmaceuticals Inc.
6575 Davand Drive,
Mississauga, ON L5T 2M3
Last Revised: March 02, 2022
This leaflet was prepared by:
Mint Pharmaceuticals Inc.
6575 Davand Drive,
Mississauga, ON L5T 2M3
Last Revised: March 02, 2022
*This website does not constitute medical advice and is for educational purposes only. For further information, please consult your physician. If you believe you are experiencing an adverse event, please consult your physician.*