Acitretin

Acitretin is used to treat severe psoriasis (abnormal growth of skin cells that causes red, thickened, or scaly skin). Acitretin is in a class of medications called retinoids. The way acitretin works is not known.

Acitretin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with the main meal. Take acitretin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take acitretin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of acitretin and gradually increase your dose. Acitretin controls psoriasis but does not cure it. It may take 2-3 months or longer before you feel the full benefit of acitretin. Your psoriasis may get worse during the first few months of treatment. This does not mean that acitretin will not work for you, but tell your doctor if this happens. Continue to take acitretin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking acitretin without talking to your doctor. After you stop taking acitretin, your symptoms may come back. Tell your doctor if this happens. Do not use leftover acitretin to treat a new flare-up of psoriasis. A different medication or dose may be needed.

<p></p> <p>You may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are taking this medication. Your doctor will tell you what you should do if you develop hypoglycemia. He or she may tell you to check your blood sugar, eat or drink a food or beverage that contains sugar, such as hard candy or fruit juice, or get medical care. Follow these directions carefully if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia:

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shakiness</li>
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dizziness or lightheadedness</li>
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sweating </li>
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nervousness or irritability</li>
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sudden changes in behavior or mood</li>
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headache</li>
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numbness or tingling around the mouth</li>
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weakness</li>
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pale skin </li>
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hunger</li>
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clumsy or jerky movements</li></ul>If hypoglycemia is not treated, severe symptoms may develop. Be sure that your family, friends, and other people who spend time with you know that if you have any of the following symptoms, they should get medical treatment for you immediately.

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confusion</li>
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seizures</li>
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loss of consciousness</li></ul></p> <p>Acitretin may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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peeling, dry, itchy, scaling, cracked, blistered, sticky or infected skin</li>
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brittle or weak fingernails and toenails</li>
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dandruff</li>
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sunburn</li>
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abnormal skin odor</li>
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excessive sweating</li>
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hair loss</li>
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changes in hair texture</li>
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dry eyes</li>
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loss of eyebrows or eyelashes</li>
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hot flashes or flushing</li>
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chapped or swollen lips</li>
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swollen or bleeding gums</li>
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excessive saliva</li>
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tongue pain, swelling, or blistering</li>
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mouth swelling or blisters</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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increased appetite</li>
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difficulty falling or staying asleep</li>
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sinus infection</li>
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runny nose</li>
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dry nose</li>
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nosebleed</li>
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joint pain</li>
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tight muscles</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

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rash</li>
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headache</li>
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nausea</li>
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vomiting</li>
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blurred vision</li>
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pain, swelling, or redness of eyes or eyelids</li>
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eye pain</li>
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eyes sensitive to light</li>
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swelling of hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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redness or swelling in one leg only</li>
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depression</li>
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thoughts of hurting or killing yourself</li>
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bone, muscle, or back pain</li>
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difficulty moving any part of your body</li>
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loss of feeling in hands or feet</li>
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chest pain</li>
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slow or difficult speech</li>
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rash</li>
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tingling in arms and legs</li>
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loss of muscle tone</li>
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weakness or heaviness in legs</li>
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confusion</li>
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cold, gray skin</li>
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slow or irregular heartbeat</li>
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pale skin</li>
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dizziness</li>
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fast heartbeat</li>
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weakness</li>
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shortness of breath</li></ul>Acitretin may cause bone problems and slowing or stopping of growth in children. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child.Acitretin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking acitretin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acitretin, other retinoids such as adapalene (Differen), alitretinoin (Panretin), etretinate (Tegison), isotretinoin (Accutane), tazarotene (Tazorac), tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A, Vesanoid), Vitamin A, or any other medications. do not take methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall) or tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Doryx, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin), and tetracycline (Sumycin) while taking acitretin. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention the medications and herbs listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase, Micronase), other oral retinoids such as isotretinoin (Accutane) and tretinoin (Vesanoid), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and vitamin A. Also tell your doctor if you have ever taken etretinate (Tegison). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section; if you drink large amounts of alcohol; if you have a family history of high cholesterol or diabetes; if you have or have ever had diabetes, high cholesterol or triglycerides, spinal problems, depression, or stroke or mini-stroke; or if you have or have ever had joint, bone, kidney, or heart disease. you should know that acitretin may limit your ability to see at night. This problem may begin suddenly at any time during your treatment. Be very careful when driving at night. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps while taking acitretin. Acitretin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. if you need to have phototherapy, tell your doctor that you are taking acitretin. you should know that acitretin may dry your eyes and make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable during or after treatment. Remove your contact lenses and call your doctor if this happens.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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headache</li>
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dizziness</li>
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vomiting</li>
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upset stomach</li>
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dry, itchy skin</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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bone or joint pain</li></ul> If a female who could become pregnant takes an overdose of acitretin, she should take a pregnancy test after the overdose and use two forms of birth control for the next 3 years.