Acitretin Drug: Indication, Dosage, Precaution, Side Effect , Storage, Category Type and corresponding Brands - www.genericdrugscan.com

Acitretin

pronunciation

pronounced as (a si tre' tin)

Why is this medication prescribed?

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.

How should this medicine be used?

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.

What are the precautions to be followed?

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have had a serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing or swallowing, hives, itching, or swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes) to acitretin, other retinoids such as adapalene (Differen, in Epiduo), alitretinoin (Panretin), isotretinoin (Absorica, Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Sotret, Zenatane), tazarotene (Avage, Fabior, Tazorac), tretinoin (Atralin, Avita, Renova, Retin-A), or any of the ingredients in acitretin capsules. Your doctor will probably tell you not to use acitretin. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: methotrexate (Trexall) or tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline, doxycycline (Doryx, Monodox, Oracea, Periostat, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn), and tetracycline (Sumycin, in Helidac, in Pylera) while taking acitretin. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take acitretin if you are taking one or more of these medications.
• 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, in Glucovance), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and vitamin A (in multivitamins). 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 and if you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, a family history of high cholesterol levels, or kidney disease. Your doctor may tell you that you should not take acitretin.
• tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol; if you have diabetes or high blood sugar, spinal problems, depression, or stroke or mini-stroke; or if you have or have ever had joint, bone, or heart disease.
• do not breast-feed while taking acitretin or if you have recently stopped taking acitretin.
• 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.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

• peeling, dry, itchy, scaling, cracked, blistered, sticky or infected skin
• brittle or weak fingernails and toenails
• dandruff
• sunburn
• abnormal skin odor
• excessive sweating
• hair loss
• changes in hair texture
• dry eyes
• loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
• hot flashes or flushing
• chapped or swollen lips
• swollen or bleeding gums
• excessive saliva
• tongue pain, swelling, or blistering
• mouth swelling or blisters
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• increased appetite
• difficulty falling or staying asleep
• sinus infection
• runny nose
• dry nose
• nosebleed
• joint pain
• tight muscles
• changes in taste

• rash
• headache
• extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, or weakness
• dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, breath that smells fruity, and decreased consciousness
• pain, swelling, or redness of eyes or eyelids
• eye pain
• eyes sensitive to light
• swelling of hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• redness or swelling in one leg only
• depression
• thoughts of hurting or killing yourself
• bone, muscle, or back pain
• difficulty moving any part of your body
• loss of feeling in hands or feet
• chest pain
• slow or difficult speech
• tingling in arms and legs
• loss of muscle tone
• weakness or heaviness in legs
• cold, gray, or pale skin
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• weakness
• shortness of breath
• ear pain or ringing

Acitretin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.

Drug Category/Class

• Keratolytic Agents
• Antipsoriatics
• Drugs for Keratoseborrheic Disorders (Atc Human: Antipsoriatics)
• Retinoids for Treatment of Psoriasis
• Antipsoriatics for Systemic Use
• Retinoids for for Systemic Use
• Drugs for Keratoseborrheic Disorders, Systemic Use (Atc Human: Antipsoriatics for Systemic Use)
• Dermatologicals
• Retinoids for treatment of psoriasis

Prescribed	For the treatment of severe psoriasis in adults.
Weight :	326.4293
Structure	Acitretin
Formula	C21H26O3

Acitretin has 9 Brands listed

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