Acitretin

 

Commonly Used Generic Name:  Acitretin

Commonly Used Brand Name:  Soriatane

 

Why and for what would I be taking this drug?

This medication is commonly used to treat mild to severe cases of psoriasis.  Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects millions of people the world over.  It is known to be more of nuisance than anything but some of the more severe cases have been known to create problems that are associated with the inner organs.  The main scope of treatment is to improve the quality of life for the patients.  This comes in the form of improving the look and feel of the skin.  This will in turn aid in the life quality rising in order for the patient to more easily go about normal activities.  Itching is another common factor in this disease and this drug is designed to aid in the calming of the reflex.

The exact cause of this disease is not known therefore there is no cure.  What doctors hope to do through the use of medications such as this one is to treat the symptoms that will therefore help the patient better deal with the illness?

How do I take this medication?

Like all medications, you should follow the orders of the prescribing doctor.  He/she may administer this medication in one of two ways.  The first being an aerosol inhalation form.  This is the preferred form of delivery as it speeds the time at which the medication enters the bloodstream thereby allowing it to begin working a lot faster than other forms.  The success rate with this drug is much higher with the aerosol form.  You should always rinse your mouth after taking this drug as the chance of developing a mouth rash is possible when it is not properly rinsed following the inhalation.

This medication also comes in capsule form for those who are not candidates for the aerosol form.  The capsules are usually taken two to three times daily and must be taken with some type of food even if it is nothing more than a piece of bread.  This medication can be very hard on the stomach because of the power of the chemicals involved in making it.

Should I be worried about interactions with other drugs that I am taking?

For safety reasons it is always important to inform your doctor about all of the medications that you are currently taking.  The possibility is always there for some sort of harmful interaction with another medication that has yet to be discovered.  To be safe you should always tell your doctor about all medications, even over the counter medications that you are taking so that he or she can properly determine if there is the chance of a harmful interaction.

There is a list of possible interacting drugs below that should not be taken in conjunction with this medication.  If you are taking or have taken any of these drugs recently then you should inform your doctor before taking this medication.

Ethanol: Concurrent use of alcohol and acitretin may lead to the formation of etretinate, which increases the duration of teratogenic potential in women.
Glyburide: The glucose-lowering effect of glyburide may be potentiated.
Methotrexate: Because the risk of hepatitis may be increased, concurrent use is contraindicated.
Phenytoin: Protein binding of phenytoin may be reduced.
Progestin "minipill": Acitretin may interfere with the contraceptive effect.
Tetracyclines: Because acitretin and tetracyclines can cause increased intracranial pressure, concurrent use is contraindicated.
Vitamin A, oral retinoids: Because the risk of hypervitaminosis A is increased, concurrent use is contraindicated.

Are there any side effects associated with this medication?

As with nearly every medication currently on the market, there are some side effects that have been known to occur in some patients when taking this drug.  You should tell your doctor if any of these side effects occur and if they become severe.  If any other side effects occur then it is important that you talk to your doctor about them as they may be caused by drug interaction or an allergic reaction to this medication. 

  • Headache and depression have occurred with people that are taking this drug.  If the headaches persist then you should contact your doctor.
  • Hot flashes and periods of increased temperature. 
  • Joint pain
  • Skin peeling in affected areas
  • Sensitivity to light, especially sunlight.

 

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