Acitretin and Itching: What Users Say

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2018

For Psoriasis "I have been taking acitretin for about 6 weeks, 25 mg daily. My psoriasis has mostly cleared, still got white patches, but I find the side effects are terrible. I constantly itch, especially on my scalp, I never had psoriasis on my scalp. My arms and legs have peeled, and my hands and feet continue to peel, they look awful. My lips are chapped. I have a waxy layer in my mouth, which means I can’t taste food anymore, and my skin feels waxy and sticky as well and so fragile. I just have to brush against something, and it takes a layer off. At this moment, I am full of grazes from all the scratching. I know that these are the side effects stated, but will it ever get better?"

• Chi...
• September 17, 2021

For Psoriasis "Started our daughter on 10 mg daily 8 days ago. Her plaques got very itchy and dry, red and sore. Today came the severe joint pain! Shame because it was starting to work. We were advised to stop and are awaiting approval for biologics. It’s so awful having to treat a 7-year-old with such heavy-duty medicines. Would recommend the medication if you can tolerate it."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2021

For Psoriasis "I was prescribed this medication for psoriasis and found it was reasonably effective to begin with at 10 mg per day. After a couple of months, the condition became quite inflamed, and my dermatologist took me off it for a period of 2 weeks. After resuming the treatment, the results were reasonable once again; but the side effects became too significant to tolerate. Most notably were skin irritation and redness in various other regions previously unaffected, insufferable ringing in ears, and weakened nails. Blood tests revealed an undesirable effect on liver and cholesterol readings. I have given this medication away on the basis that the cure is worse than the condition."