Skip to main content

Drug Interactions between acitretin and etretinate

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

Edit list (add/remove drugs)

Interactions between your drugs

Major

etretinate acitretin

Applies to: etretinate and acitretin

GENERALLY AVOID: Concomitant use of a retinoid with vitamin A or other retinoids may result in hypervitaminosis A and additive toxicities. Patients may be at increased risk for potentially serious adverse effects such as vision impairment, pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension), mucositis, esophagitis, hepatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, ileitis, and colitis.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving retinoid therapy should avoid concurrent use of other retinoids or vitamin A supplements in excess of the recommended daily allowance. Patients should be made aware of vitamin A sources in vitamin supplements, fortified foods and over-the-counter medications, and be advised to contact their physician if they experience signs of hypervitaminosis A such as inflammation or bleeding of the gums or lips; dry, scaly skin; alopecia; pruritus; erythema; headache; vertigo; and nausea. Patients should discontinue the medication and seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs and symptoms of pseudotumour cerebri (e.g., headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, papilledema) or hepatotoxicity (e.g., fever, rash, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, jaundice).

References

  1. "Product Information. Accutane (isotretinoin)." Roche Laboratories PROD (2001):
  2. "Product Information. Soriatane (acitretin)." Roche Laboratories PROD (2001):
  3. "Product Information. Vesanoid (tretinoin)." Roche Laboratories PROD (2001):
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  5. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
View all 5 references

Switch to consumer interaction data

Drug and food interactions

Major

acitretin food

Applies to: acitretin

CONTRAINDICATED: Ethanol consumption with acitretin leads to the formation of etretinate, which has a much longer half-life than acitretin. Major human fetal abnormalities have been associated with the administration of acitretin, etretinate, and other retinoids. The longer elimination half-life of etretinate relative to acitretin increases the duration of teratogenic potential for female patients. In one case report of a patient with apparent sporadic ethanol intake, etretinate was present in plasma and fat for 52 months after acitretin was discontinued.

MANAGEMENT: Female patients should be warned that ethanol is contraindicated during active treatment with acitretin and for two months after cessation of therapy.

References

  1. "Product Information. Soriatane (acitretin)." Roche Laboratories PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Canadian Pharmacists Association "e-CPS. http://www.pharmacists.ca/function/Subscriptions/ecps.cfm?link=eCPS_quikLink" (2006):
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
View all 4 references

Switch to consumer interaction data

Therapeutic duplication warnings

Therapeutic duplication is the use of more than one medicine from the same drug category or therapeutic class to treat the same condition. This can be intentional in cases where drugs with similar actions are used together for demonstrated therapeutic benefit. It can also be unintentional in cases where a patient has been treated by more than one doctor, or had prescriptions filled at more than one pharmacy, and can have potentially adverse consequences.

Duplication

Retinoic acid derivatives

Therapeutic duplication

The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'retinoic acid derivatives' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines belonging to the 'retinoic acid derivatives' category:

  • acitretin
  • etretinate

Note: In certain circumstances, the benefits of taking this combination of drugs may outweigh any risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or dosage.

See also

Report options

Loading...
QR code containing a link to this page

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer