Acitretin Orifarm
Acitretin Orifarm is a vitamin A-like medicine used to treat severe skin conditions, such as psoriasis, by helping skin cells renew properly.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
10 mg
Active Ingredient
Acitretin
Manufacturer
Orifarm Generics A/S
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will prescribe your starting dose, usually 10 mg, 25 mg, or 30 mg once daily, and the dose may be adjusted later.
Method
Take the capsules whole with food, preferably with milk.
Important
The usual maximum dose is 30 mg per day, but your doctor may sometimes prescribe a higher dose.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Dry nose, nosebleeds, runny nose
- •Dry mouth, thirst, dry lips, cracked lips
- •Dry skin, itching, hair loss, peeling skin especially on palms and soles
- •Headache
- •Dry and infected mucous membranes in the eyes, which may prevent contact lens use
- •Inflammation in the mouth and lips
- •Stomach problems (e.g., stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
- •Fragile skin, oily skin, skin inflammation with blisters, hair changes, brittle nails, nail inflammation, skin redness
- •Joint and muscle pain
- •Swollen hands, feet, and ankles
- •Increased blood fat levels (triglycerides, cholesterol); increased risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- •Temporary changes in liver function values (blood tests)
RARE
- •Liver inflammation (yellowish skin and eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and fatigue)
- •Increased pressure in the head (headache, pain behind the eyes, vision problems)
- •Bone changes (stiffness and bone pain)
- •Swelling around the eyes, mouth, or lips (angioedema)
- •Dizziness
- •Blurred vision
- •Gum inflammation
- •Skin cracks, blistery skin inflammations (infections), increased skin sensitivity to light
- •Weakness, tingling, numbness or paralysis, hand and foot pain
- •Painful corneal ulcers and blurred vision
- •Impaired night vision
- •Taste disturbances
- •Rectal bleeding
- •Bone pain, fatigue
- •Jaundice (yellowing of skin, mucous membranes, and whites of eyes)
- •Fluid leakage from bloodstream, which can lower blood pressure and cause blood changes
- •Vaginal yeast infection
- •Hypersensitivity reaction
- •Hearing loss, tinnitus
- •Redness
- •Small, red, bleeding skin nodules
- •Loss of eyelashes
- •Hives
- •Skin thinning
- •Skin peeling as scales or layers
- •Voice changes (dysphonia)
- •Altered mood
- •Signs of psychosis: impaired sense of reality, such as auditory or visual hallucinations
Important Warnings
- This medicine can cause severe birth defects, so it must not be used if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or plan to get pregnant. Women must use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 years after stopping treatment.
- Do not consume alcohol during treatment or for two months after stopping treatment, as it can increase the risk of side effects and worsen the medicine's effects.
- Do not donate blood while taking this medicine or for three years after stopping treatment.
- Do not give this medicine to anyone else.
- If you have experienced mood or behavior problems, such as depression or aggression, talk to your doctor.
Show 6 more warnings
- Your night vision may worsen during treatment. Be careful when driving or operating machinery at night.
- Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems.
- Inform your doctor if you have high blood sugar or high fat levels (cholesterol, triglycerides) in your blood.
- Do not use other vitamin A-like medicines or large doses of vitamin A with this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking tetracycline or methotrexate.
- This medicine can make the mini-pill (progesterone-only contraceptive pill) less effective. Discuss other birth control methods with your doctor.