Before using tretinoin, tell your doctor if you have high cholesterol, or if you have ever had a reaction to another retinoid (such as Accutane, Retin-A, Renova).
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use tretinoin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth, or death of a baby. Do not use tretinoin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you miss a period or become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication and for at least 1 month after your treatment ends.
You may need to have a pregnancy test every month during your treatment. You must use effective birth control while you are taking tretinoin unless you have had a hysterectomy and no longer have a uterus. Use birth control even if you have been infertile (unable to have children) in the past, or if you have gone through menopause.
It is not known whether tretinoin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take tretinoin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
You may need to continue taking tretinoin for up to 90 days. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
Store tretinoin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of tretinoin.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
fever, breathing problems, weight gain, swelling of your hands or feet;
-
sudden and severe pain behind your eyes, with nausea, vomiting, and vision problems;
-
black, bloody, or tarry stools; or
-
vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds.
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
-
feeling tired or weak;
-
headache;
-
fever;
-
dry skin, mouth, or nose;
-
bone pain;
-
nausea and vomiting;
-
rash or itching;
-
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
-
increased sweating;
-
vision problems; or
-
hair loss or skin changes.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Do not use vitamin A supplements or multivitamins that contain vitamin A while you are taking tretinoin.
Do not use this medication without your doctor’s consent if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Tretinoin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Do not use vitamin A supplements or multivitamins that contain vitamin A while you are taking tretinoin.
Tretinoin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Before taking tretinoin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
cimetidine (Tagamet);
-
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);
-
troleandomycin (Tao);
-
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
-
phenobarbital (Luminal);
-
fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox);
-
steroids (prednisone and others);
-
itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ery-Tab, E.E.S.);
-
a tetracycline antibiotic such as minocycline (Dynocin, Minocin, Vectrin), doxycycline (Doryx, Vibramycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin);
-
amiodarone (Cordarone), mibefradil (Posicor), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cardizem), verapamil (Covera, Calan); or
-
HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), or nelfinavir (Viracept).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use tretinoin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect tretinoin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a tretinoin overdose may include headache, dizziness, weakness, facial flushing, stomach pain, or dry, cracked lips.