• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body. Tretinoin is used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (a type of blood cancer). Tretinoin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects 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.

Less serious side effects may include:

• 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.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use tretinoin?
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.

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What is the most important information I should know about tretinoin?
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.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of tretinoin.

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What other drugs will affect tretinoin?
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);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Tretinoin has been assigned to pregnancy category D by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of embryotoxicity and teratogenicity. The drug has been reported to cause fetal resorptions and a decrease in live fetuses in all animals studied. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Tretinoin should only be given during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk. It is extremely important that all females use effective contraception both during tretinoin therapy and for one month following the discontinuation of therapy. Contraception is considered to be mandatory by the manufacturer even when there is a history of infertility or menopause, unless the woman has had a hysterectomy. When contraception is required, two reliable forms of contraception should be used simultaneously (unless abstinence is the chosen method).

One week before beginning tretinoin therapy, the patient should have blood or urine collected for a serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 50 milli-intl units/L. Monthly pregnancy testing and contraception counseling are recommended throughout treatment. Increased spontaneous abortions and major human fetal abnormalities related to the use of other retinoids have been reported. Reported defects have included abnormalities of the CNS, musculoskeletal system, external ear, eye, thymus and great vessels, facial dysmorphia, cleft palate, and parathyroid hormone deficiency. Some of these abnormalities ended up in fatalities.

There are no data on the excretion of tretinoin into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, mothers should discontinue nursing prior to taking this drug.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to retinoids or tretinoin, parabens (used as preservatives), or any other ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include headache, dizziness, weakness, facial flushing, stomach pain, or dry, cracked lips.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tretinoin?
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.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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