What is Soriatane?
Soriatane, also known as retinoids, is a type of vitamin A. Adults with severe psoriasis are treated with soriatane. This medication should not be seen as a cure and stopping taking it may cause you to relapse. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of soriatane.
Side effects of Soriatane
If you experience any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, hives or swelling of your face, lips or throat. Please seek medical assistance immediately.
Soriatane can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Mood changes: depression, aggression, strange thoughts or behaviors, thoughts about hurting yourself
- Stroke symptoms include chest pain, dizziness and nausea, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness (especially on one side), severe headaches, difficulty speaking or balancing, or swelling in the legs.
- High sugar—increased thirst, increased urination, fruity breath smell, headaches, blurred vision, etc.
- Increased pressure in the skull—severe migraines, severe headaches, ringing ears, dizziness and nausea, vision issues, pain behind your eye;
- Liver problems: nausea, vomiting, dark urine, or jaundice
- You may have problems with your muscles or bones, including pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving.
- Serious skin problems: itching, swelling, redness, or pain of the skin;
- Signs of a blood vessel problem: sudden swelling, rapid weight increase, fever, muscular pain, feeling dizzy.
Soriatane can cause the following side effects:
- Dry mouth, chapped lips
- Itchy, scaly, or itchy skin
- Weak nails, fragile skin;
- Peeling skin from your hands or feet
- Hair loss;
- Dry eyes and discomfort when wearing contact lenses
- Dry or runny nasal bleeding
- Joint pain, tight muscles
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
Soriatane may cause serious birth defects. This medicine should not be used if you are pregnant or may become pregnant in the next 3 years. Pregnancy tests will be required at regular intervals in order to ensure that you are not pregnant. Alcohol consumption can lead to the conversion of this medication into another substance that may take up to 3 years to be eliminated from your system.
Donated blood that contains this medicine should not be given to pregnant women. It could lead to birth defects. Soriatane may cause serious liver problems. If you experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, if your urine is dark, or if your skin or eyes are yellow, stop taking the medicine immediately and contact your doctor.
Before you take this drug
This medicine should not be taken if you have an allergy to any retinoid, such as Accutane (soriatane), isotretinoin, or tretinoin.
- Are You Suffering From Severe Kidney Disease Or Severe Liver Disease
- You have high levels (of a type of fat called triglycerides) of triglycerides in your blood.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You are also using
- You can also use a tetracycline (such as demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, or tetracycline).
Women can only get Soriatane if they agree to use approved birth control methods, submit to required pregnancy tests while taking the medicine, and for at least three years after their last dose.
Women taking Soriatane who haven't had a hysterectomy and haven't gone through menopause completely: You must take two negative pregnancy tests before starting this medication (the first time your doctor prescribes it to you and then again in the first five days of your period right before you begin taking it). You'll also need to take pregnancy tests each month for the duration of your treatment, as well as every three months afterward.
Soriatane may cause serious birth defects. This medicine should not be used if you are pregnant or may become pregnant in the next 3 years. Use two effective birth control methods to prevent pregnancy while taking this medication and for 3 years following your last dose.
The first contraceptive method must include at least one of the following:
- Birth Control Pills, but not the "mini pill"
- An intrauterine device (IUD);
- Birth control injections, skin patches, or implants
- A tubal ligation,
- Your male partner's vasectomy
Second birth control method:
- A diaphragm, or cervical cap, is used in conjunction with a spermicide.
- A latex condom that is used with or without an anti spermicide
- A vaginal sponge containing a spermicide.
Use both methods of birth control for at least one month before starting Soriatane. Continue to use both birth control methods while taking Soriatane and for at least three years after the last dose. Use two forms of birth control together each time you have sexual relations.
While you are taking Soriatane and for at least three years after your last dose, contact your doctor immediately if your period is missed, you feel you may be pregnant, or you had sex with someone without using two forms of birth control. Medwatch can be reached at 1-800-FDA-1088. If you are having sex but have not used both recommended methods of birth control, consider using emergency contraception (morning after pill).
If you do not have menstruation, you should take a pregnancy test 11 days or more after your last sex without using two effective birth control methods. You may be unable to continue using Soriatane if you miss your scheduled pregnancy test. Acitretin may pass into breast milk and cause serious side effects for the nursing infant. Do not breastfeed while using this medicine.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Soriatane will be safe for you:
- Phototherapy;
- Kidney or liver disease
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol (or triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood);
- Diabetes (you may have to monitor your blood sugar levels more frequently);
- A habit of drinking large quantities of alcohol
- Depression;
- If you have used the medicine etretinate, also known as Tigason or Tiegison,
How to take Soriatane?
Do not exceed the recommended dosage or duration of soriatane. Take Soriatane only as prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dosage or duration. Take soriatane along with your food.
You may need to wait 2 to 3 weeks before you see any improvement in your symptoms. Your psoriasis could even worsen when you begin taking Soriatane. Tell your doctor if you do not see improvement in your symptoms after taking the prescribed dose.
You may need to have frequent blood tests while taking Soriatane. You may need to undergo additional medical tests if you are using this medication long-term. This includes x-rays. Do not share this medication with another person, regardless of whether they share the same symptoms as you. Store away from moisture, heat, and light at room temperature.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention. An overdose may cause headaches or severe dizziness.
What should be avoided?
Women with the ability to become pregnant should not drink alcohol during treatment or for 2 months following the last dose. Alcohol can cause soriatane to be converted into another substance that may take up to 3 years to leave your system. Check the labels on all foods and medicines you take to ensure they don't contain alcohol. Donated blood that contains this medicine should not be given to pregnant women. It could lead to birth defects.
Vitamin A is found in many multivitamin and dietary supplement products. You can get too much vitamin A by taking certain products at the same time. Avoid tanning beds or exposure to sunlight. Soriatane may make you more susceptible to sunburn. When you're outdoors, wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen (SPF 30) or higher. Soriatane can impair your ability to see, particularly at night. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires clear vision.
Interaction with other drug
Tell your doctor if you are taking any new medications or if you will stop using any of your current ones.
- Glyburide;
- Phenytoin;
- John's Wort,
- Hormone replacement therapy (especially "minipills") or birth control pills
This list is incomplete. Other drugs, such as prescription and OTC medications, vitamins, and herbal products, may interact with Acitretin. This medication guide does not list all possible interactions.
