Acitretin (Oral Route)

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Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Back pain
• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• Bone or joint pain
• Change in taste
• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• Difficulty with moving or walking
• Excessive muscle tone
• Feeling of warmth
• Headache (severe and continuing)
• Hearing loss
• Increased sensitivity to pain
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Muscle stiffness
• Muscle tension or tightness
• Nausea or vomiting (severe and continuing)
• Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• Redness of the skin
• Sleeplessness
• Stiff, painful muscles
• Thinning of the skin with easy bruising
• Tingling in the hands and feet
• Tongue irritation
• Trouble sleeping
• Unable to sleep

• Acid or sour stomach
• Blurred vision
• Belching
• Breast pain
• Eye pain
• Eye problems, such as loss of eyebrows or eyelashes, redness or swelling of the eyelid, redness of the eyes, sensitivity of the eyes to light, or watery eyes
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Heartburn
• Increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
• Indigestion
• Itching of the vagina or genital area
• Loosening of the fingernails
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Redness or soreness around the fingernails
• Sore mouth or tongue
• Thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
• White patches in the mouth or on the tongue

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Bleeding gums
• Bleeding time increased
• Chest pain
• Coughing, hoarseness, trouble in speaking, or flu-like symptoms
• Coughing up blood
• Darkened urine
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• Double vision or other problems in seeing, including decreased night vision after sunset and before sunrise
• Increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• Itchy or painful ears
• Light-colored stools
• Nosebleeds
• Pale or cold hands or feet
• Paralysis
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts
• Red or dark brown urine
• Shortness of breath
• Skin problems, such as abnormal sensation of burning or stinging, cracking, redness, skin irritation or rash (including a rash that looks like psoriasis), infection, ulcers, unusual odor, or small red spots in the skin
• Sore on the edge of the eyelid (stye)
• Thick, white, curd-like vaginal discharge
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Vaginal itching or irritation
• Vomiting of blood
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes

• Assault
• Attack
• Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Confusion
• Difficulty with breathing
• Difficulty with speaking
• Doing things to injure oneself
• Force
• Inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
• Inability to speak
• Pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially calves
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• Shortness of breath
• Slow speech
• Slurred speech
• Sudden loss of coordination
• Sudden, severe weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
• Sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Thoughts of killing oneself
• Unsteadiness or awkwardness
• Vision changes
• Weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• Sensation of spinning

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Chapped, red, or swollen lips
• Difficulty in wearing contact lenses
• Dry or runny nose
• Dryness of the eyes
• Increased ability to sunburn
• Increased amount of ear wax (unusual)
• Irritation in the mouth or swollen gums
• Itchy skin
• Loss of hair (usually reversible)
• Nosebleeds
• Scaling and peeling of the eyelids, fingertips, palms, and soles of feet
• Sticky skin
• Unusual thirst

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Increased sweating

• Cracking fingernails or fingernails break easily
• Muscular pain, tenderness, wasting, or weakness

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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