Tretinoin (Systemic) Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• You may bleed more easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush, electric razor.

• If you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Talk with healthcare provider before receiving any vaccinations. Use with this medicine may either increase the risk of serious infection or make the vaccination less effective.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid other sources of vitamin A.

• Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.

• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.

• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Flushing. Wearing layers of clothes or summer clothes and cool environment may help.

• High or low blood pressure.

• Headache.

• Fever.

• Belly pain.

• Diarrhea.

• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Swelling.

• Bone pain.

• Skin irritation.

• Sunburn.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Severe headache.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.