Treats a type of leukemia called acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)
Brand Names:
Vesanoid
Contraindications:
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to tretinoin, isotretinoin, vitamin A, etretinate, or parabens (preservatives used in some medicines)
Uses:
Liquid Filled Capsule
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use and how often.
If a dose is missed:
Use your medicine as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for your next dose.
Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next regular dose.
You should not use two doses at the same time.
Storage:
Store the capsules at room temperature in the original container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.
Special precautions:
Before taking, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking, call your doctor
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using ketoconazole (Nizoral® tablets), cimetidine (Tagamet®), erythromycin, verapamil, diltiazem, phenobarbital, pentobarbital, rifampin, cyclosporine, or steroid medicines such as betamethasone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, or dexamethasone.
Warnings:
Make sure your doctor knows if you have liver disease, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides before using this medicine.
Your doctor will want you to have regular check-ups while you are using this medicine to make sure the medicine is working. Try to keep all appointments made for you.
Do not breastfeed while using this medicine.
Tretinoin may cause birth defects or be harmful to an unborn baby if used during pregnancy. Do not get pregnant while you are using this medicine. Use two reliable forms of birth control while using this medicine and for one month after your last dose. Even if you have had trouble getting pregnant or are past menopause (unless you have had a hysterectomy), you should still use birth control.
About one week before you start using this medicine, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. You may continue to have a pregnancy test every month for as long as you are using tretinoin.
If you think you might have become pregnant after you have started using the medicine, call your doctor right away.
Side Effects:
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Unexplained fever, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, weight gain
Vision problems, severe headache
Chest pain
Severe mouth sores that keep you from drinking liquids
