Retin-A

Drug name: Retin-A

Active Ingredients:

Tretinoin

Therapeutic actions: Tretinoin is a topical (applied to the skin) form of vitamin A that helps the skin renew itself.

Indications: The Retin-A and Avita brands of tretinoin are used to treat acne. The Renova brand of tretinoin is used to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and mottled skin discoloration, and to make rough facial skin feel smoother

Contraindications and cautions:

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Tretinoin topical can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.
Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use tretinoin topical on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using this medication in wounds or on areas of eczema. Wait until these conditions have healed before using tretinoin topical.
Use this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you think it is not working. It may take several weeks or months of tretinoin topical use before you notice improvement in your skin. If you are using tretinoin topical to treat acne, your condition may get slightly worse for a short time when you first start using the medication. Call your doctor if skin irritation becomes severe or if your acne does not improve within 8 to 12 weeks.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Tretinoin topical passes into breast milk. Do not use tretinoin topical without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Adverse effects: The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Stop using this medication and 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.
Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Continue to use the medication and talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects: burning, warmth, stinging, tingling, itching, redness, swelling, dryness, peeling, irritation, or discolored skin.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

Interactions:

Do not use skin products that contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid unless otherwise directed by your doctor. These products can cause severe skin irritation if used with tretinoin topical.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you use any of the following medicines, which can make your skin more sensitive to natural and artifical sunlight:
- a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), and others;
- tetracycline (Sumycin, Panmycin, Robitet), minocycline (Minocin), doxycycline (Doryx, Vibramycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), and others;
- an antibiotic such as lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin (Floxin), and others;
- a sulfa drug such as Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim, and others; or
- chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan), perphenazine (Trilafon), and others.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect tretinoin topical. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.