Do not use this medication if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within 3 years of stopping this drug because it has caused serious birth defects. Use 2 effective birth control methods starting 1 month before taking this medication and at least 3 years after treatment has stopped. Do not use "minipills" (non-estrogen-containing pills) for birth control because they may not work as well with this drug. Consult your doctor for more details. Females who are able to have children must not use this medication unless the following requirements are met: test negative on 2 pregnancy tests (they should be taken 1 week before starting this drug or at least 11 days after the last act of unprotected sexual intercourse); start therapy within 7 days of taking the second pregnancy test; present severe psoriasis and other treatments cannot be used; receive oral and written information on using 2 methods of birth control while taking this drug and for 3 years after stopping it; aware of the dangers of birth control failure and use during pregnancy; understand and correctly follow all birth control requirements and instructions including monthly pregnancy tests during treatment and every 3 months for 3 years after treatment has stopped. Do not drink alcohol while using acitretin and for 2 months after stopping it because alcohol causes this drug to stay in the body longer. It is not known if traces of this drug found in semen of male patients pose a risk to the unborn baby during use or after treatment has stopped. Acitretin may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease (hepatitis) and increased fluid pressure on the brain (pseudotumor cerebri). If you notice any of the following unlikely but serious side effects, get medical help right away: headache that is severe or doesn't go away, nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, unusual tiredness, or vision changes (such as blurred/double vision, decreased vision). Acitretin has also been linked to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Tell your doctor right away if you develop lower abdominal pain that doesn't go away. Rarely, acitretin may cause serious mental/mood changes, even after stopping the medication. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms such as depression, irritability, aggressive or violent behavior, or thoughts of suicide.

You may experience more redness, itching, skin scaling, peeling and dry skin during the first few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication. Dry eyes, eye irritation, crusting of the eye lids, dry mouth, skin peeling on the fingertips/palms/soles of feet, chapped lips, runny nose, thirst, taste changes and hair loss may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Contact lens wearers may be uncomfortable while taking this drug because it causes dry eyes. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: decreased night vision, fever, chills, dizziness, bone/joint pain, muscle pain/tenderness/weakness, difficulty moving, swelling, sudden weight gain, signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine). A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: methotrexate, St. John's wort, tetracycline antibiotics, vitamin A.