Tretin-X

Tretin-X is a prescription medication used to control acne. Tretin-X belongs to a group of drugs called retinoids. These work by promoting peeling of affected skin areas and unclogging pores. 

Tretinoin topical comes in a cream and gel forms and is applied to the face once a day.

Common side effects of Tretin-X include peeling, dry skin, and redness of the skin.

Tretin-X is a prescription medication used to control acne, but does it cure acne.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Triax Pharmaceuticals, LLC

Common side effects of Tretin-X include peeling, dry skin, redness of the skin, burning, stinging, and itching.

This is not a complete list of Tretin-X side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• thiazide diuretics
• tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin, others), minocycline (Minocin), oxytetracycline (Terramycin), and tetracycline (Sumycin, Tetrex, others)
• fluoroquinolone antibiotics
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• phenothiazine medications
• sulfonamide-containing medications
• aminocaproic acid (Amicar)
• certain calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others) and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral)
• erythromycin (E.E.S., Erythrocin, E-Mycin)
• hydroxyurea (Droxia)
• pentobarbital
• phenobarbital
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone)
• tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron)
• vitamin A

This is not a complete list of all drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

You should avoid using skin products that can dry or irritate your skin because skin dryness and irritation are increased with Tretin-X. Skin products that can dry and irritate your skin include:

• products that contain alcohol, astringents, or spices
• acne medicines that contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid
• medicated soap or skin cleansers

This is not a complete list of all drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Do not use Tretin-X if:

• you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• you are sunburned or your skin is irritated
• you are highly sensitive to sunlight
• have eczema or other skin conditions
• you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Tretin-X

Exposure to sunlight (including sunlamps) should be avoided or minimized during use of tretinoin topical use because of heightened sunburn susceptibility.

Tretin-X has been reported to cause severe irritation to patients with eczema and should be used only with caution if you have this particular skin condition.

Avoid contact with the eyes, ears, nostrils, angles of the nose, and mouth. Tretin-X may cause severe redness, itching, burning, stinging, and peeling if used on these areas.

Avoid excessive exposure to wind or cold. Extremes of climate tend to dry or burn normal skin. Skin treated with Tretin-X may be more vulnerable to these extremes. Your physician can recommend ways to manage your acne treatment under such conditions.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of this medication, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet.

Before taking Tretin-X, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Tretin-X or to any of its ingredients
• have eczema or other skin conditions
• have heart problems
• have elevated cholesterol levels
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are using any other medicines to treat your acne. Do not use other medicines unless they are recommended by your doctor.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.
• This medication falls into category C. Do not use tretinoin if you are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using Tretin-X, please contact your doctor immediately.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if this medication crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using this medication.

Use other acne medicines only on your doctor's advice and follow your doctor's instructions carefully. The medicines you have used in the past might cause too much redness or peeling.

What should I avoid while using Tretin-X?

• Tretin-X can make your treated skin more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, keep out of the sunlight as much as possible and do not use sunlamps. Avoid as much as possible products that can increase skin irritation, such as:
  • other skin medicines
  • medicated or abrasive (rough) soaps
  • permanent wave solutions
  • chemical hair removers or waxes
  • electrolysis
  • products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime
  • cleansers, shampoos, or cosmetics with a strong drying effect
  • other products that may irritate your skin

Follow your doctor's instructions on how to use the Tretin-X formulation you were prescribed.

While on tretinoin, void frequent washings and harsh scrubbing. Acne isn't caused by dirt, so no matter how hard you scrub, you can't wash it away. Washing too frequently or scrubbing too roughly may at times actually make your acne worse. Wash your skin gently with a mild, bland soap. Two or three times a day should be sufficient. Pat skin dry with a towel. Remember, excessive irritation such as rubbing, too much washing, use of other medications not suggested by your physician, etc., may worsen your acne.

Tretin-X (tretinoin cream)

• Apply gel or cream once a day in the evening, or as directed by your doctor.
• Apply medication to skin where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected area lightly. 
• If you apply too much gel it will result in "pilling" of the gel, which will minimize the likelihood of over-application.

Follow your doctor's instructions on how to use the Tretin-X formulation you were prescribed.

If you take too much this medication, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Tretin-X Gel: store below 30°C (86°F).
• Tretin-X Cream: store below 27°C (80°F).