Soriatane

Common use

Soriatane is a retinoid, which is a form of vitamin A. Soriatane used to treat severe, recalcitrant pustular and plaque psoriasis in adults. It works by regulating skin cell growth and reducing inflammation.

Dosage and direction

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take Soriatane in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Take Soriatane with food. It may take 2 to 3 months before your symptoms improve, and your psoriasis may even get worse when you start taking Soriatane. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Precautions

To make sure Soriatane is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: phototherapy; kidney or liver disease; heart disease; high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood); diabetes (you may need to check your blood sugar more often); a habit of drinking large amounts of alcohol; depression; or if you have ever used a medicine called etretinate (Tegison, Tigason).

Contraindications

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to any retinoid (Soriatane, isotretinoin, tretinoin, Accutane, Claravis, Myorisan, Refissa, Renova, Retin-A, and others), or if: you have severe liver disease or severe kidney disease; you have high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood; you are pregnant or breast-feeding; you are also using methotrexate; or you also use a tetracycline antibiotic (such as demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, and others).
Soriatane can cause severe birth defects. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or if you might become pregnant within 3 years after you stop taking this medicine. You must use 2 effective forms of birth control to avoid getting pregnant while taking this medicine and for at least 3 years after your last dose.
Soriatane is available to women only under an agreement that you will use approved birth control methods and undergo required pregnancy testing while taking this medicine and for at least 3 years after your last dose.

Possible side effect

Common side effects of Soriatane may include: chapped lips, dry mouth; itchy or scaly skin; weak nails, fragile skin; peeling skin on your hands and feet; hair loss; dry eyes, discomfort while wearing contact lenses; dry or runny nose, nosebleeds; or joint pain, tight muscles.

Drug interaction

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially: glyburide; phenytoin; St. John's wort; or hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills (especially "minipills").

Missed dose

Skip the missed dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. Overdose may cause headaches or severe dizziness.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep away from children and pets.