Acitretin for Psoriasis User Reviews

• She...
• January 8, 2010

Acitretin "Soriatane certainly helps with the psoriasis, but I'm not sure the side effects are worth it. I've got 2 infected ingrown toenails because the skin on my toes is so soft, it laps over and causes the toenails to be ingrown and then infected. I've lost a lot of hair. My fingernails peel and break. I have this plastic-like coating in my mouth that nothing gets rid of. There's got to be a better way!"

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2013

Acitretin "I took Soriatane for about four months until my hair started falling out. Although Soriatane cleared 80% of my moderate psoriasis, I did not want to lose more hair. While taking Soriatane, my lips became very dry and cracked, peeling skin on my feet, and loss of hair. It was effective in clearing the psoriasis."

• it_...
• August 16, 2009

Acitretin "I used Soriatane for about 9 months and had to stop using it because I lost my insurance. However, after those 9 months, I went about 2 1/2 years until my psoriasis started coming back. So, if your insurance will cover it, I would highly recommend this medicine to anyone."

• Unc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 6, 2016

Acitretin "Was born with a skin condition initially diagnosed as PRP, but a second biopsy years later (at age 60) said it was psoriasis. 95% coverage, and when untreated, very bad, including cracking, bleeding, and skin cancers. Doctors tried everything. Was placed on a new drug, Acitretin, when in my 20s. Later it was branded as Soriatane, and the cost increased and kept increasing each year. Dosage was 25 mg daily. No real side effects except I couldn't drink alcohol (it neutralizes the drug). I also use Medco's Aquaphilic Ointment and Alpha Keri bath oil. Worked great, although never cleared completely. Insurance cap too high, so had to go off it. Note for new users: Flares for a few weeks before taking full effect (works from inside out). Give it time."

• pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 8, 2013

Acitretin "After contracting a rare form of cancer called Merkel cell, after taking an immune system suppressing medicine, I used Soriatane with great results. My psoriasis was completely clear while on this. After about 1 year, my dermatologist took me off the medicine, stating that my liver could be affected if I stayed on it long term. He said my liver converted the Soriatane to some form of chemical that was harmful to the liver."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2014

"I am a physician; I took acitretin as prescribed for plaque psoriasis. After about 3-4 weeks, I started to feel very unwell - weak, tired, unable to cope with minor slopes (I have trekked in the Himalayas, Yosemite, Highlands of Scotland, etc.). I was not drinking alcohol at all - not for four months before or after. Acitretin was discontinued, and the adverse effects reported (yellow card) to the UK regulatory body. The malaise and weakness persisted after stopping the medicine but gradually resolved over a 12-month period."

• Haz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2019

"Acitretin is the worst drug I ever tried. Within 12 days, I turned from 10% covered to 70% covered, new lesions everywhere, my scalp totally covered with new patches, very dry lips, hair loss, and peeling hands. I stopped it quickly, and the side effects still take effect after 5 weeks. Really nasty drug, I regret I tried it."

• Cru...
• July 14, 2015

Acitretin "I have been on Soriatane for about a year. It has done wonders for my condition. I was on 25 mg per day, and the derm changed it to 25 mg every other day and 10 mg on opposite days. This has shown very little change, but a VERY tiny bit is now noticeable. I have had absolutely ZERO side effects. Overall, I'm thoroughly happy with it!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 11, 2017

"I have been taking acitretin for 7 years now. I was covered in psoriasis. I started taking 30 mg a day. Within 2 weeks, it was gone. I now take 10 mg a day, it's pretty much under control. I have small bits on elbows and belly button, but I'm okay."

• Rit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2020

"Had severe psoriasis on the palm of both hands, and acitretin was prescribed when topical creams, light box, and methotrexate did not work. I still have minor skin peeling/cracking, but nothing like the open sores on my fingertips, swelling, and pain I had before. Side effect I've experienced so far is the chapped lips and the constant ringing in my head, especially loud upon waking up in the morning. I stopped taking the med to see if I was cured, and in 2 days, I started to see a flare-up, so here I am. I truly hope there's an end to this treatment in the near future; the side effects of long-term use can be scary."

• J H...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2020

"I have been on this drug, acitretin, for 3 months, and it has cleared my palms and plantar psoriasis somewhat. The side effects I am experiencing are dry, waxy lips, gums, and loss of taste buds, as well as a terrible breakout on my face that was never there until I started the drug. My question is, will it get better? My face and skin are waxy and rashy. I am thinking about coming off of it because of the side effects, but it has improved my hands and feet, which is why I started taking it."

• Ver...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2017

"I was prescribed 25 mg per day and for three months took the drug until the pain in my back, joints, and muscles led me to believe I had bone cancer. After researching the drug and finding out these are common side effects, I stopped taking the drug. My psoriasis had cleared up, I was able to go to the hairdresser without being embarrassed of the condition of my scalp, and my legs and back also cleared. Six months later, with the returning at its worse, I again started taking the drug. This time, however, there was not improvement in my skin, and the joint and muscle pain was unbearable. I have once again stopped taking the drug, for two weeks now, and cannot move without groaning due to the continuing muscle pain."

• Rab...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 25, 2016

"During the first 3 months, I didn't notice any change in my warts. But after that, within six months, warts disappeared as if they weren't there for years. My warts were on both my hands and legs for at least 17 years. After using acitretin, it went away completely."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2018

"I have been taking acitretin for about 6 weeks, 25 mg daily. My psoriasis has mostly cleared, still got white patches, but I find the side effects are terrible. I constantly itch, especially on my scalp, I never had psoriasis on my scalp. My arms and legs have peeled, and my hands and feet continue to peel, they look awful. My lips are chapped. I have a waxy layer in my mouth, which means I can’t taste food anymore, and my skin feels waxy and sticky as well and so fragile. I just have to brush against something, and it takes a layer off. At this moment, I am full of grazes from all the scratching. I know that these are the side effects stated, but will it ever get better?"

• KSH...
• August 16, 2017

"I commenced this drug very slowly (10 mg/day), worked up to 30 mg over the course of a month. The psoriasis on my hands responded very quickly but was pretty painful while it was shedding. The psoriasis on my feet took much longer but did respond eventually. I had problems with side effects, however, I had to reduce my dose to 20 mg one month after increasing to 30 mg. My face (no psoriasis on my face) was red, scaly, and so painful that I couldn't wear my glasses. The inside of my nose was bleeding and sore, the inside of my mouth was peeling, my gums were bleeding, and my vision was affected. Even on 20 mg, my vision has continued to decline, my hair is falling out, and I have no eyebrows or eyelashes. I gave up yesterday. It's worked, but at a cost."

• zip...
• January 19, 2020

"I am on this along with Siliq. A couple of months in, I am only getting worse. Frustrated. The last time on acitretin, my hair fell out. I was not verbally warned. Now I know it could happen. Use the lip chap on this."

• Sea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 9, 2017

Acitretin "I have palmoplantar pustular PsA with 4 other types of psoriasis. 25 mg per day did nothing. 50 mg daily has helped the pustular on hands and feet, but other psoriasis forms in the groin area, skin folds, underarms, head, nails are not cooperating, in fact, the psoriasis is growing in those areas."

• Pso...
• July 3, 2019

"I started taking acitretin in February 2018, starting at 25 mg a day and then moving up to 50 mg once I had a blood test to show that my bloods had remained normal. I continued to take 50 mg a day for about 7 months, and only after that long did the drug have an effect - in the space of about a week my psoriasis (massive plaques all over my shins and back) had gone completely. However, my bloods had been affected - my cholesterol and triglycerides had gone up to way beyond the normal level for a man of my age. In terms of side effects, I didn't find them too bad. I started to get sweaty palms, which I had never had before, and once every few weeks the skin on my hands and face would get very peely - but nothing moisturizer couldn’t fix. I have now not been taking the drug for 6 months, and I have a few small patches on my legs and elbows - but nothing that bothers me too much. All in all, I’d say it’s worth it - just be prepared that it can take a very long time to work!"

• Wil...
• October 17, 2017

"I’ve been on acitretin for over a year. Overall, it has helped my psoriasis, I’m not completely clear, but the flakiness has completely gone and the redness has reduced in areas. The side effects have made me question whether or not to continue on the drug. I was initially on 25 mg, but there were 0 changes to my psoriasis, I was then put onto 50 mg, and my psoriasis started to disappear extremely fast. On 50 mg, I was constantly tired, and my skin was peeling on my lips. I also feel the effect of weakened nails, of which I’ve had an ingrown toenail on both feet! I was dropped to 35 mg (currently on), and my psoriasis is at a stalemate, it definitely isn’t improving. I’m constantly fatigued and will hopefully be getting off them in December."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2021

"It was awful. I took Soriatane in December 2019. I was on 10 mg a day for one month. Read it could cause hair loss, and the pharmacist said 40% of women get hair loss. I asked the derm not once but three times if it would do this. He has been a supposed psoriasis specialist for 30 years, and he said it shouldn't, he had never even seen it at 25 mg. He said it was such a minimal amount, it should not happen. It was Christmas time, he also said it was okay to have a few drinks. Wrong. So I started noticing hair drying and getting funky, then shedding. I stopped taking it, shedding continued for months after, plus the skin on my face broke out bad with dry skin. Now I have sebopsoriasis, and on my scalp, my hair has thinned. I'm on Rogaine, but my hair is so frizzy and dry, causing some facial hair. He told me I couldn't go on Otezla back then because of depression issues, but I read after that acitretin can worsen depression, and it has. I've spent most of last year and this in bed crying over hair thinning and skin issues, it's awful. Please never take this ever."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 5, 2021

"Used on my son in March 2021, age 11. He suffered from all the side effects and stopped it straight away. My child had body aches, joint pain, redness, stiff bones, couldn't walk or sit or sleep. The worst: his hair fell out so bad. Now they want to put him on 10 mg, but that is not going to happen."

• SEN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2019

"In Feb 2019, started acitretin 25 mg for palms of hands and soles of feet. Never eliminated all the psoriasis symptoms, but greatly reduced peeling, redness, and itching. Worst side effect was very chapped lips until Jun 2019 when my hair started falling out and breaking away. After 34 yrs of keeping gray at bay, I stopped coloring my hair in Jul 2019 thinking that might be triggering the hair exodus. I stopped taking acitretin in Aug 2019 and the hair continues to fall out (now Sep 2019). My dermatologist has ordered blood work to identify triggers. Fingers crossed!"

• JAG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2017

"Had an erythrodermic flare from usual 20-25% plaque coverage (which is gone) 7 weeks ago. Red and flaking from the top of my head to the tops of my feet. (2nd such flare in 25 years). My derm doctor prescribed 25 mg Soriatane daily; GP prescribed Lipitor (20 mg) for cholesterol/liver. Now almost clear on face, legs, and torso though lips are still peeling (apply Aquaphor several times a day), some flaking on arms; redness subsiding especially on face. Feet and hands exhibited worst swelling and still somewhat red. Fingertips peeling - use mineral oil at night with cloth gloves. Soaking bath (at least 1 hour) in oatmeal every other day with Aquaphor after light towel dry to reduce flaking. 14 oz water 6 times and a bottle of Gatorade daily; 1000 mg of D3 at night. Use cough lozenges for dry throat."

• Sta...
• February 19, 2017

"My experience with acitretin has been okay. No side effects up to now. Psoriasis is still very bad on my legs and back. Got to go for a blood test on 27th Feb and a follow-up appointment on 6th March. On 35 mg at the moment and hoping to increase the dose. Couldn't have methotrexate because my liver function was too high. But amazing effects on cyclosporine. Great tablet cleared my psoriasis really well in the first 3 days, but they couldn't keep me on it for too long as it can cause serious damage."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2022

"I have psoriasis, the severe areas are in my palms, hands, and feet. I’ve been taking Neotigason 25 mg/day for less than a month. It is quite responsive to the treatment, but my lips are extremely dry and I have hair loss."