Acitretin
Acitretin is an oral retinoid for severe psoriasis, sold on PockDose as Soriatane 10mg capsules taken once a day with the main meal.
When psoriasis has not responded to other treatment
Severe psoriasis is where acitretin comes in: plaque, guttate, pustular, erythrodermic and palmoplantar forms. It is a retinoid, a medicine related to vitamin A, taken by mouth. It is also used for rare conditions with thickened, scaly skin such as Darier's disease and some forms of ichthyosis. The way it works is not fully known, but it slows how fast skin cells multiply and shed, which means less thickening, scaling and redness. It keeps psoriasis in check rather than curing it, and it is slow.
What the first months look like
Treatment usually opens with a low dose, raised step by step and cut back again as the skin improves. It is one capsule a day, swallowed whole with your main meal, close to the same hour each day. Psoriasis can look worse before it looks better, and that does not mean the medicine has failed; clearing typically takes eight to sixteen weeks, and up to six months to reach full effect. Once the lesions have cleared well, treatment stops, and it restarts if psoriasis returns. Capsules left over from one course are not for the next flare.
Dry lips come first, then hair, skin and eyes
Chapped lips and a dry mouth are the earliest and most predictable effects. Dry skin and eyes, peeling fingertips, nail changes and hair loss follow for many people, along with bleeding gums, nosebleeds, sensitivity to sunlight, headache, joint pain and poorer night vision. Most of these ease once the dose is lowered or the course ends. More serious, though uncommon: acitretin can raise blood fat levels and liver enzymes, and it can damage the liver — nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the upper right of the abdomen, yellowing of the skin or eyes and dark urine are the signs. Depression and thoughts of self-harm have been reported as well.
Alcohol, vitamin A and other medicines
Drinking is ruled out for the whole course and the two months after it, because alcohol and acitretin combine into a substance the body clears very slowly; that covers alcohol in food and liquid medicines too. Vitamin A supplements stack up the same unwanted effects, so they are best skipped. Acitretin weakens phenytoin, an epilepsy medicine, and is not combined with tetracycline antibiotics, since both raise pressure inside the head. Progestin-only 'minipill' contraceptives are unreliable alongside it. Pregnancy must be avoided throughout treatment and for three years afterwards, and blood should not be donated in that time either.
The acitretin on offer
The acitretin sold here is Soriatane, a 10mg capsule. There is no stronger strength, so a larger dose means more than one capsule. Keep the capsules cool and dry. Other medicines for the skin are in skin care.
Sources
- Acitretin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Soriatane for Psoriasis — psoriasis.org
Can I order Acitretin online in Hong Kong?
Acitretin can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The page carries generic Soriatane as 10mg capsules. Orders can be cancelled within 24 hours if they have not been dispatched, and support replies around the clock in English and Cantonese.
How are Acitretin prices shown?
Soriatane is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Does PockDose sell generic Soriatane?
Yes, generic Soriatane is listed as 10mg capsules and contains acitretin. It is the only version on this page, with no plain acitretin capsules or other named versions beside it.
What brand names does acitretin have?
Soriatane is a brand name of acitretin, which is also sold as Neotigason. Here, acitretin can be bought online as generic Soriatane. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does acitretin take to work?
Slowly. Plaque psoriasis often starts clearing after eight to sixteen weeks and may need up to six months to settle fully. In the first weeks the skin can look worse, which is part of the course rather than a sign it has stopped working.
Can I drink alcohol while taking acitretin?
No. Alcohol reacts with acitretin to form a substance that stays in the body for a long time, and that raises the risk of birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant. Alcohol also hides in some foods, drinks and liquid medicines, so labels are worth checking during the course and for two months after it.
Is acitretin the same as isotretinoin?
No, they are different medicines. Both are oral retinoids related to vitamin A. Acitretin is the retinoid used specifically for severe psoriasis, while isotretinoin, better known for treating severe acne, is sometimes used for psoriasis instead.
Can I take vitamin A supplements with acitretin?
It is worth avoiding them. Acitretin is itself a form of vitamin A, so extra vitamin A adds to the same effects — dry lips, dry eyes, hair loss and raised blood fats. Multivitamins and cod liver oil often contain vitamin A, so check what else you take.
Does acitretin work with light therapy?
Yes. Acitretin is often combined with phototherapy (UV light treatment) and is most effective for psoriasis when the two are used together; it is sometimes given alongside biologic medicines as well. Courses may also rotate between acitretin and other oral treatments such as methotrexate or ciclosporin.