Tretinoin
Tretinoin is sold here as oral capsules — an oral retinoid, or vitamin A derivative — in 10mg and 20mg strengths, supplied in packs of 30 to 180.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 30 capsules | $46.80 | $1.56 |
| 10mg | 60 capsules | $78.00 | $1.30 |
| 10mg | 90 capsules | $112.50 | $1.25 |
| 10mg | 120 capsules | $145.20 | $1.21 |
| 10mg | 180 capsules | $210.60 | $1.17 |
| 20mg | 30 capsules | $51.60 | $1.72 |
| 20mg | 60 capsules | $93.60 | $1.56 |
| 20mg | 90 capsules | $123.30 | $1.37 |
| 20mg | 120 capsules | $156.00 | $1.30 |
| 20mg | 180 capsules | $219.60 | $1.22 |
Details
- Therapeutic Class
- Retinoid
- Pharmacological Class
- Vitamin A derivative
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals
What you will receive
Tretinoin is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Tretinoin.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
Which pack sizes of Tretinoin can I order?
Tretinoin capsules are listed in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
How is Tretinoin delivered to Hong Kong?
Tretinoin ships in plain, unbranded packaging. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking, and standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, 30 at most, though it is untracked. A parcel that does not arrive within the delivery window is sent again free.
How do tretinoin capsules differ from the creams and gels?
They are the same medicine in different forms. The capsules are swallowed and are labelled in milligrams, 10mg and 20mg; the creams and gels are applied to the skin and are labelled as percentages, from 0.01% up to 0.1%. Capsules go through the body; creams and gels stay largely on the skin.
What is the difference between 10mg and 20mg tretinoin capsules?
Only how much tretinoin is inside. A 20mg capsule holds twice as much as a 10mg capsule, while the capsule shell, the pack sizes and the way you take them stay the same. If you already take a particular strength, order that one.
Can tretinoin capsules be taken during pregnancy?
No. Tretinoin by mouth is a known cause of severe birth defects, so it cannot be used at any point in pregnancy. That applies to the whole oral retinoid group, not just to tretinoin.
Is tretinoin the same as isotretinoin?
No. Both are retinoids taken by mouth, but they are different medicines: tretinoin is all-trans retinoic acid, while isotretinoin is a related compound with its own strengths and dosing.
About Tretinoin
Capsules, not a cream
If you searched tretinoin expecting a cream, this is not it. These are capsules for swallowing, in 10mg and 20mg strengths and packs of 30 to 180 capsules. Tretinoin is a retinoid, a medicine related to vitamin A, and taken by mouth it is a different product from the tubes sold for the skin, which are covered further down.
Choosing between 10mg and 20mg
Both strengths are the same medicine. A 20mg capsule carries twice as much tretinoin as a 10mg one; the capsule itself, the way it is taken and the pack it comes in are otherwise the same. If you already take tretinoin capsules, ordering the strength you are used to keeps your routine unchanged. Swallow each capsule whole with a glass of water rather than chewing or opening it, and keep the pack somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
Capsules, creams and gels
The tretinoin sold for the skin comes in tubes — A-Ret, Renova, Retin-A Cream, Retin-A Gel and Tretinoin Cream — in strengths from 0.01% up to 0.1%. Those numbers say how much tretinoin is in the cream or gel; the capsules are measured in milligrams instead. Very little of a cream or gel passes into the bloodstream, while a capsule is swallowed, so the two forms are sold and counted separately. The tretinoin page sets out the whole range if the skin products are what you are after.
Pregnancy and oral retinoids
Oral retinoids cause severe birth defects, so pregnancy has to be avoided for the whole course, from the first capsule to the last. The risk belongs to the oral retinoid group as a whole rather than to one supplier.