Tretinoin (Anti-Wrinkle), Topical

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is put on the skin to reduce fine wrinkles. Use it exactly as directed.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: topical retinoid

Generic and brand names: tretinoin for wrinkles, topical; Renova

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used on the skin to help reduce fine wrinkles This medicine must be used as part of a skin care program that includes avoiding direct sunlight and using moisturizers as directed by your healthcare provider.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I use this medicine?

Before using this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are allergic to any medicine
• Are taking any medicine that makes your skin more sensitive to the sun or sunlamps, including nonprescription medicines and chemotherapy
• Have eczema or other skin problems

Females of childbearing age: Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

Apply this medicine to the skin exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes, usually once a day at bedtime. Before applying the cream, wash your face with mild soap, pat it dry, and wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying the cream. Use a pea-sized amount to cover all the face. Do not wash your face for at least 1 hour after applying this medicine.

It may take 3 to 6 months before you notice improvement. Talk with your healthcare provider about this. Do not apply more cream or use it more often than your healthcare provider prescribes because the results will not be better and the skin may be severely irritated.

Do not get this medicine in your mouth, nostrils, or eyes. If you do, flush with cool, clean water. Wash your hands after applying this medicine.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose one day, do not use it more than once the next day, or use double the amount of medicine. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

An acute overdose of this medicine is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away. Also, windy or cold weather may be more irritating to your skin while you are using this medicine.

Do not use this medicine on sunburned skin, or on eczema or other skin conditions.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else.

If this medicine causes severe irritation of your skin, stop using it and contact your healthcare provider.

Ask your healthcare provider about the use of cosmetics and other skin products while using this medicine. You may need to use a moisturizer daily, usually in the morning.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are using this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Severe skin irritation.

Other: Peeling, dry skin, burning, stinging, itching, or a rash.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), demeclocycline, doxycycline (Doryx, Monodox, Vibramycin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn), tetracycline, and tigecycline (Tygacil)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compro), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• Diuretics (water pills) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), and methyclothiazide (Enduron)
• Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Products that may irritate the skin such as peeling or abrasive products, waxing or hair removal products, strong or abrasive soaps, products that contain alcohol, astringents, spices, lime juice or peel, products having a strong drying effect, medicated cosmetics, and other acne medicines
• Products used on the skin that contain benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur
• Sulfa antibiotics such as sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• Vitamin A supplements or multivitamins that contain vitamin A

While using this medicine, do not use any other skin products that may increase the irritation of your skin such as medicated shampoos, skin cleansers, products with a high alcohol content, cosmetics with strong drying effect, astringents, spices, lime, electrolysis, hair removers and wax, or permanent wave solutions. Ask your healthcare provider what products to use on your skin.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.