Bexarotene and Vitamin A: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Bexarotene
Vitamin A
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
An increased risk of retinoid toxicity
Interaction Deep Dive
In clinical studies, patients receiving bexarotene were advised to limit their vitamin A intake to less than 15,000 units daily. Because of the similarities between bexarotene and vitamin A, patients should be advised to limit their intake of vitamin A supplements to avoid retinoid toxicity1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Additive toxic effects
Common questions
Can I take Bexarotene and Vitamin A together?
An increased risk of retinoid toxicity Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Bexarotene and Vitamin A interaction?
It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "delayed". Effects tend to build up gradually over days to weeks.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Bexarotene or Vitamin A need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?
References (1)
- Product Information: Targretin(R), bexarotene. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, San Diego, CA, 1999. DailyMed
Keep reading about Bexarotene
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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