Drug & supplement interaction

Adrafinil + Acitretin

Acitretin brand name: Soriatane.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Adrafinil has a moderate interaction with Acitretin. Theoretically, drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 might increase the levels and clinical effects of adrafinil.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Adrafinil and Acitretin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS

Why this applies to Acitretin

Acitretin falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS — the group Adrafinil interacts with.

Theoretically, drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 might increase the levels and clinical effects of adrafinil.
Adrafinil is a precursor to the stimulant prescription drug modafinil. Modafinil is metabolized by CYP3A4.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the key thing to know about this pairing: it's actually the acitretin (Soriatane) affecting the adrafinil, not the other way around. Acitretin can mildly block an enzyme called CYP3A4, which is the same enzyme your liver uses to clear modafinil (the active stimulant that adrafinil turns into). If that pathway slows down, modafinil could build up a bit more than expected.

In plain terms, you might feel more of the stimulant-type effects, like trouble sleeping, jitteriness, a faster heartbeat, headache, or anxiety. To be fair, this is only a theoretical concern based on how these drugs work, not something proven in studies. Still, since adrafinil is unregulated and hard on the liver (and acitretin needs liver monitoring too), please run this combo by your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Urban AE, Cubala WJ. The role of eugeroics in the treatment of affective disorders. Psychiatr Pol. 2020;54(1):21-33. PubMed
  2. Provigil (modafinil) [package insert]. North Wales, PA: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. Published: January 2015. Accessed on: Nov 11, 2022.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Adrafinil Also Interacts With Other Medications

Adrafinil has 1 major, 1,055 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acitretin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 Moderate 1,055 No known interaction 1,774 (incl. Acitretin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Adrafinil

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Adrafinil. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acitretin

This page covers Adrafinil only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acitretin page lists 53 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Vitamin A (major), Alfalfa (moderate), Angelica Archangelica (moderate) and Arrach (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 40 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acitretin page

“A course of Acitretin (Soriatane) for severe psoriasis runs for months, long enough for a multivitamin or detox product to slip in unexamined, and with this drug that carelessness carries real risk. Two of the 53 interacting ingredients are rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acitretin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Adrafinil as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 7 real supplement products containing Adrafinil, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Adrafinil. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acitretin too, on top of Adrafinil — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Adrafinil and Acitretin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Adrafinil
Top half

#500 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Acitretin
Steady interest

#1,470 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Adrafinil

What is Adrafinil?

Adrafinil
  • Wakefulness and alertness
  • Fatigue
  • Focus and concentration
  • Cognitive enhancement (nootropic)
  • Daytime sleepiness

Adrafinil is a synthetic compound that the body converts into modafinil, a prescription wakefulness-promoting drug. It is sometimes sold as a nootropic supplement, but it is unregulated, carries real risks (especially to the liver), and is banned in some sports and countries. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Read the full Adrafinil monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Acitretin

What Is Acitretin Used For?

Brand name: Soriatane

Acitretin capsules are approved to treat severe psoriasis in adults. It is typically reserved for patients whose psoriasis has not responded to other treatments, or when other treatments are not appropriate options.

Because of serious risks — including the risk of severe birth defects — acitretin is not a first-line choice. In women who could become pregnant, it should only be used when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks and strict pregnancy-prevention measures are in place.

See full Acitretin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Adrafinil

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Adrafinil — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
1,055Moderate
0Minor
1,773No known interaction
1 Major 1,055 Moderate 1,773 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

1,055 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,055 moderate interactions — see all 1,055 on the Adrafinil page.

No interaction 1,773 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Adrafinil against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,773 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Adrafinil list.

See the full Adrafinil interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acitretin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Adrafinil monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acitretin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acitretin, ranked by severity Acitretin drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Adrafinil and Acitretin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Adrafinil with Acitretin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Adrafinil and Acitretin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Acitretin and Adrafinil?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.