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Acitretin

Acitretin is an oral retinoid used to treat severe psoriasis in adults.

Brand name Soriatane
Drug class Retinoid
Rx Form 1
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 10 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 5, 2026
Acitretin at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Acitretin (Soriatane) is an oral retinoid, a vitamin A relative thought to normalize how skin cells grow and shed, used by specialists for severe psoriasis in adults, usually when other treatments fail, on the U.S. market for over a decade and available as a generic. Dry, cracked lips are very common, along with peeling skin, thinning hair and dry eyes. The boxed warning is severe birth defects, a risk lasting at least 3 years after the last dose, so women who could become pregnant need two forms of birth control, regular pregnancy tests and no alcohol. Everyone needs regular blood tests for liver function and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides).

Clinical pearls

  • Take acitretin with your main meal, because food helps your body absorb it much better.
  • Avoid tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline or minocycline, since combining them with acitretin can raise pressure inside the skull.
  • The progestin-only “minipill” is not reliable birth control on acitretin, and St. John's Wort can weaken hormonal methods too.
  • Skip vitamin A supplements and other oral retinoids like isotretinoin, which add up to vitamin A toxicity.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
⚠️ FDA Boxed Warning — the FDA’s strongest safety alert ▾

Acitretin causes severe, life-threatening birth defects and must never be taken during pregnancy or if there is any chance of becoming pregnant. This risk does not end when you stop the medication — it continues for at least 3 years after the last dose. Women of childbearing potential must use 2 effective forms of birth control simultaneously before, during, and for at least 3 years after treatment.

Drinking alcohol (including beer, wine, or spirits) while taking acitretin — or within 2 months of stopping it — can convert acitretin into a related compound called etretinate, which stays in the body for years and also causes severe birth defects. Female patients of childbearing potential must not consume any alcohol during treatment or for 2 months after stopping. A formal pregnancy prevention program called P.P.E.T. (Pregnancy Prevention is Essential with Treatment) is required for all women of childbearing potential prescribed this drug.

Read the full warning on DailyMed →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asCapsule
Earliest FDA record1996
Companies listing it with the FDA8
FDA label last updatedDec 20, 2023
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)Yes, read the warning

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Acitretin, written from its FDA label.

What Acitretin is used for

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Acitretin is an oral retinoid approved for use in adults with severe psoriasis.

  • Acitretin capsules treat severe psoriasis in adults
  • Reserved for patients whose psoriasis has not responded to other treatments, or where other treatments cannot be safely used
  • In women of childbearing potential, use is restricted to cases of severe, treatment-resistant psoriasis with mandatory pregnancy prevention measures in place
  • Most patients experience a return of psoriasis after stopping treatment; repeat courses may be used when clinically appropriate

How Acitretin works

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Acitretin's exact mechanism of action is not fully known. It is a retinoid — a synthetic compound related to vitamin A — and is thought to regulate how skin cells grow, differentiate, and shed. This action helps reduce the excessive skin cell buildup that causes the thick, scaly plaques seen in psoriasis.

Acitretin dosage

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Acitretin capsules are taken once daily by mouth with the main meal — food significantly improves how well the drug is absorbed. Your prescriber will start at a lower dose and adjust based on your response and any side effects, since both effectiveness and side effects vary from person to person.

  • Take with your main meal every day
  • Your prescription is limited to a one-month supply at a time
  • Do not adjust your dose without talking to your prescriber
  • Follow your prescriber's instructions carefully — do not stop suddenly without guidance

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Acitretin prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Initial therapy (acitretin capsules)
    • 25 to 50 mg per day, given as a single dose with the main meal
    • Individualization of dosage is required; take with the main meal
  • Maintenance therapy
    • 25 to 50 mg per day, dependent upon an individual patient's response to initial treatment
    • Relapses may be treated as outlined for initial therapy
  • Use with phototherapy
    • The prescriber should decrease the phototherapy dose, dependent on the patient's individual response
Read the label’s full dosing text

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION There is intersubject variation in the pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and incidence of side effects with acitretin capsules. A number of the more common side effects are dose-related. Individualization of dosage is required to achieve sufficient therapeutic response while minimizing side effects. Therapy with acitretin capsules should be initiated at 25 to 50 mg per day, given as a single dose with the main meal. Maintenance doses of 25 to 50 mg per day may be given dependent upon an individual patient’s response to initial treatment. Relapses may be treated as outlined for initial therapy. When acitretin capsules are used with phototherapy, the prescriber should decrease the phototherapy dose, dependent on the patient’s individual response (see PRECAUTIONS: General ). Females who have taken TEGISON (etretinate) must continue to follow the contraceptive recommendations for TEGISON. TEGISON is no longer marketed in the US; for information, call Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited at 1-866-210-9797 . Information for Pharmacists Acitretin capsules must only be dispensed in no more than a monthly supply. An acitretin capsules Medication Guide must be given to the patient each time acitretin capsules are dispensed, as required by law.

Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Acitretin side effects

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Most people taking acitretin experience side effects, particularly involving the skin, lips, and eyes. Common ones include:

Common side effects

  • Cheilitis (dry, cracked lips) — very common
  • Dry skin and skin peeling
  • Hair loss (alopecia)
  • Dry eyes and eye irritation
  • Dry mouth and nosebleeds
  • Joint pain (arthralgia)
  • Itching and skin rash
  • Nail changes and fragility
  • Dry or irritated eyes
  • Brittle nails and nail changes

When to get medical help

  • Signs of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, or severe stomach pain — stop the drug and seek care
  • Signs of increased pressure in the skull (pseudotumor cerebri): severe headache, nausea, vomiting, or vision changes — seek immediate care
  • Signs of very high triglycerides or pancreatitis: severe abdominal pain — seek emergency care
  • Signs of capillary leak syndrome: unusual swelling (especially in limbs), sudden weight gain, fever, or low blood pressure — contact your doctor immediately
  • Severe skin peeling or widespread redness (exfoliative dermatitis/erythroderma) — stop the drug and contact your doctor
  • New or worsening vision problems — stop the drug and see an eye doctor
  • Aggressive feelings or thoughts of self-harm — contact your doctor or seek mental health support right away
  • Pregnancy — any possibility of pregnancy during treatment or within 3 years of stopping must be reported to your prescriber immediately

Serious reactions — including liver toxicity, severely elevated triglycerides, increased pressure in the skull, severe skin peeling, and emotional changes such as aggressive feelings or suicidal thoughts — require immediate medical attention.

Acitretin warnings and precautions

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  • Severe birth defects: Acitretin is highly teratogenic (causes birth defects). Women of childbearing potential must use 2 forms of contraception, avoid alcohol, and continue pregnancy prevention for at least 3 years after stopping.
  • Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity): Elevated liver enzymes occur in about 1 in 3 patients. Rare but serious cases of hepatitis and cirrhosis have been reported. Liver function must be monitored regularly.
  • Blood lipid changes: Triglycerides and cholesterol can rise significantly; severely elevated triglycerides can cause fatal pancreatitis.
  • Increased pressure in the skull (pseudotumor cerebri): Can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, and vision changes. Do not combine with tetracycline antibiotics.
  • Bone changes: Long-term use may cause or worsen spinal and joint abnormalities.
  • Eye effects: Dry eyes, blurred vision, and decreased night vision have been reported. Stop the drug and see an eye doctor if vision problems develop.
  • Capillary leak syndrome: Rare but serious — symptoms include swelling, sudden weight gain, fever, and low blood pressure.
  • Mood changes: Aggressive feelings and suicidal thoughts have been reported; seek help immediately if these occur.

Acitretin interactions

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Acitretin has several important interactions that can be dangerous or reduce the effectiveness of other treatments:

  • Alcohol: Must be completely avoided by women of childbearing potential during treatment and for 2 months after — it converts acitretin into etretinate, which has a much longer half-life and also causes birth defects
  • Methotrexate: Combination is contraindicated — greatly increases the risk of serious liver damage
  • Tetracycline antibiotics: Combination is contraindicated — both raise pressure inside the skull, increasing the risk of pseudotumor cerebri
  • Vitamin A and other oral retinoids: Must not be taken together — risk of vitamin A toxicity
  • Microdosed progestin 'minipill' contraceptives: Acitretin reduces their effectiveness — use a different, more reliable contraceptive method
  • Phenytoin: Acitretin may reduce phenytoin's protein binding, which could affect its levels in the blood
  • Glyburide (and possibly other diabetes medications): Acitretin may enhance blood sugar-lowering effects — closer monitoring needed
  • St. John's Wort: May reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives — avoid during treatment

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Acitretin prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Ethanol: Etretinate, a retinoid with a much longer half-life, can be formed with concurrent ingestion of acitretin and ethanol. See boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS.
  • Progestin-only contraceptives (microdosed "minipill"): Acitretin interferes with the contraceptive effect of microdosed progestin preparations; it is not known whether other progestin-only contraceptives, such as implants and injectables, are adequate during acitretin therapy. Microdosed "minipill" progestin preparations are not recommended for use with acitretin.
  • Combined oral contraceptives: It has not been established if there is a pharmacokinetic interaction between acitretin and combined oral contraceptives.
  • Glyburide: In a trial of 7 healthy male volunteers, acitretin potentiated the blood glucose-lowering effect of glyburide in 3 of the 7 subjects. Careful supervision of diabetic patients under treatment with acitretin is recommended.
  • Methotrexate: An increased risk of hepatitis has been reported from combined use of methotrexate and etretinate. The combination of methotrexate with acitretin is contraindicated.
  • Phenytoin: If acitretin is given concurrently with phenytoin, the protein binding of phenytoin may be reduced.
  • Tetracyclines: Both acitretin and tetracyclines can cause increased intracranial pressure. Their combined use is contraindicated.
  • Vitamin A and other oral retinoids: Concomitant use carries a risk of hypervitaminosis A. Concomitant administration must be avoided.
  • Cimetidine, digoxin, phenprocoumon: No pharmacokinetic interaction was seen between acitretin and these drugs.
  • Coumarin-type anticoagulants (warfarin): Investigations into the effect of acitretin on the protein binding of coumarin-type anticoagulants revealed no interaction.
Read the label’s full interactions text

Pharmacokinetic Drug Interactions (see also boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS : Drug Interactions ): In studies of in vivo pharmacokinetic drug interactions, no interaction was seen between acitretin and cimetidine, digoxin, phenprocoumon, or glyburide. Ethanol: Clinical evidence has shown that etretinate (a retinoid with a much longer half-life, see below) can be formed with concurrent ingestion of acitretin and ethanol. In a 2-way crossover trial, all 10 subjects formed etretinate with concurrent ingestion of a single 100-mg oral dose of acitretin during a 3-hour period of ethanol ingestion (total ethanol, approximately 1.4 g per kg body weight). A mean peak etretinate concentration of 59 ng per mL (range: 22 to 105 ng per mL) was observed, and extrapolation of AUC values indicated that the formation of etretinate in this trial was comparable to a single 5-mg oral dose of etretinate. There was no detectable formation of etretinate when a single 100-mg oral dose of acitretin was administered without concurrent ethanol ingestion, although the formation of etretinate without concurrent ethanol ingestion cannot be excluded (see boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS ). Of 93 evaluable psoriatic subjects on acitretin therapy in several foreign trials (10 to 80 mg per day), 16% had measurable etretinate levels (>5 ng per mL). Etretinate has a much longer elimination half-life compared with that of acitretin. In one trial the apparent mean terminal half-life after 6 months of therapy was approximately 120 days (range: 84 to 168 days). In another trial of 47 subjects treated chronically with etretinate, 5 had detectable serum drug levels (in the range of 0.5 to 12 ng per mL) 2.1 to 2.9 years after therapy was discontinued. The long half-life appears to be due to storage of etretinate in adipose tissue. Progestin-only Contraceptives: It has not been established if there is a pharmacokinetic interaction between acitretin and combined oral contraceptives.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿53 supplements and herbs with documented Acitretin interactions, ranked by severity Check Acitretin against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Acitretin

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  • Pregnancy: Must not be taken if pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or unable to use reliable contraception during treatment and for at least 3 years after stopping
  • Women of childbearing potential: Must complete negative pregnancy tests before starting, use 2 simultaneous forms of contraception, have monthly pregnancy tests during treatment, and continue testing every 3 months for 3 years after stopping
  • Severely impaired liver or kidney function: Contraindicated — do not take this medication
  • Chronically high blood lipid levels: Contraindicated — acitretin further raises triglycerides and cholesterol
  • Allergy to acitretin, its excipients, or other retinoids: Do not take this medication
  • Diabetes: Requires closer monitoring; acitretin may affect blood sugar control
  • History of depression or mood disorders: Inform your prescriber — mood changes have been reported with retinoids
  • Previous use of etretinate (Tegison): Must continue to follow etretinate's contraceptive precautions

Acitretin overdose

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Taking too much acitretin causes symptoms similar to acute vitamin A toxicity — mainly headache and dizziness (vertigo). If an overdose occurs, the drug must be stopped immediately. Women of childbearing potential who have taken an overdose must have a pregnancy test at the time of the overdose and follow strict contraceptive precautions for at least 3 years afterward.

How your body processes Acitretin

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Acitretin is best absorbed when taken with food, reaching peak blood levels within about 2 to 5 hours. It is very tightly bound to proteins in the blood (more than 99.9%), and the body reaches a stable drug level after about 3 weeks of daily dosing. The drug is broken down in the liver and eliminated through both the urine and feces, with a half-life of about 49 hours — meaning it takes roughly 2 months to be largely cleared from the body.

When alcohol is consumed alongside acitretin, some of it can be converted into etretinate — a related compound that is stored in body fat and has a much longer half-life of up to 168 days, meaning it can persist in the body for years. This is the key reason why strict alcohol avoidance and prolonged contraception are required for women of childbearing potential.

How to store Acitretin

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Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) . Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP with a child-resistant closure (as required). PROTECT FROM LIGHT.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

53

Supplements & herbs that interact with Acitretin

53 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Acitretin in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 2
  • Moderate · 40
  • Minor · 11
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major VITAMIN A Major ADRAFINIL Moderate ALFALFA Moderate ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA Moderate ARRACH Moderate BEER Moderate BERGAMOT Moderate +45 more
Every supplement checked against Acitretin — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 2 major · 40 moderate · 11 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Acitretin against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

1

Nutrient depletion considerations

Acitretin has been associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

FOLIC ACID Moderate Depletion
See the full Acitretin nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Acitretin: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Acitretin — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly is acitretin and why did my doctor prescribe it for my psoriasis?

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Acitretin is a type of medicine called a retinoid — it's related to vitamin A and works to help control the way your skin cells grow and shed. It's used for severe psoriasis when other treatments haven't worked or can't be used. It's a serious medication with significant risks, so prescribers only reach for it when the psoriasis itself is significantly affecting your health and quality of life.

Why do I have to take it with food?

▾
Taking acitretin with your main meal makes a real difference — food helps your body absorb the medication much better. Your prescriber chose your dose based on studies where it was always given with food, so skipping food could mean you're getting less of the drug than intended. Try to make it a consistent habit and take it at the same meal each day.

I've heard acitretin can cause birth defects — how serious is this risk?

▾
This is one of the most important things to understand about acitretin. It is known to cause very serious, life-threatening birth defects, and this risk doesn't go away the moment you stop taking it. The risk continues for at least 3 years after your last dose. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, you'll need to use 2 forms of birth control at the same time, have regular pregnancy tests, and strictly avoid alcohol both during treatment and for 2 months after stopping. This isn't optional — it's a required safety program called P.P.E.T. Your prescriber will walk you through all the requirements.

Why can't I drink alcohol while taking acitretin?

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Alcohol actually reacts with acitretin in the body and can convert it into another compound called etretinate, which can stay in the body for years — much longer than acitretin itself. Etretinate also causes severe birth defects. For women of childbearing potential, this means no alcohol at all during treatment and for 2 months after stopping. Even for others, alcohol can increase other risks like triglyceride (blood fat) levels. This is a strict rule, not just a general caution.

What side effects should I watch out for, and when do I need to call my doctor right away?

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Very dry lips, dry skin, hair thinning, and dry eyes are common and expected — your pharmacist can suggest moisturizers and lip balm to help. But call your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, severe stomach pain, a bad headache with nausea or vision changes, unusual swelling or rapid weight gain, or any changes in your mood such as feeling aggressive or having thoughts of self-harm. These could signal a serious problem that needs prompt attention.

What happens when I stop taking acitretin — will my psoriasis come back?

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Unfortunately, psoriasis often does return after stopping acitretin. This is a known limitation of the treatment. The good news is that if another course of treatment is needed down the road, it tends to work about as well as the first course did. Your dermatologist will monitor you and help plan the best long-term approach for managing your skin.

Is Acitretin available over the counter?

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No. Acitretin is a prescription medicine: every Acitretin product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Acitretin first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Acitretin is from 1996: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Acitretin was first used.

Who makes Acitretin?

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8 companies currently list Acitretin products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York LLC, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc., Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Acitretin on HelloPharmacist

📊Acitretin supplement interactions53 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerAcitretin vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Acitretin NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Acitretin Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Acitretin forms and strengths (how it comes)

Acitretin is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Capsule

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Acitretin capsules are used to treat severe psoriasis in adults
  • Acitretin capsules are reserved for patients with severe psoriasis unresponsive to other therapies or where other treatments are contraindicated
Important instructions
  • Acitretin capsules are taken once daily by mouth with the main meal to improve absorption
  • Acitretin capsules must only be dispensed in no more than a monthly supply
  • A Medication Guide must be provided each time Acitretin capsules are dispensed
  • When Acitretin capsules are used alongside phototherapy, your prescriber will adjust the phototherapy dose based on your individual response
Available strengths 4 strengths
10 mg 17.5 mg 22.5 mg 25 mg
55 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Acitretin on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Acitretin appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

8 companies list 24 Acitretin product records with the FDA, mostly as capsule; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1996. Brand names on the directory include Soriatane; the rest are generics.

1
Dose forms ⓘ
8
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
1
Brand names
24
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1996
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (10) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York LLC17%
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.13%
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited13%
AvKARE13%
Bryant Ranch Prepack13%
Sigmapharm Laboratories, LLC13%
Other makers21%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Acitretin is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Acitretin is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Acitretin is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

3,315
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$708,591 gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Acitretin prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Acitretin ranks #1,110 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 31% of them.

Where Acitretin ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #1,110 of 1,601
#1,105 Ipilimumab Injection 3,521 Rx #1,106 Thiothixene 3,413 Rx #1,107 Risedronate 3,370 Rx #1,108 Bromfenac Ophthalmic 3,370 Rx #1,109 Azilsartan Kamedoxomil... 3,319 Rx #1,110 Acitretin 3,315 Rx #1,111 Clemastine 3,305 Rx #1,112 Ezetimibe / Simvastati... 3,300 Rx #1,113 Chloroprocaine 3,292 Rx #1,114 Luspatercept-aamt Inje... 3,270 Rx #1,115 Asciminib 3,208 Rx

Utilization by Acitretin product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 25 mg oral capsule is the most-dispensed Acitretin product — about 62% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

acitretin 25 MG Oral Capsule Most dispensed

2,055 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 62% of Acitretin prescriptions shown $427,692 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $208 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 5 of 11 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 199690

acitretin 10 MG Oral Capsule

1,230 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 37% of Acitretin prescriptions shown $263,363 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $214 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 5 of 11 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 199689

acitretin 17.5 MG Oral Capsule

30 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Acitretin prescriptions shown $17,535 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $585 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 9 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 894859

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Acitretin, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 11 of 31 listed Acitretin NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Acitretin products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Acitretin — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 24 of 24 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 24 Acitretin NDCs →

Acitretin recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Acitretin recalls since July 2021.

✅No Acitretin recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Acitretin RxCUI 16818 1 dose form · 4 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 370533 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 10 MG RxCUI 199689 17.5 MG RxCUI 894859 22.5 MG RxCUI 894863 25 MG RxCUI 199690

Look up RxCUI 16818 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Acitretin costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Capsule · Oral 10 mg $2.59 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule · Oral 25 mg $3.54 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule · Oral 17.5 mg $4.52 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule 10 mg $2.59 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule 25 mg $3.54 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule 17.5 mg $4.52 per capsule NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Acitretin brand names

Acitretin is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Soriatane. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Soriatane

Who makes Acitretin: manufacturers and labelers

8 companies list Acitretin products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York LLC, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc., Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York LLC 4 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. 3 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited 3 AvKARE 3 Bryant Ranch Prepack 3 Sigmapharm Laboratories, LLC 3 Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 3 Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2

Acitretin drug class (RxNorm)

Acitretin belongs to the Retinoid class.

Pharmacologic class Retinoid
Drug family (ATC) Retinoids for treatment of psoriasis

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Acitretin page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Dec 20, 2023
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Acitretin.
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Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
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Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Acitretin after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
10
Finished products in the current FDA directory
24
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
8
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
8
Linked representative label ⓘ
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Linked label effective
Dec 20, 2023
Composite sections available
20
Linked SPL Set ID
2150bb0f-551b-4059-a97b-187d3ab22519
Linked SPL Document ID
4e629ef9-879a-443d-9397-c47962855dd8
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →