Another systemic medication that works well for psoriasis is acitretin Soriatane, a vitamin A derivative similar to Accutane. ❋ Ellen Marmur (2009)
Some of the best known retinoids used for treating psoriasis include tazarotene (brand name Tazorac), acitretin (brand name Soriatane) and isotretinoin (brand name Accutane). ❋ Unknown (2009)
Vitamin A-derived drugs, such as acitretin and isotretinoin, may help too but have important side effects and are available only from dermatology departments. ❋ Unknown (2011)
In the study, University of Bologna researchers evaluated the effect of low-dose acitretin therapy (0.2 to 0.3 milligrams per kilogram per day for six months) on the nails of 27 men and nine women, average age 41, with nail psoriasis. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Patients were treated with acitretin (0.2 to 0.3 mg / kg / day) for six months, with NAPSI evaluation at baseline, every two months during therapy, and again six months after treatment. ❋ Unknown (2009)
In an open-label study of 36 patients, six months of low-dose acitretin reduced a standard symptom score by 41\% and a quarter of the patients had complete clearing of nail lesions, according to findings published in the March issue of Archives of Dermatology. ❋ Unknown (2009)
"Our results with acitretin are comparable with those because we observed a 46\% reduction of the [symptom score] for the target nail at 20 weeks," wrote Antonella Tosti, M.D., of the University of Bologna, and colleagues. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Note that acitretin cannot be used by women who are pregnant or by women of childbearing age who are not using reliable contraception. ❋ Unknown (2009)
For women of childbearing age, two negative pregnancy tests are required before acitretin can be prescribed. ❋ Unknown (2009)
BOLOGNA, Italy, March 16 -- Low-dose oral acitretin (Soriatane), a retinoid, appears to be as effective as biologic drugs for reducing symptoms of nail psoriasis, researchers here said. ❋ Unknown (2009)
"Although more studies are required to thoroughly assess the effectiveness in larger controlled subject populations, our observations suggest that low-dose systemic acitretin should be considered in the therapeutic armamentarium in the treatment of nail psoriasis," the researchers concluded. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Although etretinate is no longer available in the US due to its lipophilia and protracted adverse effects, acitretin has a shorter half life and remains an important therapy in psoriasis. ❋ Unknown (2008)
In the early 1980s, reports demonstrated the efficacy of the second-generation retinoids etretinate and its derivative acitretin, in the treatment psoriasis. ❋ Unknown (2008)
