Acrotac

📦 Κάθε παραγγελία καλύπτεται από την Πολιτική Εγγύησης Επαναποστολής — εάν το δέμα σας δεν φτάσει εντός 20 εργάσιμων ημερών, το επαναποστέλλουμε.

Γιατί να παραγγείλετε από τη MedsBase

Τα γενόσημα φάρμακά μας προέρχονται από κατασκευαστές που πιστοποιούνται από την WHO-GMP και αποστέλλονται παγκοσμίως σε διακριτική, απλή συσκευασία — χωρίς όνομα φαρμάκου στο εξωτερικό του δέματος. Οι πληρωμές με κάρτα δρομολογούνται μέσω ρυθμισμένου επεξεργαστή (οι περιγραφές εκκαθάρισης περιλαμβάνουν ρυθμισμένο επεξεργαστή πληρωμών με κάρτα — ποτέ “MedsBase” ή οποιοδήποτε όνομα φαρμάκου). Γίνονται δεκτές και πληρωμές με κρυπτονομίσματα και τραπεζική μεταφορά SEPA. Κάθε παραγγελία καλύπτεται από την Πολιτική Επαναποστολής Εξασφαλίσεώς μας.

What Is Acrotac?

Acrotac is an oral preparation of acitretin 10 / 25 mg capsules manufactured by Torrent Pharmaceuticals, supplied in pack sizes of 10 / 30 / 60 / 90 capsules. Acitretin is the active metabolite of etretinate (the original second-generation retinoid, withdrawn from the market because of its impossibly long half-life). Internationally branded as Soriatane (US, Stiefel/GSK) και Neotigason (UK / EU, Roche).

Acitretin is reserved for severe psoriasis and disorders of keratinisation that have not responded adequately to topical therapy (corticosteroids, vitamin-D analogues, tazarotene), phototherapy (NB-UVB, PUVA), or in patients where these are contraindicated or impractical. It is one of the few systemic options for severe psoriasis that is not immunosuppressive — making it appropriate for patients in whom biologics or methotrexate are contraindicated.

How Does Acitretin Work?

Acitretin is a second-generation systemic retinoid. Mechanism:

• Binds nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RAR-α, -β, -γ) and retinoid X receptors (RXR), modulating transcription of genes controlling epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation.
• Normalises hyperproliferative keratinisation in psoriatic plaques and disorders of cornification, reducing scaling, plaque thickness, and erythema.
• Anti-inflammatory effect via reduction of epidermal neutrophil infiltration (relevant to pustular forms of psoriasis).
• Inhibits angiogenesis in psoriatic skin.

Acitretin’s critical pharmacological feature is its esterification back to etretinate in the presence of alcohol. Etretinate has a very long half-life (~120 days), accumulates in adipose tissue, and remains detectable in serum for 1-3 years after dosing — this is why acitretin’s pregnancy-prevention requirement extends 3 years after discontinuation.

Visible improvement in psoriasis usually appears at 4-8 weeks; full effect at 12-16 weeks of consistent dosing.

Approved Indications

• Severe chronic plaque psoriasis not responsive to topical or phototherapy — particularly thick, scaly plaques
• Erythrodermic psoriasis — psoriasis affecting >90% body surface area
• Generalised pustular psoriasis (von Zumbusch type) — medical emergency form; acitretin is first-line systemic therapy
• Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis
• Darier disease (keratosis follicularis)
• Congenital ichthyoses — lamellar ichthyosis, X-linked ichthyosis, harlequin ichthyosis
• Pityriasis rubra pilaris
• Severe lichen planus — second-line after topical therapy
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) — selected cases

Acrotac Dosage and How to Take

• Starting dose: 25-50 mg once daily with the main meal of the day. Food significantly increases acitretin absorption (3×), so always take with food — ideally a fat-containing meal.
• If 25 mg/day is well-tolerated and response is suboptimal at 4 weeks, increase to 50 mg/day.
• Maximum dose: 75 mg/day (rarely needed; side-effect profile worsens disproportionately above 50 mg/day).
• Treatment course: 3-6 months for an acute clearance course; some patients require long-term low-dose maintenance (10-25 mg/day or alternating-day dosing).
• Combine with topical therapy (calcipotriol, topical steroid) and phototherapy (NB-UVB or PUVA) for synergistic effect — “RePUVA” protocol allows lower acitretin AND lower UV doses.
• Παιδιά: 0.5-1 mg/kg/day for severe pustular psoriasis or congenital ichthyoses, paediatric dermatology supervision essential. Concerns about premature epiphyseal closure with prolonged use.

PREGNANCY CATEGORY X — THREE-YEAR CONTRACEPTION RULE

Mandatory pregnancy-prevention requirements for women of childbearing potential:

• Negative pregnancy test before starting (within 1 week of first dose)
• Two reliable forms of contraception starting at least 1 month before treatment, throughout treatment, and for 3 years after the last dose
• Acceptable contraceptive combinations: combined oral contraceptive + barrier; intrauterine device + barrier; tubal ligation + barrier; vasectomised partner + reliable hormonal/barrier method. Mini-pill (progestin-only) is NOT considered reliable enough on its own.
• Monthly pregnancy tests during treatment (mandatory in some pregnancy-prevention programmes)
• Pregnancy test at the end of treatment
• Counsel patients to seek immediate medical advice if pregnancy occurs at any point during the 3-year window
• NO alcohol during treatment and for at least 2 months after the last dose — alcohol drives the acitretin→etretinate re-esterification, dramatically increasing the long-half-life metabolite burden
• NO blood donation during treatment and for 3 years after — protects pregnant blood-product recipients from teratogen exposure

Foetal effects: craniofacial malformations, CNS abnormalities (hydrocephalus, microcephaly), cardiovascular defects, thymic hypoplasia, parathyroid abnormalities, limb defects. Exposure at any point in the first trimester confers very high (~20-30%) major-malformation risk.

Acitretin in men: low concentrations in semen and theoretical foetal risk if female partner becomes pregnant. Use of barrier contraception by male patients during treatment and for at least 1 month after is recommended; long-term male teratogenic risk is debated but appears low.

Παρενέργειες

Very common (more than 1 in 10):

• Cheilitis (cracked, peeling lips) — almost universal; manage with frequent emollient lip balm
• Dry mouth, dry eyes, dry nasal mucosa (with epistaxis)
• Dry skin, scaling palms and soles, fragile skin
• Hair thinning (telogen effluvium-pattern; usually reverses after stopping)
• Transient elevation of liver enzymes (LFTs)
• Transient elevation of triglycerides and cholesterol

Common (1 in 100 to 1 in 10):

• Headache, fatigue
• Αυξημένη ευαισθησία στον ήλιο
• Nail changes (paronychia, nail dystrophy)
• Taste disturbance
• Joint and muscle pain (arthralgia, myalgia)
• Transient pruritus
• Vision changes (impaired night vision, dry eyes affecting contact-lens tolerance)

Less common but serious:

• Hepatitis (1-5%); rarely severe
• Pancreatitis (associated with severe hypertriglyceridaemia)
• Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) — particularly with concurrent tetracyclines
• Skeletal hyperostosis (DISH-like changes) with prolonged high-dose use
• Premature epiphyseal closure in children with prolonged use
• Mood changes, depression (debated; less consistent than with isotretinoin)
• Hyperkeratotic eruption (“retinoid dermatitis”) at higher doses

Mandatory Monitoring

Baseline (before first dose):

• Pregnancy test (women of childbearing potential)
• Full lipid profile (triglycerides, total + HDL + LDL cholesterol)
• Liver function tests (ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin)
• Νεφρική λειτουργία (κρεατινίνη, eGFR)
• Πλήρες αίμα
• Fasting glucose / HbA1c (if diabetic or at risk)
• For long-term therapy: baseline spinal X-ray (for skeletal hyperostosis monitoring)

During treatment:

• Monthly LFTs and lipid profile for the first 3 months, then quarterly
• Monthly pregnancy test in women of childbearing potential
• Vision check if visual symptoms develop
• Spinal X-ray every 1-2 years on long-term therapy

Αντενδείξεις

• Pregnancy (any trimester) and women planning pregnancy within 3 years of last dose
• Breastfeeding
• Severe hepatic impairment
• Σοβαρή νεφρική δυσλειτουργία
• Hypervitaminosis A, vitamin-A toxicity history
• Concurrent vitamin A supplementation >5,000 IU/day
• Hyperlipidaemia not controlled by other means
• Hypersensitivity to acitretin or other retinoids
• Concurrent methotrexate (additive hepatotoxicity)
• Concurrent tetracyclines (pseudotumor cerebri risk)
• Concurrent isotretinoin or other systemic retinoid

Use with caution: diabetes mellitus, alcohol use disorder, pre-existing depression, bone disorders, contact lens wear, occupations requiring excellent night vision.

Αλληλεπιδράσεις Φαρμάκων

• Αλκοόλ — CRITICAL: drives acitretin→etretinate esterification, prolonging the teratogenic-window dramatically. NO alcohol during treatment or for 2 months after stopping.
• Tetracyclines (doxycycline, minocycline) — pseudotumor cerebri risk; CONTRAINDICATED concurrent use
• Methotrexate — additive hepatotoxicity; do not combine
• Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements — additive toxicity; avoid >5,000 IU/day vitamin A
• Other retinoids (isotretinoin, oral or topical) — do not combine
• Combined oral contraceptives — the combined pill is acceptable, but the progestin-only “mini-pill” is NOT considered reliable enough alone for acitretin pregnancy prevention
• Oral hypoglycaemics — acitretin can affect glucose tolerance
• Phenytoin — acitretin displaces phenytoin from albumin; monitor phenytoin levels
• St John’s Wort — reduces hormonal contraceptive efficacy — AVOID in women using OCP for acitretin pregnancy prevention

How Acrotac Compares to Other Severe-Psoriasis Treatments

For oral isotretinoin (a related second-generation retinoid licensed for severe acne, not psoriasis), see Isotroin and the comparison post Isotretinoin vs Tretinoin.

Storage and Shelf Life

Store Acrotac capsules below 25°C in the original blister, protected from light. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.

Συχνές Ερωτήσεις

Why is the pregnancy contraception requirement 3 YEARS, not 1 month like isotretinoin?

Acitretin esterifies back to etretinate, a much-longer-half-life retinoid (terminal half-life ~120 days), in the presence of alcohol. Etretinate accumulates in body fat (adipose tissue) and is slowly released over years. Detectable serum etretinate levels have been reported up to 2 years after the last acitretin dose, and metabolites for up to 3 years. To allow a margin of safety against teratogenic foetal exposure, the contraception requirement is 3 years from the last dose. Isotretinoin (1-month rule) does not undergo this back-esterification and clears within weeks.

Why must I avoid alcohol on acitretin?

Alcohol drives the acitretin→etretinate re-esterification reaction in the liver, dramatically increasing the formation of the long-half-life teratogen. This is why the alcohol restriction extends 2 months after stopping acitretin — both to allow remaining acitretin to clear and to prevent any retained acitretin from being converted to etretinate by alcohol. Patients who drink alcohol during acitretin therapy should be considered to have de-facto etretinate exposure with all of its long-half-life implications.

Πόσο καιρό μέχρι να δω αποτελέσματα;

Acitretin works gradually. Mild improvement may appear at 4-6 weeks; visible plaque reduction at 8-12 weeks; full clinical response at 12-16 weeks of consistent dosing. The pustular forms of psoriasis (von Zumbusch, palmoplantar) typically respond faster (1-2 weeks) than chronic plaque psoriasis. Combine with topical therapy and phototherapy (RePUVA) for synergistic effect.

My lips are unbearably dry — what helps?

Cheilitis is almost universal on acitretin. Manage with: petroleum-jelly (Vaseline) or lanolin-based lip balm reapplied very frequently (every 30-60 minutes); avoid menthol, camphor, or “tingling” balms which worsen the irritation; moisturise the surrounding skin too; humidifier in the bedroom at night. Cheilitis is also a marker of effective dosing — near-complete absence of cheilitis suggests your dose may be too low.

Can I take Acrotac if I am breastfeeding?

No — acitretin is excreted in breast milk and the infant’s tissues are even more retinoid-sensitive than the mother’s. Acitretin is contraindicated during breastfeeding. If treatment is essential, switching to a different psoriasis modality (topical therapy, NB-UVB, ciclosporin under specialist care) until weaning is the standard approach.

Can men take Acrotac if their partner might become pregnant?

Yes — acitretin appears in semen at very low concentrations and the theoretical foetal risk to a partner who becomes pregnant during male treatment is considered low. The standard recommendation is barrier contraception (condom) during male treatment and for 1 month after. The 3-year rule applies only to female patients (or the partner of a male patient if she is the one taking acitretin).

Why must I avoid donating blood?

To protect potential pregnant recipients of your blood from teratogen exposure. The blood-donation restriction extends 3 years past the last acitretin dose — matching the contraception window. Most blood services will explicitly ask about retinoid use during their donor screening.

Will my hair grow back?

Yes in almost all cases. Acitretin causes a telogen-effluvium-pattern hair shedding (synchronised hair-cycle disturbance) that usually reverses 3-6 months after stopping treatment. Occasional patients have persistent diffuse thinning — if this is a concern, discuss with your dermatologist. The same is true for nail changes.

Where can I order Acrotac online?

You can order Acrotac from MedsBase in pack sizes of 10 / 30 / 60 / 90 capsules. Orders ship worldwide with discreet packaging. Acitretin carries a serious teratogenicity profile and mandatory monitoring requirements (baseline + monthly LFT, lipid panel, pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential). Please ensure you have dermatology oversight and a documented pregnancy-prevention plan before ordering.

Σχετικές Εναλλακτικές

Άλλα προϊόντα σε Θεραπεία για την Ακμή που οι πελάτες εξετάζουν επίσης:

• Tazret Forte Κρέμα
• Epiduo Gel
• Clincitop Γέλη
• Melacare Forte Cream
• Deriva CMS Γέλη

📚 Μάθετε περισσότερα: How to Buy Tretinoin Online Without a Prescription (2026 Guide)

More options in Eczema & Psoriasis Treatment

Ταξινομημένα σύμφωνα με τον όγκο παραγγελιών στο MedsBase — τι επιλέγουν άλλοι πελάτες σε αυτήν την κατηγορία.

Aprezo

US$38.00 – US$165.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$38.00 έως US$165.00

Flutivate Cream

US$7.00 – US$39.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$7.00 έως US$39.00

Betnovate Cream

US$5.60 – US$24.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$5.60 έως US$24.00

Desowen

US$14.00 – US$56.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$14.00 έως US$56.00