Selected Retinoids (Systemic)/Tetracyclines Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Very Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
The cause of the interaction is unknown.
What might happen:
Using some retinoids and tetracyclines together may increase your risk of developing a condition called pseudotumor cerebri. Another medical term for this condition is benign intracranial hypertension. In this condition, the brain swells around the optic nerve (the nerve connecting your eyes to your brain). Early symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and changes in vision.
What you should do about this interaction:
Make sure that your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together and if you have ever had pseudotumor cerebri/benign intracranial hypertension before. If your doctor decides that you should continue taking these medicines together, you should tell your doctor right away if you have frequent headaches, nausea, vomiting, or any problems with your vision such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision. Your doctor may want to examine your eyes and you may need to stop taking your medicines.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.Doryx (doxycycline) US prescribing information. Mayne Pharma International Pty Ltd February, 2020.
- 2.Minocin (minocycline hydrochloride oral suspension) US prescribing information. Triax Pharmaceuticals November, 2018.
- 3.Solodyn (minocycline ext-rel) US prescribing information. Medicis October, 2013.
- 4.Tygacil (tigecycline) US prescribing information. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. June, 2020.
- 5.Neotigason (acitretin) UK summary of product characteristics. Roche Products Limited April 5, 2006.
- 6.Soriatane (acitretin) US prescribing information. Roche Pharmaceuticals February, 2014.
- 7.Roaccutane (isotretinoin) UK summary of product characteristics. Roche Products Limited February 14, 2006.
- 8.Accutane (isotretinoin) US prescribing information. Roche Laboratories, Inc. January, 2010.
- 9.Vesanoid (tretinoin) UK summary of product characteristics. Roche Products Limited March 20, 2006.
- 10.Vesanoid (tretinoin) US prescribing information. Roche Laboratories, Inc. February, 2023.
- 11.Toctino (alitretinoin) UK summary of product characteristics. Basilea Pharmaceuticals Ltd September 19, 2008.
- 12.Sohonos (palovarotene) Canadian Product Monograph. Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Canada Inc. January, 2022.
- 13.Fraunfelder FW, Fraunfelder FT. Evidence for a probable causal relationship between tretinoin, acitretin, and etretinate and intracranial hypertension. J Neuroophthalmol 2004 Sep;24(3):214-6.
- 14.Vibramycin (doxycycline) US prescribing information. Pfizer Labs December, 2018.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.