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Short answer Living with alitretinoin: what to watch for Common questions Related questions SourcesAlitretinoin most often causes skin irritation at the application site when used as a gel, and headache, dry lips and skin, and cholesterol or thyroid changes when taken as capsules.
Which side effects you get depends on the form you use. Alitretinoin gel 0.1% is the version approved in the US, and it is applied to cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma lesions, so its effects stay mostly local: redness, itching, flaking, stinging, rash, and swelling on treated skin. Oral alitretinoin capsules are used in the UK and other countries for severe chronic hand eczema that has not responded to strong topical steroids, and their effects are body-wide, including headache in a large share of users plus changes in blood lipids and thyroid tests. Both forms are retinoids, so they can cause serious birth defects and are not used in pregnancy. Applying gel thinly to lesions only, using bland moisturizer and lip balm, avoiding sun and sunlamps, and keeping scheduled blood tests all make treatment easier to tolerate.
Living with alitretinoin: what to watch for
Common questions
What are the side effects of Alitretinoin?
Alitretinoin comes in two forms and the side effects differ. The gel applied to the skin, the form approved in the US for Kaposi sarcoma lesions, mostly causes local reactions: redness, itching, scaling, stinging, rash, and swelling where you apply it. Oral alitretinoin capsules, used outside the US for severe chronic hand eczema, commonly cause headache, dry lips, dry skin and eyes, muscle aches, and flushing, and can raise cholesterol and triglycerides or lower thyroid hormone levels on blood tests. Both forms are retinoids that can cause serious birth defects, so pregnancy must be avoided during and after treatment. Tell a clinician about severe or lasting headache, vision changes, or mood changes right away.