Prescription Name: Panretin

*NOTE* Panretin is a medication that should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor. Please note I don't recommend taking Panretin without a prior prescription from your doctor and cannot be held responsible for any problems that occur from taking Panretin. This information is provided for information purposes and is not intended as a substitues to professional advice *NOTE*

Active Ingrediant in Panretin: Alitretinoin

Uses for taking Panretin
Panretin gel is used to treat skin lesions in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Panretin gel is applied directly to the skin lesions, and not used when treatment with internal anti-KS treatment is required. Applying Panretin gel does not prevent new KS lesions from appearing on your skin.

Possible Panretin Side Effects:

Side effects with the use of Panretin gel occur mainly at the site where it is applied. If side effects occur, they are usually mild to moderate, although severe adverse reactions occur in 10% of patients using Panretin gel. Side effects may be lowered with a decrease in the frequency of application; if you experience side effects, contact your health care provider.

Some other possible side effects can include:

• Rash (e.g., scaling, irritation, redness)
• Pain (e.g., burning)
• Itching
• Flaking, peeling of the skin
• Cracking, scabbing, crusting, drainage or oozing
• Stinging, tingling
• Swelling, inflammation

You should not use Panretin gel if you have ever had an allergic reaction to medicines containing retinoids.

Read the patient information that comes with Panretin before you start taking it and every time you renew your prescription in case the information has been updated.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use Panretin gel. If you become pregnant while taking Panretin gel, contact your health care provider immediately. Panretin gel can cause harm to an unborn child. Women of child-bearing age should avoid becoming pregnant while using Panretin gel.

Do not to apply Panretin gel on or near openings of the body (e.g., the eyes, nostrils, mouth, or lips).

The class of drugs to which Panretin gel belongs (retinoids) increase in the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and sunlamps. Expose skin areas being treated with Panretin gel to sunlight and sunlamps as little as possible.

When you are being treated with Panretin gel, do not use products that contain DEET, a common ingredient of insect repellents because Panretin gel increases the toxicity of DEET.

Things to be cautious of while taking Panretin:
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from the use of hormonal birth control methods. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use hormonal birth control methods should not smoke.

Panretin should not be used by women who have:

• a history of heart attack or stroke
• blood clots in the legs, lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes
• a history of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs
• chest pain
• known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of hormonal contraceptives
• liver tumor (benign or cancerous)
• known or suspected pregnancy
• severe high blood pressure
• diabetes with complications of the kidneys, eyes, nerves, or blood vessels
• an allergy to Panretin or to any of its ingredients

For the majority of women, Panretin can be used safely. But some women are at high risk of developing certain serious diseases that can be life threatening or may cause temporary or permanent disability or death. The risks associated with using Panretin increase significantly if you:

• smoke
• have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol
• have or have had clotting disorders, heart attack, stroke, chest pain (angina pectoris), and cancer of the breast or reproductive organs, jaundice, or malignant or benign liver tumors

Panretin may be less effective in women weighing more than 198 pounds.

Tell your health care provider:

• about all your medical conditions
• if you smoke cigarettes
• about all the medications you take, including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines can affect Panretin and make it less effective.

As with most medications, do not drive until you are certain to how you react to the drug.

Drinking alcohol while taking Panretin is definitely not recommended.