Impact-Site-Verification: 2721d812-1059-4270-b9fa-5c1654788cd1

Acitretin Capsule — prescription drug image

Acitretin

Acitretin 25MG

Prescriptions & Refills
Licensed US providers · Online visit in minutes

What is Acitretin?

Acitretin is a generic drug used in the treatment of severe skin conditions including psoriasis. The average Acitretin price is about $1,914 for a supply of 30 capsules, 25 mg oral capsules. You can use our Rx.com savings offer to get an Acitretin discount of up to 80% off of the retail price at participating pharmacies near you.

Prescription savings · · · ·

What is Acitretin ?

Acitretin is a generic drug used in the treatment of severe skin conditions including psoriasis. The average Acitretin price is about $1,914 for a supply of 30 capsules, 25 mg oral capsules. You can use our Rx.com savings offer to get an Acitretin discount of up to 80% off of the retail price at participating pharmacies near you.
  • Chest pain, trouble breathing, unusual sweating, faintness, severe headache
  • Severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision
  • Feeling depressed, thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual mood or behavior
  • Cloudy urine, lightheadedness, fever, swelling of your hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
  • Increased hunger or thirst, increase in how much or how often you urinate
  • Joint pain or stiffness
  • Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
  • Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
  • Changes in vision (especially at night), eye pain or irritation, blurred vision
  • It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy because it can cause very serious birth defects. You must use 2 forms of birth control for 1 month before you start taking acitretin, for the entire time you are being treated, and for 3 years after you take your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
  • Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, bone or muscle problems, diabetes, eye or vision problems, heart disease, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or a history of depression. Tell your doctor if you are also receiving light therapy (phototherapy).
  • This medicine may cause the following problems:Liver problemsBone or muscle problemsPancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)Benign intracranial hypertension (increased pressure in the brain)Capillary leak syndrome (blood vessel problem)Depression or changes in mood or behavior
  • Do not donate blood during the time you are being treated with this medicine and for at least 3 years after you take your last dose.
  • This medicine may cause blurred vision or a decrease in night vision (night blindness). Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not able to see well.
  • This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
  • Your psoriasis may get worse for a short time before it starts to improve. It may take 8 weeks or longer before your skin starts to look and feel better.
  • Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
  • Severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision
What is acitretin used for?
Acitretin is FDA-approved for severe psoriasis in adults, including plaque, erythrodermic, and palmoplantar/pustular types. Dermatologists also prescribe it off-label for other skin conditions involving abnormal cell growth, such as lichen planus, certain ichthyoses, Darier disease, and pityriasis rubra pilaris, and to help prevent skin cancer in organ-transplant patients.
Why can't women take acitretin if they might get pregnant?
Acitretin is extremely teratogenic, meaning it can cause severe birth defects. It's contraindicated in pregnancy and in women who could become pregnant within 3 years of stopping the drug, because alcohol taken during treatment or in the two months after can convert acitretin into a longer-lasting compound called etretinate, which extends how long the pregnancy risk lasts.
How long does acitretin stay in your system after stopping it?
Because acitretin can convert to the longer-lived compound etretinate (especially if alcohol is consumed), the FDA label requires avoiding pregnancy for a full 3 years after your last dose. This is also why blood donation is prohibited during treatment and for 3 years afterward. Your prescriber can explain what this means for your specific situation.
Can you drink alcohol while taking acitretin?
No. Alcohol should be avoided during acitretin treatment and for at least 2 months after stopping, because it can convert acitretin into etretinate, a longer-lived form of the drug that extends the teratogenic (birth-defect) risk window well beyond when acitretin itself would normally clear the body.
What are the side effects of acitretin for psoriasis?
Beyond its boxed warnings for birth defects and liver toxicity, acitretin can raise triglyceride and cholesterol levels, cause skeletal changes (hyperostosis) with long-term use, and has been linked to pseudotumor cerebri, night blindness or other vision changes, and increased skin sensitivity to sunlight. Routine blood tests are used to monitor for these effects. This isn't a complete list — ask your prescriber or pharmacist about what to watch for.
How much does Acitretin cost without insurance?
The price of Acitretin without insurance varies by pharmacy, dosage, and quantity. Rx.com compares cash prices at more than 60,000 US pharmacies so you can find the lowest price near you. Many people save up to 86% off retail prices with a free Rx.com coupon.
What are the common side effects of Acitretin?
Common side effects of Acitretin may include: Chest pain, trouble breathing, unusual sweating, faintness, severe headache, Severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision, Feeling depressed, thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual mood or behavior, Cloudy urine, lightheadedness, fever, swelling of your hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs, Increased hunger or thirst, increase in how much or how often you urinate. This is not a complete list — consult your pharmacist or doctor for full side effect information.
Is there a generic version of Acitretin?
Generic versions may be available for Acitretin. Generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs and are typically 80–90% cheaper. Search Acitretin on Rx.com to compare generic and brand prices at pharmacies near you.
What is the cheapest pharmacy for Acitretin?
The cheapest pharmacy for Acitretin depends on your location and dosage. Rx.com compares prices at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Costco, and thousands of independent pharmacies. Enter your ZIP code on Rx.com to find the lowest price for Acitretin near you.

Acitretin Coupons & Prices

Acitretin 25MG

Prescriptions & Refills
Licensed US providers · Online visit in minutes
Acitretin Capsule — prescription drug image
Prescription
Acitretin 25mg (12)
your area ·
QUAD by MEDVi · 4-in-1 ED treatment

4 ED medications in one dose

Sildenafil, tadalafil, PT-141 & L-Citrulline · Works in ~15 min · Lasts up to 36 hours

$114/mo Consult, meds & shipping included 4-in-1 formula
See QUAD by MEDVi Free online visit · No commitment
QUAD by MEDVi is a compounded prescription treatment; eligibility is determined by a licensed provider after an online visit. Pricing and product details are set by MEDVi and may change. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or equivalent to any brand-name medication or manufacturer.

Looking for an acitretin coupon? Acitretin is the generic oral retinoid prescribed for severe psoriasis, and because it's only sold as a generic today (the original brand, Soriatane, is no longer marketed in the US), what you pay can still vary widely from one pharmacy to the next. Rx.com compares pricing across more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies so you can see where your prescription costs less before you fill it — enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you.

What Is Acitretin and How Does It Work?

Acitretin is a systemic (oral) retinoid, related to vitamin A, that's FDA-approved for adults with severe psoriasis, including plaque, erythrodermic, and palmoplantar/pustular forms. It works from within the body to affect the rapid skin-cell turnover that drives psoriasis. Dermatologists also prescribe it off-label for other conditions involving abnormal skin cell growth or keratinization, such as lichen planus, certain ichthyoses and Darier disease, pityriasis rubra pilaris, and to help prevent skin cancers in organ-transplant recipients.

Acitretin was originally sold under the brand name Soriatane, but that brand has been discontinued in the US — today it's available only as generic acitretin.

Acitretin Coupons and Pricing: What to Know

Because acitretin is generic-only, you may see it advertised across the usual cash-coupon sites (GoodRx, SingleCare, WellRx, and similar). What most of those pages don't make clear is that the price for the same generic prescription can differ significantly from pharmacy to pharmacy in the same city, since each pharmacy sets its own cash price and accepts different discount networks. That's exactly why comparing matters, even for a drug that's been generic for years.

Rx.com pulls live pricing from over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide so you can compare your options side by side rather than assuming the first price you see is the best one. Enter your ZIP code above to check today's acitretin prices near you, and always confirm your insurance or pharmacy discount at the counter, since cash and coupon prices can beat insurance copays for some patients.

Acitretin vs. Other Psoriasis Treatments

Acitretin is one of several systemic options dermatologists use for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, and the right choice depends on a patient's health history, other medications, and how severe the disease is. Related options include:

  • Methotrexate — a long-used systemic option for psoriasis.
  • Cyclosporine — another systemic immunosuppressant sometimes used for severe or fast-flaring psoriasis.
  • Apremilast — an oral, non-biologic medication used for plaque psoriasis.
  • Isotretinoin — a related oral retinoid, though it's primarily indicated for severe acne rather than psoriasis.
  • Tretinoin — a topical retinoid used for acne and other skin conditions, distinct from acitretin's oral, systemic use.

This isn't a recommendation to switch medications — only your prescriber can weigh which treatment fits your specific diagnosis and health history.

Acitretin Safety Information

Acitretin carries boxed warnings from the FDA. The most serious is extreme teratogenicity: acitretin is contraindicated in pregnancy and in women who could become pregnant within 3 years of stopping treatment, because alcohol use during treatment or in the two months after can convert acitretin into a longer-lived teratogenic compound (etretinate) that extends that risk window. The second boxed warning is hepatotoxicity — roughly one in three patients develop elevated liver enzymes, so prescribers order liver function tests before and periodically during treatment; acitretin is contraindicated in severe liver or kidney impairment and in patients with significant chronic high cholesterol/triglycerides.

Other risks include marked increases in triglycerides or cholesterol (requiring lipid monitoring), skeletal changes (hyperostosis) with long-term use, pseudotumor cerebri, night blindness or other vision changes, and increased sun sensitivity. Blood donation is not permitted during treatment or for 3 years afterward. This is general information, not medical advice — talk with your prescriber about monitoring and precautions specific to you.

Sources & accuracy

This Acitretin information was written and reviewed against authoritative U.S. medical sources — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), DailyMed, and FDA prescribing information — and checked for accuracy. It is provided for education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Verify the official label: Acitretin on DailyMed (FDA)

Reviewed against FDA labeling · Last reviewed July 2026

Sponsored
Sesame Care — 350+ medications for $1 without insurance
¿Buscando esta página en español?

Browse more medications: starting with A · full A-Z directory · by condition · common drugs

Medical disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.


Don't Miss Out On Savings!

Rx.com does not warrant the accuracy of the information on this website. All information on this site is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of a drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using any drug. All logos, brand names and trademarks on this website are the property of their respective owners. Rx.com is not endorsed or affiliated with any brands represented on this website."

Pharmacy discounts are Not Insurance, and are Not Intended as a Substitute for Insurance THE DISCOUNT IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

2026 All Rights Reserved | Rx.com®