Questions in The Dermatology Forum
are being answered by Dr. A. Rockoff, a board certified dermatologist, affiliated
with Tufts University School of Medicine.
Subject: medication side affects Topic Area: Psoriasis
Forum: The Dermatology Forum
Question Posted By: tony carter{asking for my freind } on Thursday,
October 26, 2000
I am a 41 year old female and have developed a planter
pustular psoriasis on my left foot,I have had numerous creams ie
diprosone u.v , advantan, elcon, tar cream and two doses of
nizoral,tetrex. Now i have started on neotiagason acitretin 25 mg and
have been on this for the last five days, it has stripped my mouth and
everything i eat tastes like salt and my hair is starting to fall out
could you please offer some advice as to why and what other side effects
this drug will cause
thankyou
Answer Posted By: Derm M.D. ASR
on Thursday, October 26, 2000
Tony:
Whenever I get a question like yours (which is
often), I ask myself, "Why wouldn't a patient who gets a powerful drug
and is worried about side-effects ask the doctor who prescribed the
drug? Is it that the doctor is so intimidating, or inaccessible? If not,
what then? But whatever it is, it must be common, because you're hardly
the first person to ask me this.
So this is my advice to people
who have seen a doctor and have questions about his or her
recommendations: call up and ask! If they won't get back to you or
answer in language you can understand, get another doctor. Answering is
their job.
OK, I feel better. Now I can get off my
soapbox.
Now as to acitretin, that is a drug with which I have
little familiarity, so I can't answer you with much confidence. You (or
your freind) shouldn't fool around with a drug that potent. Call the
doctor at once and find out if you (or he) should change the dose, stop,
or whatever.
