Acitretin, a synthetic aromatic derivative of retinoic acid, has a favourable therapeutic ratio, with a greater and more specific inhibitory effect on psoriasis and disorders of epithelial keratinisation. The usual therapeutic response to acitretin consists of desquamation (with or without erythema) followed by more normal re-epithelialisation. Acitretin is the main active metabolite of etretinate.
This medicinal substance has been classified in the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification according to its main therapeutic use as follows:
Acitretin is the active ingredient of these drugs:
Austria
Australia Brazil Hong Kong Ireland Lithuania
Australia
Singapore
Canada France United States
Hong Kong
Australia
Medicine agencies around the world have authorized marketing of this active ingredient according to these medication package inserts (MPIs):