Etretinate

Etretinate
Systematic (IUPAC) name
ethyl 9-(4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-phenyl)- 3,7-dimethyl-nona- 2,4,6,8-tetraenoate
Identifiers
CAS number	54350-48-0
ATC code	D05BB01
PubChem	3312
DrugBank	APRD00966
Chemical data
Formula	C23H30O3
Mol. mass	354.483 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	120 days
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	Oral

Etretinate (trade name Tegison) is a medication used to treat severe psoriasis. It was removed from the United States market in 1998 and the Canadian market in 1996, due to the high risk of birth defects.

Etretinate has been replaced by acitretin, a metabolite of etretinate.

Mechanism

Etretinate is highly lipophilic and is stored in adipose tissue explaining why its effects can been felt for long periods of time following taking the drug. It has an elimination half life of a hundred days and is detectable in the plasma for up to three years following therapy.

Precautions

• Etretinate is a teratogen, and may cause birth defects long after use. Therefore, birth control is used during therapy and for at least three years after therapy has stopped.
• Etretinate should be avoided in children, as it may interfere with growth of bone.

• If a patient has received the medication, he/she is advised against giving blood indefinitely due to the risk of birth defects.

Side effects

• Hepatitis
• Pseudotumor cerebri

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