Hello from soosieb99

[Kat]

Hi Kat
Thanks for that.  Can I ask you a question please, apologies in advance if it sounds dim.  But if acitretin works do you stay on it or is there a limited period of time that you can use these drugs?

S  

Hi Kat
Thanks for that.  Can I ask you a question please, apologies in advance if it sounds dim.  But if acitretin works do you stay on it or is there a limited period of time that you can use these drugs?

S  

I think each case would be different.  For me, I was taking a 25mg tablet per day.  Once it started working (I was also on light therapy), I asked the doc If I could try to reduce it and he said yes.  So I went to 3 x per week.  That worked well for me.  Then my prescription ran out (or more accurately I didn't refill it immediately) so I went a couple of weeks without but was a bit afraid I would start to have problems so went back to the 3 x per week.  At my last appointment, the dermatologist asked if I would like to try to go off of it so I did.  I also stopped the light therapy (although he did want to keep it going but it was the beginning of the year, new deductible and me paying each visit until my deductible was met was a bit daunting.)   So, I have been off Acitretin since around the middle of January.  I do have a topical the dermatologist prescribed.  I also have some problems with behind my ears and along the scalp line but so far that is it and it is relatively minor.  I'm hoping getting some sun this summer will help.  I'm keeping a very close watch as I do not want to go back to as bad as it was before.

Kelly is also on Acitretin and her doctor did reduce her dose.  Here is a part from that post:
"I was started on a dose of 25mg a day, dropped down to 20mg a day and now I alternate on 10mg one day/20mg every other day."

So it does sound like it's common to perhaps reduce the dosage if you are staying clear.  Hope that helps!