Mequinol and Tretinoin (Topical)

Brand Names : Solagé

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For mequinol and tretinoin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to acitretin, etretinate, isotretinoin, mequinol, tretinoin, or vitamin A preparations. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives or dyes.

Pregnancy - Mequinol and tretinoin has not been studied in pregnant women. Topical mequinol and tretinoin is not recommended during pregnancy. Topical mequinol and tretinoin may cause fetal harm. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether mequinol and tretinoin passes into the breast milk. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctors.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of this medicine in children with use in other age groups. Mequinol and tretinoin should not be used in children.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area of the skin. When you are using topical mequinol and tretinoin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin [e.g., Cipro], enoxacin [e.g., Penetrex], grepafloxacin [e.g., Raxar], levofloxacin [e.g., Levaquin], lomefloxacin [e.g., Maxaquin], norfloxacin [e.g., Noroxin], ofloxacin [e.g., Floxin], sparfloxacin [e.g., Zagam]) or
• Phenothiazines (chlorpromazine [e.g., Thorazine], fluphenazine [e.g., Prolixin], mezoridazine [e.g., Serentil], perphenazine [e.g., Trilafon], prochlorperazine [e.g., Compazine], thioridazine [e.g., Mellaril], trifluoperazine [e.g., Stelazine], triflupromazine [e.g., Vesprin]) or
• Sulfonamides (sulfa medicine) or
• Tetracyclines (medicine for infection) or
• Thiazide diuretics (water pills) - These medicines may cause your skin to become more sensitive to light

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of mequinol and tretinoin topical solution. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eczema or
• Frequent exposure to sunlight or sunlamps or
• Sunburn - Use of this medicine may cause or increase the irritation associated with these conditions
• Vitiligo (or a family history of this condition) - Use of this medicine may cause lightening of areas of the skin that have not been treated