Targretin (Bexarotene) and/or alternatives

General Information On Targretin

Targretin is used for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Its generic name is Bexarotene and it belongs to the group of retinoids. You can buy Targretin in the form of oral capsules. The medicine acts by regulating gene expression responsible for cell proliferation, especially those with squamous characteristics. In this way, it prevents the growth and spread of cancerous tissues. Targretin is given to patients only when other methods of cancer treatment including phototherapy, radiation, and chemotherapy have proved to be unsatisfactory.

Side Effects for Targretin

Targretin patients may experience headache, fatigue, weakness, swelling, dry skin, rash, infections, nausea, or diarrhea. A blood test may also reveal an underactive thyroid or an increase in blood lipids such as triglycerides or cholesterol after the use of Targretin. These are short-lived side effects and get better on their own as your body adjusts to the drug. You should not stop using this medication unless the condition becomes intolerable. Sometimes, Targretin may also lead to pancreatitis, which can be identified by persistent nausea, back or abdominal pain, or vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately stop taking the drug and seek medical help.

You should also discontinue taking the medicine if you develop an allergic reaction to it. Watch out for symptoms such as severe dizziness, difficulty breathing, hives, rashes, or swelling or itching of the face, tongue, lips, or throat.

Precautions

You should not take Targretin if you have an allergy to Bexarotene or other retinoids including acitretin, isotretinoin, tretinoin, or etretinate. You should also inform your doctor if you have or had pancreatitis or if you are suffering from diabetes mellitus, liver or gall bladder disease, or high triglycerides in your blood. You will have to stop taking alcohol as it may worsen the condition and interfere with the working of Targretin. Your doctor will suggest you not to consume grapefruit or its juice, as it may increase the risks of side effects. You should not buy Targretin if you are pregnant, as it may lead to serious birth defects in your unborn child. Your doctor may even take your pregnancy test, which should be negative one week before starting and one month after Bexarotene treatment. Men should also not father a child while taking Targretin.

Targretin Dosage

For the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma, you will be recommended to take Targretin 300mg/m2 of your body area daily. The effects of the drug will be monitored for about 8 weeks, and the dosage can then be increased to Targretin 800mg/m2 per day depending on your response to treatment. If the desired tumor response is achieved, your doctor may even decide to reduce the dose by Targretin 50mg/m2 per day. This means that Targretin 200mg/m2 per day may be decreased to 100mg/m2 per day.

Interactions

You should inform your doctor about all the prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking at present, especially gemfibrozil, itraconazole, erythromycin, rifampin, Phenobarbital, and phenytoin. You should also inform him/her if you are taking diabetic medicines such as glipizide, chlorpropamide, or pioglitazone.

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