Brand Names

Fore Safe Use

The best for you that your family doctor check your progress at regular appointments to make sure that this drug is help you and to check for unwanted effects.

While you are being treated with bexarotene and after you stop treat with it, do not have any immunizations - vaccinations without your family doctor's approval . Bexarotene may lower your body's resistance, and there is a risk you might get the infection that the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other people living in your household must not take oral polio vaccine, since there is a risk they could pass the polio virus on to you. Always avoid people who have taken oral polio vaccine within the last few months. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the room with them for very long. If you can't take these precautions, you must consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Bexarotene can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the risk of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections Check with your family doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your family doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your family doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your family doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

Bexarotene may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this drug:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Always wear sunglasses.
• Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor - SPF of at least 15. Some diseaseds may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.