NutriStack
Acitretin and Vitamin A, contraindicated.
Acitretin is a systemic retinoid with vitamin A-like toxicity. Adding preformed vitamin A supplements can stack retinoid effects and increase the risk of headache, severe dry skin and mucosa, liver enzyme elevations, hypertriglyceridemia, bone symptoms, and teratogenicity. Risk is highest with high-dose vitamin A, cod liver oil, or multiple multivitamins.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
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What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Pair type
- Contraindicated
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Contraindicated · Strong evidence
Contraindicated
What is happening. Acitretin is a systemic retinoid with vitamin A-like toxicity. Adding preformed vitamin A supplements can stack retinoid effects and increase the risk of headache, severe dry skin and mucosa, liver enzyme elevations, hypertriglyceridemia, bone symptoms, and teratogenicity. Risk is highest with high-dose vitamin A, cod liver oil, or multiple multivitamins.
Mechanism. Acitretin activates retinoid signaling and produces adverse effects resembling hypervitaminosis A. Exogenous preformed vitamin A adds retinoid receptor substrate and can increase hepatic, lipid, neurologic, mucocutaneous, skeletal, and fetal toxicity.
Recommendation. Do not take vitamin A supplements, cod liver oil, or retinoid-containing products while on acitretin unless your dermatologist specifically directs it. Check multivitamin labels for retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, or vitamin A. Seek care promptly for severe headache, vision changes, jaundice, or pregnancy exposure.
Sources (2)
- Ormerod AD, Campalani E, Goodfield MJ, et al. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines on the efficacy and use of acitretin in dermatology. Br J Dermatol. 2010;162(5):952-963. PMID 20423353
- Kamm JJ. Toxicology, carcinogenicity, and teratogenicity of some orally administered retinoids. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1982;6(4 Pt 2 Suppl):652-659. PMID 7040511
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Acitretin and Vitamin A are in the same stack, this pair applies −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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