Description
About Tretiva 5 mg Soft Capsule
Tretiva 5 mg is a prescription soft gelatin capsule containing 5 mg of isotretinoin, made by Intas Pharmaceuticals, used to treat severe or stubborn acne that has not cleared with other treatments. It is the smallest strength in the Tretiva range. Dermatologists use it to fine-tune a daily dose to body weight, to start cautiously, or as part of a low-dose plan they have decided on.
How does isotretinoin work?
Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative taken by mouth. It shrinks the oil glands and cuts sebum output sharply, stops dead skin cells from plugging pores, starves the acne bacterium of the oil it feeds on, and calms inflammation. Because it tackles all four drivers of acne together, a single course brings long-lasting remission for many people.
Who prescribes it?
Isotretinoin should only be started and supervised by a dermatologist or a doctor experienced in its use. It is reserved for nodular or cystic acne, acne that scars, or acne that keeps returning after antibiotics and creams. It is not a medicine for self-treatment: a consultation, baseline blood tests and, where relevant, a pregnancy test come first.
How to take Tretiva 5 mg
- Swallow the capsule whole with a meal, as food roughly doubles how much isotretinoin is absorbed.
- Take it once daily or split across two meals, exactly as your prescriber directs.
- Standard courses start at 0.5 mg/kg a day and may rise to 1 mg/kg a day, usually for 16–24 weeks.
- The 5 mg capsule lets a doctor adjust in small steps; for example, 35 mg a day can be made from a 30 mg and a 5 mg capsule.
- Never chew or open soft capsules, and never share them with anyone.
Low-dose isotretinoin
Some dermatologists prescribe smaller daily amounts, such as 5–20 mg, for milder but persistent acne or for people who get troublesome dryness at standard doses. Studies suggest this can work with fewer side effects, although it sits outside standard licensed dosing and relapse may be more likely. Every safety rule below applies in full, whatever the dose.
Pregnancy: essential safety rules
Isotretinoin causes severe birth defects, even after very few capsules. Anyone who could become pregnant must follow a pregnancy prevention program (the Pregnancy Prevention Program in the UK, iPLEDGE in the US). That usually means two effective methods of contraception from one month before starting until one month after the last dose, plus a negative pregnancy test before treatment, every month during it and after it ends. Do not breastfeed while taking it.
What are the side effects?
- Very common: dry, cracked lips, dry skin and eyes, nosebleeds, and a temporary flare of acne in the first weeks.
- Also reported: aching muscles and joints, headache, sun sensitivity and thinning hair.
- Blood fats (triglycerides, cholesterol) and liver enzymes can rise, so they are checked before and during treatment.
Get medical help promptly for low mood, anxiety, irritability or thoughts of self-harm; a severe headache with blurred vision or vomiting; severe stomach pain; or a blistering rash.
Who should not take it?
It is unsuitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and with significant liver disease, very high blood fats or excess vitamin A. Do not combine it with tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline, which can raise pressure around the brain, or with vitamin A supplements. Many soft capsules contain soya oil, so mention any soya or peanut allergy. Do not donate blood during treatment or for one month afterwards, and avoid waxing, laser and dermabrasion until at least six months after the course.
Pack sizes and storage
Strips of 10 capsules, sold in packs of 30, 60 or 90, from $40. Keep them in the original pack in a cool, dry place away from light, and return unused capsules to a pharmacy.
Frequently asked questions
Is 5 mg a day enough to clear acne?
On its own it is a very low dose. It is usually combined with another strength or used in a specialist low-dose plan.
Which other strengths are there?
Tretiva 10 mg and Tretiva 20 mg are widely prescribed, and every option is listed in the acne category.
What about milder acne?
Creams and gels come first; our guide to tretinoin for acne explains how they work.
Provided for general education rather than as medical advice. Tretiva 5 mg is a prescription-only medicine that must be supervised by a dermatologist.