Guidance

Temporary advice for management of oral retinoid medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic

Guidance for specialists and patients about oral isotretinoin, alitretinoin and acitretin and the use of remote consultations for monitoring safety requirements.

• From: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• Published: 22 June 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on 31 October 2023

We have withdrawn the guidance page on temporary advice for management of oral retinoid medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead please refer to clinical guidance for advice on consultations for patients on isotretinoin.

We ask healthcare professionals to consult the October 2023 Drug Safety Update and Report of the Isotretinoin Implementation Advisory Expert Working Group when referring patients and when prescribing or dispensing isotretinoin.

This guidance covers oral isotretinoin, alitretinoin and acitretin, and the use of remote consultations for pregnancy prevention in women of childbearing potential and monitoring for other safety risks in all patients taking these medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The requirements for monitoring of these safety issues are not new and reflect established risk-minimisation measures with oral retinoid medicines.

Published 22 June 2021