$813.41

TARGRETIN

Apply enough bexarotene to cover the lesion with a generous coating. Use a cotton tipped applicator or your fingertips to apply the medicine to your skin. If you apply this medicine with your fingertips, make sure you wash your hands immediately afterwards, to prevent any of the medicine from accidentally getting into your eyes or mouth.

Avoid getting the medicine on the surrounding unaffected skin. Do not apply the medicine near mucosal areas (the inside of your mouth, eyes, nose, rectum or vagina).

Do not cover with bandages or dressings, unless directed to do so by your doctor. Allow the bexarotene to dry before covering with clothing.

Dosing

Use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not use more or less of it, and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. The exact amount of medicine you need has been carefully worked out. Using too much will increase the risk of side effects, while using too little may not improve your condition.

The amount of bexarotene used will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of bexarotene. If your directions are different, do not change how you use it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For topical dosage form (gel):
  • For cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
    • Adults The usual dose is started at applying once every other day for the first week. On week two, the dose may be increased to apply once a day. It may be increased to apply twice a day, on week three. On week four, it may be increased to apply three times a day. Finally, increased to apply four times a day on week five.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose

• Apply every other day Apply as soon as possible if you remember it on the day it should be used. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, apply it at that time. Then skip a day and start applying every other day. Do not double doses.
• Apply once daily Apply as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
• Apply two, three or four times daily If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
• If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Storage

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For bexarotene, the following should be considered:

Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to bexarotene or to other retinoids (vitamin A) preparations. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy Bexarotene must not be used during pregnancy because of the possible risks of birth defects to the infant. In addition, bexarotene must not be used if there is a chance that you may become pregnant 1 month before treatment, during treatment, and within 1 month after treatment is ended. Women who are able to have children must have a pregnancy test done within 1 week before starting bexarotene, to make sure they are not pregnant. The pregnancy test must be repeated once a month during treatment. You must use two effective forms of birth control at the same time for 1 month before treatment with bexarotene, during treatment, and for 1 month after treatment is over or abstain from having intercourse. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Male patients with sexual partners who are pregnant, or who could become pregnant must use condoms during sexual intercourse while using bexarotene and for at least 1 month after using the last dose.

Breast-feeding It is not known whether bexarotene is passed into breast milk. However, bexarotene use is not recommended during breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects to the nursing baby.

Children Studies of this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing the use of bexarotene in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults This medicine has been tested in patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of bexarotene.

Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking bexarotene, it is especially important that your health care professionals know if you are using any of the following:

• Insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) (e.g., Off Insect repellant) using the insect repellant while using bexarotene can cause you to absorb the repellant through your skin and enter your blood stream in high amounts.
• Vitamin A supplements (e.g., Aquasol A) May increase the chance of side effects

• Kidney disease May increase the risk of side effects
• Liver disease Effects of bexarotene may be increased because of slower removal from the body
• Photosensitivity Bexarotene may cause increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight