Over-the-counter medication · Vitamin A Supplement
retinol
Also sold as Vitamin A. This product is used to reduce wetness under your arms.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 3
- InteractionsFew interactions
- OTC
- Availability
retinol (Vitamin A) is an over-the-counter Vitamin A Supplement. This product is used to reduce wetness under your arms.
This product is an antiperspirant deodorant. It contains aluminum sesquichlorohydrate to reduce underarm wetness.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
What it does
This product is used to reduce wetness under your arms.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
No specific warnings noted. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from retinol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
This product contains aluminum sesquichlorohydrate. This ingredient works by blocking sweat ducts. This reduces the amount of sweat that reaches the surface of your skin.
How to Take It
Apply this product to your underarms only. Follow the directions on the product label. Use as often as needed to control underarm wetness.
This is a plain-language summary of retinol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Missed Dose
This product is used as needed, so you likely won't miss a dose.
This is a plain-language summary of retinol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store this product according to the instructions on the label.
Known Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions Vitamin A: Because of the relationship of isotretinoin capsules to vitamin A, patients should be advised against taking vitamin supplements containing vitamin A to avoid additive toxic effects.
Mechanism: Both of these are forms of Vitamin A, and taking them together can cause the vitamin to build up to toxic levels.
What to do: Avoid taking any vitamin supplements that contain Vitamin A while you are on this medicine.
( 7.2 ) • Vitamin A : Avoid concomitant use with vitamin A. 7.3 Vitamin A The concomitant use of vitamin A with tretinoin capsules may lead to vitamin A related adverse reactions. Avoid concomitant use of tretinoin capsules with vitamin A.
Mechanism: Tretinoin is a type of Vitamin A, so taking it with other Vitamin A products can cause you to have dangerously high levels of the vitamin in your body.
What to do: Do not take Vitamin A supplements or other Vitamin A products while you are using this medication.
Vitamin A : Based on a case report in one patient receiving combination therapy with all-trans-retinoid acid (an acid form of vitamin A) and fluconazole, central nervous system (CNS) related undesirable effects have developed in the form of pseudotumor cerebri, which disappeared after discontinuation of fluconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Using these two together may lead to increased pressure inside the head, which can cause headaches and other brain-related side effects.
What to do: Tell your doctor right away if you have a bad headache or changes in your vision while taking these medicines.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What is this product used for?
How do I use this product?
How often should I use it?
What is the active ingredient?
Can I use this on other parts of my body?
Is this a deodorant or an antiperspirant?
Does this product contain retinol?
How long does it last?
What brand is this?
What form does this product come in?
Does retinol interact with other medications?
What drug class is retinol?
Related Medications in Vitamin A Supplement
Other drugs grouped near retinol - same-class peers and common alternatives.
ascorbic acid
Vitamin C
This medicine is a Vitamin C supplement.
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biotin
Vitamin B7
Dialyvite with Zinc is a prescription vitamin supplement.
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calcitriol
Rocaltrol
Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb and use calcium.
Compare with retinol →
calcium carbonate
Tums, Caltrate
Calcium carbonate is a medicine that can relieve heartburn and upset stomach.
Compare with retinol →
cholecalciferol
Vitamin D3
PNV-DHA is a multivitamin with minerals and essential fatty acids.
Compare with retinol →
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What the FDA Data Shows for retinol
The FDA label for retinol (sold under brand names such as Vitamin A) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Vitamin A Supplement class. This product is used to reduce wetness under your arms. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 21, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages