ɪtɹˈɛtᵻnˌeɪt hɐz ɐ lˈoʊ θˌɛɹəpjˈuːɾɪk ˈɪndɛks ænd ɐ lˈɔŋ ᵻlˌɪmᵻnˈeɪʃən hˈæflˈaɪf tˈiː wˈʌn slˈæʃ tˈuː ʌv wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti dˈeɪz, wˌɪtʃ mˌeɪk dˈoʊsɪŋ dˈɪfɪkəlt.
Etretinate has a low therapeutic index and a long elimination half-life (t1/2) of 120 days, which make dosing difficult.