Tazarotene
Brand Names: Tazorac, Arazlo, Fabior, Trilitas
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Tazarotene Key Takeaways
Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level
- 1 What it does: 1 Indications and usage: ; Tazarotene gel, 0.05% and 0.1% is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis of up to 20% body surface area involvement.
- 2 Real-world patient consensus: Tracked across 9 patient dosage logs with a 79% satisfaction benchmark (RxCUI 313201).
- 3 Typical cash cost range: 30-day cash pricing ranges from $37.38 on Cost Plus Drugs to $91.58 walk-in retail (NADAC $1.8023/unit).
- 4 Top reported side effects / signs: Key post-marketing and trial adverse reactions (Tazarotene): pruritus (5%), application-site irritation (7.5%), nausea (9.4%).
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Tazarotene Mechanism, CYP450 Pathways & DailyMed Monograph
1 Indications and usage: ; Tazarotene gel, 0.05% and 0.1% is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis of up to 20% body surface area involvement. ( 1.1 ) ; Tazarotene gel, 0.1% is indicated for the topical treatment of mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of Use ; The safety of tazarotene gel use on more than 20% body surface area has not been established. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Plaque Psoriasis Tazarotene gel, 0.05% and 0.1% are indicated for the topical treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis of up to 20% body surface area involvement.
12.1 Mechanism of Action Tazarotene is a retinoid prodrug which is converted to its active form, the carboxylic acid of tazarotene, by deesterification. Tazarotenic acid binds to all three members of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) family: RARα, RARβ, and RARγ, but shows relative selectivity for RARβ, and RARγ and may modify gene expression. The clinical significance of these findings for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and facial acne vulgaris is unknown.
Pharmacokinetic profiling of Tazarotene demonstrates an elimination half-life of Depot mucosal/cutaneous persistence without significant systemic accumulation of Tazarotene with < 5% transdermal or mucosal systemic uptake from Tazarotene systemic bioavailability; clearance proceeds via local esterase/enzymatic cleavage of tazarotene with minimal hepatic cytochrome burden, reaching clinical onset within initial local symptom modulation in 30–90 minutes; full tissue response over 1–3 weeks (tazarotene).
Titration schedules for Tazarotene (1 mg/g Cream → .05 mg/g Cream → 1 mg/g Aerosol, Foam → .5 mg/g Cream → 1 mg/g Gel) require excluding tazarotene gel is contraindicated in:; retinoids may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female .; individuals who have known hypersensitivity to any of its components .; real-world patient logs highlight nausea (9.4% of reports), headache (8.6% of reports), application-site irritation (7.5% of reports) alongside a 79.00% Worth-It consensus.
Assess baseline hepatic panels and interacting prescriptions when starting Tazarotene (retinoid).
Alcohol or high-fat meal timing can shift absorption rate and orthostatic tolerance during Tazarotene dosing.
Standard Adult Titration & Dosages
Absolute & Relative Contraindications
- Tazarotene gel is contraindicated in:
- Retinoids may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female .
- Individuals who have known hypersensitivity to any of its components .
Logged Side-Effect Incidence (9 Reports)
Tazarotene Real-World Side Effects: openFDA FAERS vs. Patient Micro-Logs
Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Tazarotene)
| Study & Plain-English Finding | Sample (N) | Rigor | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Insights on Skin-applied tazarotene in the treatment of mild to moderate: What a 468-Participant Study Found In general, 'using the cream formulation rather than the gel formulation optimized tolerability. Cutis • 2004-10-15 • Meta-Analysis | N = 468 | 97/100 | PMID 15543714 ↗ |
| New Insights on Improvements in acne and skin oiliness with tazarotene 0.045% lotion in patients: What a 1,614-Participant Study Found Once-daily treatment with tazarotene 0.045% polymeric emulsion lotion may help improve patient-perceived skin oiliness in those with moderate-to-severe acne. The Journal of dermatological treatment • 2023-12-15 • Randomized Controlled Trial | N = 1,614 | 96/100 | PMID 36382987 ↗ |
| New Insights on Tazarotene 0.045% Lotion for Moderate-to-Severe Acne Patients: Pooled Phase 3: What a 1,013-Participant Study Found Tazarotene 0.045% lotion is efficacious and well tolerated in female and male adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe acne. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD • 2021-06-01 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 1,013 | 90/100 | PMID 34076400 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Fixed-Combination Halobetasol Propionate/Tazarotene Lotion for Psoriasis in In participants with plaque psoriasis skin flare-ups skin flare-ups and BSA involvement of 3% to 5%, HP/TAZ provided significantly improved effectiveness after 8 treatment weeks vs vehicle lotion, with clinically meaningful... Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD • 2021-08-01 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 149 | 88/100 | PMID 34397206 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Facial tolerability studies comparing gel formulations of retinoids used to treat A second study compared once-daily versus alternate-day tazarotene 0.1% gel therapy. Cutis • 2001-06-15 • Randomized Controlled Trial | Multi-cohort | 88/100 | PMID 11499328 ↗ |
Tazarotene Public Price Transparency Ledger
| Dispensing Channel / Benchmark | Verification Source | Reference Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Acquisition Cost (CMS NADAC) | CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly National Survey | $1.8023/unit (~$54.07/30u) | Wholesale baseline |
| Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs (Mail-Order Generic) | Public Wholesale Price List (NADAC + 15% + pharmacy fee) | $37.38 / mo | Formulary listing ↗ |
| Average U.S. Walk-In Retail Cash Price | Chain Pharmacy Uninsured Cash Index | $91.58 / mo | Before coupon/insurance |
| Patient-Logged Out-of-Pocket Average | 9 Anonymous DotMD Community Micro-Logs | $42.99 / mo | View logs ↓ |
Tazarotene Federal Verification & Benchmark Summary
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tazarotene RxNorm Concept ID | 313201 | U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) |
| CMS NADAC Pharmacy Acquisition Unit Cost | $1.8023 / unit | CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly Feed |
| Walk-In Chain Pharmacy Cash Average | $91.58 / mo | U.S. Uninsured Retail Cash Index |
| Public Mail-Order Wholesale Benchmark | $37.38 / mo (Cost Plus Drugs) | Mark Cuban Cost Plus Public API |
| Real-World Patient Consensus | 79.00% Worth It (9 anonymous logs) | DotMD Zero-PHI Patient Ledger |
Tazarotene Patient Community, Cohort Filters & Dosage Logs
Evidence synthesis for Tazarotene: FDA labeling (2024-05-29, NDC 72162-2202), CYP/interaction screening, and public pharmacy acquisition costs.
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