II. Indications

  1. Psoriasis
    1. Primary use
  2. Acne Vulgaris
    1. Other Comedolytics are better tolerated (Retin A, Adapalene)

III. Mechanism

  1. Retinoid
  2. Suppresses epidermal thickening, Scaling

IV. Preparations

  1. Cream 0.05%, 0.1%
  2. Gel 0.05%, 0.1%

V. Dosing

  1. Applied each day
  2. Quick onset of benefit
  3. Start at 0.05% gel, may advance to 0.1% gel

VI. Efficacy

  1. Under 50% have moderate to marked benefit
  2. Best used in combination with topicals
  3. Benefit may last for several weeks after stopping

VII. Adverse Effects

  1. Local irritation is common
    1. Erythema in almost everyone
    2. Peeling and dryness
    3. Pruritus, stinging and burning
    4. Not tolerated by 10% of patients
  2. Risk of Koebner Reaction
    1. Results in larger area Psoriasis
    2. Apply strictly to lesion

VIII. Safety

  1. Pregnancy Category X

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

tazarotene (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
TAZAROTENE 0.05% GEL Generic $8.14 per gram
TAZAROTENE 0.1% CREAM Generic $2.86 per gram

Ontology: tazarotene (C0288792)

Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A drug used on the skin to treat several skin conditions. It is also being studied in the treatment of basal cell skin cancer and basal cell nevus syndrome. Tazarotene is related to vitamin A and is made in the laboratory. It turns on a gene that may help stop the growth of skin cancer cells. Tazarotene is a type of synthetic retinoid.
Definition (NCI) A synthetic, topical retinoid. Tazarotene induces the expression of tazarotene-induced gene 3 (TIG3), a tumor suppressor gene. In psoriasis, tazarotene normalizes abnormal keratinocyte differentiation and reduces their hyperproliferation. (NCI04)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH C086827
SnomedCT 332218002, 108906007, 386935009
English 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 6-((3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2H-1-benzothiopyran-6-yl)ethynyl)-, ethyl ester, ethyl 6-(2-(4,4-dimethylthiochroman-6-yl)ethynyl)nicotinate, tazarotene, Ethyl 6-(2-(4,4-Dimethylthiochroman-6-yl)ethynyl)nicotinate, 6-[(3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2H-1-benzothiopyran-6-yl)ethynyl]- 3-Pyridinecarboxylic Acid, Ethyl Ester, retinoids tazarotene, tazarotene (medication), tazarotene [Chemical/Ingredient], TAZAROTENE, Tazarotene, Tazarotene (product), Tazarotene (substance)
Spanish tazaroteno (producto), tazaroteno (sustancia), tazaroteno

Ontology: Tazorac (C0723607)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH C086827
English Tazorac, tazorac