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Tazarotene 1 mg/g Cream — NDC 51672-1373-02 package photo
Label image from the product's FDA listing (DailyMed) — may show a different pack size or an older label revision.

Tazarotene 1 mg/g Cream — NDC 51672-1373-2 (Billing 51672-1373-02)

by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. · 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON / 30 g in 1 TUBE

This is a package of Tazarotene 1 mg/g Cream from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., marketed since Apr 2017 and currently FDA-listed; retail pharmacies pay about $1.92 per g (NADAC). It is the main listing for this product, which comes in 2 package sizes.

NDC 51672-1373-02
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled) 51672-1373-2 billing pads the package segment with a zero
This package
Contains30 g in 1 tube Cost per g$1.92 NADAC Per package$57.74 / 30 g Pack sizes2 compare ↓
Also priced by: Medicaid pays $2.27/unit · Part D plans $3.37/unit — full pricing hub ↓
Main listing for product 51672-1373 · Also comes in: 60 g 51672-1373-3
Rx only Generic On market Non-controlled ⇄ Compare with another NDC
🗂️ FDA directory synced Oct 1, 2026 · this listing last changed Jul 24, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →

Identity & classification

Regulatory identifiers FDA, NLM and CMS codes for this package

FDA NDC (as labeled) 51672-1373-2
Product NDC 51672-1373
11-digit billing NDC 51672137302
NCPDP billing unit GM — per gram (weight)
RxCUI 313200
UNII 81BDR9Y8PS
UPC 0351672137328
Application # ANDA208258
SPL Set ID 478ff059-9d7b-438e-a64e-c853dfac2872
Established class (EPC) Retinoid
Chemical class Retinoids
DEA schedule Non-controlled
Marketing category ANDA
Marketing status On market
FDA listing status Listed (active directory)
Marketing start 2017-04-03
Route TOPICAL
Dosage form CREAM
Substance TAZAROTENE
TE code (Orange Book) AB · RLD · RS

Drug-database identifiers Medi-Span GPI and First Databank GCN / HICL / AHFS classification

GPI-14 90250070003730
GPI class Tazarotene
GCN Seq No 046984
GCN 85363
HICL code 013315
Ingredient (HICL) Tazarotene
HIC1 code L
Therapeutic class — broad (HIC1) Skin/Subcutaneous Tissue
HIC2 code L5
Therapeutic class — intermediate (HIC2) Keratolytics/Keratoplastics
HIC3 code L5F
Therapeutic class — specific (HIC3) Antipsoriatics Agents
AHFS code 84:28.00.00
AHFS class Keratolytic Agents
FDB label name TAZAROTENE 0.1% CREAM
FDB brand name Tazarotene
Legend status F — Federal legend — prescription drug or device
Quick answers
  • GSN (GCN sequence number): 046984
  • GCN: 85363
  • GPI-14 (Medi-Span): 90250070003730
  • HICL (First Databank): 013315
  • AHFS class code: 84:28.00.00
  • RxCUI (RxNorm): 313200
Why two NDCs? The FDA registers this code as 51672-1373-2 — a 5-4-1 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the package segment → 51672-1373-02. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.

RxNorm drug class

This medicine belongs to the Retinoid class.

Pharmacologic class Retinoid
Drug family (ATC) Other antipsoriatics for topical use
Where does this data come from?
Therapeutic classes from RxNorm RxClass (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Established Pharmacologic Class (FDA), ATC drug family (WHO) and mechanism of action, matched by this product’s RxCUI.

Clinical

Label name TAZAROTENE 0.1% CREAM Ingredient Tazarotene
📗 Our plain-language guide HelloPharmacist
  • Tazarotene cream is designed to help reduce the look of fine facial wrinkles, blotchy skin discoloration (patches that are lighter or darker than normal), and flat pigmented spots...
  • What exactly does tazarotene cream do for my skin?
  • Take off any makeup first and make sure your skin is completely dry before you put it on. Then apply just a pea-sized amount — that's really all you need — and spread it lightly ov...
  • Yes, some burning, redness, peeling, and itching are very common when you first start using tazarotene — your skin is adjusting to a retinoid, and that takes time. Keeping up with...
📖 Read our full Tazarotene Topical guide →
1
Nutrient depletion considerations

Tazarotene may be associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.

An association is not a deficiency. Educational only — don't start or stop anything without professional guidance.
Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.

Pricing

A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.

Price systemPer gPer package
Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly $1.925 $57.74 / 30 g
Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo $2.27 $68.12 / 30 g
Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 $3.37 $100.96 / 30 g
NADAC price history (per g) — tap or hover for the price & month
Jan 2022 Aug 2022 Jan 2026 Sep 2026 $4.022 $1.802
▼ Down 48% over the last 24 months.
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.

Packaging — all sizes for this product

Package NDCDescription Per unit Per pack Marketing startMarketing endStatus
51672-1373-02 You're viewing this Main listing 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON / 30 g in 1 TUBE $1.92 / g $57.73 2017-04-03 — Active
51672-1373-03 51672-1373-3 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON / 60 g in 1 TUBE $1.85 / g $110.95 2017-04-03 — Active

Per g, this pack runs about 4% above the cheapest pack (NDC 51672-1373-03, $1.85 vs $1.92 NADAC).

In Medicaid, this is the most-dispensed pack of this product — about 58% of fills over the last four reported quarters. See all packs ↓

Pack size FAQ

What quantity is in this package?
This package is listed by the FDA — 1 tube in 1 carton / 30 g in 1 tube.
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of Tazarotene 1 mg/g Cream?
Use the 11-digit billing form listed in the identifiers section of this page. Pharmacy and medical claims use the 11-digit form; the FDA label may print a shorter form of the same code.

Prices are the latest CMS NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost per NDC; per-pack figures are per-unit × pack quantity, shown only when the pack is denominated in the same measure NADAC prices.

Therapeutic equivalents

ProductLabelerPackNADAC/unitTEStatusPrice vs. this
Tazarotene 1 mg/g 00713-0670-31 Cosette 1 tube $1.924 AB Availability likely —
Tazarotene 1 mg/gthis 51672-1373-02 Sun 1 tube $1.924 AB Availability likely —
Tazarotene 1 mg/g 68308-0745-30 Mayne 1 tube $1.924 AB Availability likely —
Tazarotene 1 mg/g 45802-0442-01 Padagis 1 tube $5.715 AB Availability likely +197%
Tazarotene 1 mg/g 00713-0804-31 Cosette 1 tube $6.504 AB Availability likely +238%
Tazarotene 1 mg/g 51672-1374-02 Sun 1 tube — AB FDA listed —
Tazarotene 1 mg/g 72162-2202-03 Bryant 1 tube — AB FDA listed —
Trilitas 1 mg/g 87143-0200-30 Perfero 1 tube — AB FDA listed —
About this product: this is a generic version of the medicine. FDA equivalence ratings are shown when available, and other versions are listed above, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.

Availability & generic status

🏛️
2017
On the market since
Apr 2017
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
9 years listed
🔓
·
Generic on the market
this product is a generic
✅This is a generic drug

This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.

Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Inactive Ingredients / Excipients

Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.

Loading inactive ingredients from the official FDA label in the background. No external source is being called by this page request.
Where does this data come from?
Source: official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed and the openFDA label index. Structured IACT rows and label-wide narrative are kept separate; availability and product-level specificity depend on the submitted label.

Inactive ingredient FAQ

Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.

Manufacturer & labeler

LabelerSun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
Application holderSUN PHARMA CANADA INC
FDA applicationANDA208258 (ANDA)
Labeler code51672
First marketedApr 2017
Product typeHuman Prescription Drug
Portfolio890 products on file
The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.

Full prescribing information FDA SPL

The complete FDA label for this product — the official prescribing information, verbatim, section by section. Very long sections are excerpted here and marked; the full text is on DailyMed (linked in the sources below). Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage 71 words ▾

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Tazarotene cream 0.1% is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis. ( 1.1 ) Tazarotene cream 0.1% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. ( 1.2 )

1.1Plaque Psoriasis Tazarotene cream, 0.1% is indicated for the topical treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis.

1.2Acne Vulgaris Tazarotene cream, 0.1% is also indicated for the topical treatment of patients with acne vulgaris.

⏱️ Dosage and Administration ~1 min read ▾

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Apply a thin layer of tazarotene cream only to the affected area once daily in the evening. ( 2.1 , 2.2 ) Not for ophthalmic, oral, or intravaginal use. ( 2.2 ) If contact with eyes occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. ( 2.2 )

2.1Important Administration Instructions Tazarotene cream is for topical use only. Tazarotene cream is not for ophthalmic, oral, or intravaginal use. If contact with mucous membranes occurs, rinse thoroughly with water [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Wash hands thoroughly after application.

2.2Psoriasis It is recommended that treatment starts with tazarotene cream, 0.05%, with strength increased to 0.1% if tolerated and medically indicated. Apply a thin film (2 mg/cm 2 ) of tazarotene cream once per day, in the evening, to cover only the psoriatic lesions. If a bath or shower is taken prior to application, the skin should be dry before applying the cream.

If emollients are used, they should be applied at least an hour before application of tazarotene cream. Because unaffected skin may be more susceptible to irritation, application of tazarotene cream to these areas should be carefully avoided.

2.3Acne Cleanse the face gently. After the skin is dry, apply a thin layer (2 mg/cm 2 ) of tazarotene cream 0.1% once per day, in the evening, to the skin areas where acne lesions appear. Use enough to cover the entire affected area. Use effective sunscreens and wear protective clothing while using tazarotene cream [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ].

💊 Dosage Forms and Strengths 25 words ▾

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Cream, 0.1%. Each gram of tazarotene cream, 0.1% contains 1 mg of tazarotene in a white cream base. Cream, 0.1%.

⛔ Contraindications 60 words ▾

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Tazarotene cream is contraindicated in: Pregnancy. Retinoids may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Use in Specific Populations (8.1 , 8.3) ] . Individuals who have known hypersensitivity to any of its components [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Pregnancy ( 4 , 8.1 ) Hypersensitivity ( 4 )

⚠️ Warnings and Cautions ~3 min read ▾

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Embryofetal Toxicity: Tazarotene cream contains tazarotene, which is a teratogenic substance. Tazarotene cream is contraindicated in pregnancy. Females of child-bearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to initiating treatment and use an effective method of contraception during treatment.

( 5.1 ) Local Irritation: Some individuals may experience excessive pruritus, burning, skin redness or peeling. If these effects occur, discontinue until the integrity of the skin has been restored, or reduce dosing interval, or in the case of psoriasis, may switch to the lower concentration. Tazarotene cream should not be used on eczematous skin, as it may cause severe irritation.

( 5.2 ) Photosensitivity and Risk for Sunburn: Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, and weather extremes. Wear sunscreen daily. Tazarotene cream should be administered with caution if the patient is also taking drugs known to be photosensitizers.

( 5.3 )

5.1Embryofetal Toxicity Systemic exposure to tazarotenic acid is dependent upon the extent of the body surface area treated. In patients treated topically over sufficient body surface area, exposure could be in the same order of magnitude as in orally treated animals. Although there may be less systemic exposure in the treatment of acne of the face alone due to less surface area for application, tazarotene is a teratogenic substance, and it is not known what level of exposure is required for teratogenicity in humans [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

There were thirteen reported pregnancies in subjects who participated in the clinical trials for topical tazarotene. Nine of the subjects were found to have been treated with topical tazarotene, and the other four had been treated with vehicle. One of the subjects who was treated with tazarotene cream elected to terminate the pregnancy for non-medical reasons unrelated to treatment.

The other eight pregnant women who were inadvertently exposed to topical tazarotene during clinical trials subsequently delivered apparently healthy babies. As the exact timing and extent of exposure in relation to the gestation times are not certain, the significance of these findings is unknown. Females of Child-bearing Potential Females of child-bearing potential should be warned of the potential risk and use adequate birth-control measures when tazarotene cream is used.

The possibility that a female of child-bearing potential is pregnant at the time of institution of therapy should be considered. A negative result for pregnancy test should be obtained within 2 weeks prior to tazarotene cream therapy. Tazarotene cream therapy should begin during a menstrual period [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] .

5.2Local Irritation and Hypersensitivity Reactions Local tolerability reactions (including blistering and skin desquamation) and hypersensitivity adverse reactions (including urticaria) have been observed with topical tazarotene. Application of tazarotene cream may cause excessive irritation in the skin of certain sensitive individuals. Some individuals may experience excessive pruritus, burning, skin redness or peeling.

If these effects occur, the medication should either be discontinued until the integrity of the skin is restored, or the dosing should be reduced to an interval the patient can tolerate. However, efficacy at reduced frequency of application has not been established. Alternatively, patients with psoriasis who are being treated with the 0.1% concentration can be switched to the lower concentration.

Frequency of application should be closely monitored by careful observation of the clinical therapeutic response and skin tolerance. Therapy can be resumed, or the drug concentration or frequency of application can be increased as the patient becomes able to tolerate treatment. Concomitant topical medications and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect should be avoided.

It is also advisable to "rest" a pat… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

🤒 Adverse Reactions ~2 min read ▾

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling: Embryofetal toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Photosensitivity and Risk of Sunburn [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Plaque psoriasis: Most common adverse reactions occurring in 10 to 23% of patients are pruritus, erythema, and burning. ( 6.1 ) Acne Vulgaris: Most common adverse reactions occurring in 10 to 30% of patients are desquamation, dry skin, erythema, and burning sensation.

( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., at 1-866-923-4914 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. In human dermal safety trials, tazarotene cream, 0.05% and 0.1% did not induce allergic contact sensitization, phototoxicity, or photoallergy. Psoriasis The most frequent adverse reactions reported with tazarotene cream, 0.05% and 0.1% occurring in 10 to 23% of subjects, in descending order, included pruritus, erythema, and burning.

Reactions occurring in greater than 1 to less than 10% of subjects, in descending order, included irritation, desquamation, stinging, contact dermatitis, dermatitis, eczema, worsening of psoriasis, skin pain, rash, hypertriglyceridemia, dry skin, skin inflammation, and peripheral edema. Tazarotene cream, 0.1% was associated with a greater degree of local irritation than the 0.05% cream. The rates of irritation adverse reactions reported during psoriasis trials with tazarotene cream, 0.1% were 0.1 to 0.4% higher than those reported for tazarotene cream, 0.05%.

Acne The most frequent adverse reactions reported during clinical trials with tazarotene cream 0.1% in the treatment of acne, occurring in 10 to 30% of subjects, in descending order included desquamation, dry skin, erythema, and burning sensation. Reactions occurring in 1 to 5% of subjects included pruritus, irritation, face pain, and stinging.

6.2Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of tazarotene. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: blister, dermatitis, urticaria, skin exfoliation, skin discoloration (including skin hyperpigmentation or skin hypopigmentation), swelling at or near application sites, and pain.

🔄 Drug Interactions 106 words ▾

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS No formal drug-drug interaction studies were conducted with tazarotene cream. In a trial of 27 healthy female subjects between the ages of 20 to 55 years receiving a combination oral contraceptive tablet containing 1 mg norethindrone and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol, concomitant use of tazarotene administered as 1.1 mg orally (mean ± SD C max and AUC 0-24 of tazarotenic acid were 28.9 ± 9.4 ng/mL and 120.6 ± 28.5 ng∙hr/mL) did not affect the pharmacokinetics of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol over a complete cycle.

The impact of tazarotene on the pharmacokinetics of progestin only oral contraceptives (i.e., minipills) has not been evaluated.

👥 Use in Specific Populations ~3 min read ▾

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on data from animal reproduction studies, retinoid pharmacology, and the potential for systemic absorption, tazarotene cream may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female and is contraindicated during pregnancy. Safety in pregnant females has not been established. The potential risk to the fetus outweighs the potential benefit to the mother from tazarotene cream during pregnancy; therefore, tazarotene cream should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is recognized [see Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Limited case reports of pregnancy in females enrolled in clinical trials for tazarotene cream have not established a clear association with tazarotene and major birth defects or miscarriage risk. Because the exact timing and extent of exposure in relation to the gestational age are not certain, the significance of these findings is unknown. In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rats, tazarotene dosed topically during organogenesis at 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of tazarotene cream, 0.1% resulted in reduced fetal body weights and reduced skeletal ossification.

In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rabbits dosed topically with tazarotene gel at 26 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%, there was a single incident of known retinoid malformations, including spina bifida, hydrocephaly, and heart anomalies. In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rats and rabbits, tazarotene dosed orally during organogenesis at 2 and 52 times, respectively, the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1% resulted in malformations, fetal toxicity, developmental delays, and/or behavioral delays.

In pregnant rats, tazarotene dosed orally prior to mating through early gestation resulted in decreased litter size, decreased numbers of live fetuses, decreased fetal body weights, and increased malformations at doses approximately 7 times higher than the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1% [see Data ] . The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Adverse outcomes in pregnancy occur regardless of the health of the mother or the use of medications.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In rats, a tazarotene gel, 0.05% formulation dosed topically during gestation days 6 through 17 at 0.25 mg/kg/day, which represented 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1% (i.e., 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area), resulted in reduced fetal body weights and reduced skeletal ossification.

Rabbits dosed topically with 0.25 mg/kg/day tazarotene gel, which represented 26 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%, during gestation days 6 through 18, had a single incident of known retinoid malformations, including spina bifida, hydrocephaly, and heart anomalies. When tazarotene was given orally to animals, developmental delays were seen in rats, and malformations and post-implantation loss were observed in rats and rabbits at doses representing 2 and 52 times, respectively, the maximum systemic exposure seen in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%.

In female rats orally administered 2 mg/kg/day of tazarotene from 15 days before mating through gestation day 7, which represented 7 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%, classic developmental effects of retinoids were observed including decreased number of implantation sit… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

🤰 Pregnancy ~3 min read ▾

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on data from animal reproduction studies, retinoid pharmacology, and the potential for systemic absorption, tazarotene cream may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female and is contraindicated during pregnancy. Safety in pregnant females has not been established. The potential risk to the fetus outweighs the potential benefit to the mother from tazarotene cream during pregnancy; therefore, tazarotene cream should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is recognized [see Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Limited case reports of pregnancy in females enrolled in clinical trials for tazarotene cream have not established a clear association with tazarotene and major birth defects or miscarriage risk. Because the exact timing and extent of exposure in relation to the gestational age are not certain, the significance of these findings is unknown. In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rats, tazarotene dosed topically during organogenesis at 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of tazarotene cream, 0.1% resulted in reduced fetal body weights and reduced skeletal ossification.

In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rabbits dosed topically with tazarotene gel at 26 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%, there was a single incident of known retinoid malformations, including spina bifida, hydrocephaly, and heart anomalies. In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rats and rabbits, tazarotene dosed orally during organogenesis at 2 and 52 times, respectively, the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1% resulted in malformations, fetal toxicity, developmental delays, and/or behavioral delays.

In pregnant rats, tazarotene dosed orally prior to mating through early gestation resulted in decreased litter size, decreased numbers of live fetuses, decreased fetal body weights, and increased malformations at doses approximately 7 times higher than the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1% [see Data ] . The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Adverse outcomes in pregnancy occur regardless of the health of the mother or the use of medications.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In rats, a tazarotene gel, 0.05% formulation dosed topically during gestation days 6 through 17 at 0.25 mg/kg/day, which represented 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1% (i.e., 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area), resulted in reduced fetal body weights and reduced skeletal ossification.

Rabbits dosed topically with 0.25 mg/kg/day tazarotene gel, which represented 26 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%, during gestation days 6 through 18, had a single incident of known retinoid malformations, including spina bifida, hydrocephaly, and heart anomalies. When tazarotene was given orally to animals, developmental delays were seen in rats, and malformations and post-implantation loss were observed in rats and rabbits at doses representing 2 and 52 times, respectively, the maximum systemic exposure seen in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%.

In female rats orally administered 2 mg/kg/day of tazarotene from 15 days before mating through gestation day 7, which represented 7 times the maximum systemic exposure in subjects treated with the MRHD of tazarotene cream, 0.1%, classic developmental effects of retinoids were observed including decreased number of implantation sites, decreased litter size, dec… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

🧒 Pediatric Use 35 words ▾

8.4Pediatric Use The safety and efficacy of tazarotene cream have not been established in patients with psoriasis under the age of 18 years, or in patients with acne under the age of 12 years.

🧓 Geriatric Use 89 words ▾

8.5Geriatric Use Tazarotene cream for the treatment of acne has not been clinically tested in persons 65 years of age or older. Of the total number of subjects in clinical trials of tazarotene cream for plaque psoriasis, 120 were over the age of 65. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.

Currently there is no other clinical experience on the differences in responses between the elderly and younger subjects, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

🆘 Overdosage 77 words ▾

10 OVERDOSAGE Excessive topical use of tazarotene cream, 0.1% may lead to marked redness, peeling, or discomfort [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Tazarotene cream, 0.1% is not for oral use. Oral ingestion of the drug may lead to the same adverse effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of Vitamin A (hypervitaminosis A) or other retinoids.

If oral ingestion occurs, the patient should be monitored, and appropriate supportive measures should be administered as necessary.

🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ~3 min read ▾

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

12.1Mechanism 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 is unknown.

12.3Pharmacokinetics Following topical application, tazarotene undergoes esterase hydrolysis to form its active metabolite, tazarotenic acid. Little parent compound could be detected in the plasma. Tazarotenic acid was highly bound to plasma proteins (greater than 99%).

Tazarotene and tazarotenic acid were metabolized to sulfoxides, sulfones and other polar metabolites which were eliminated through urinary and fecal pathways. The half-life of tazarotenic acid was approximately 18 hours, following topical application of tazarotene to normal, acne or psoriatic skin. In a multiple dose trial with a once daily dose for 14 consecutive days in 9 psoriatic subjects (male=5; female=4), measured doses of tazarotene cream, 0.1% were applied by medical staff to involved skin without occlusion (5 to 35% of total body surface area: mean ± SD: 14 ± 11%).

The C max of tazarotenic acid was 2.31 ± 2.78 ng/mL occurring 8 hours after the final dose, and the AUC 0-24h was 31.2 ± 35.2 ng∙hr/mL on day 15 in the five subjects who were administered clinical doses of 2 mg cream/cm 2 . During clinical trials with tazarotene cream, 0.05% or 0.1% treatment for plaque psoriasis, three out of 139 subjects with their systemic exposure monitored had detectable plasma tazarotene concentrations, with the highest value at 0.09 ng/mL. Tazarotenic acid was detected in 78 out of 139 subjects (LLOQ = 0.05 ng/mL).

Three subjects using tazarotene cream 0.1% had plasma tazarotenic acid concentrations greater than 1 ng/mL. The highest value was 2.4 ng/mL. However, because of the variations in the time of blood sampling, the area of psoriasis involvement, and the dose of tazarotene applied, actual maximal plasma levels are unknown.

Tazarotene cream 0.1% was applied once daily to either the face (N=8) or to 15% of body surface area (N=10) of female subjects with moderate to severe acne vulgaris. The mean C max and AUC values of tazarotenic acid peaked at day 15 for both dosing groups during a 29 day treatment period. Mean C max and AUC 0-24h values of tazarotenic acid from subjects in the 15% body surface area dosing group were more than 10 times higher than those from subjects in the face-only dosing group.

The single highest C max throughout the trial period was 1.91 ng/mL on day 15 in the exaggerated dosing group. In the face-only group, the mean ± SD values of C max and AUC 0-24h of tazarotenic acid on day 15 were 0.10 ± 0.06 ng/mL and 1.54 ± 1.01 ng∙hr/mL, respectively, whereas in the 15% body surface area dosing group, the mean ± SD values of C max and AUC 0-24h of tazarotenic acid on day 15 were 1.20 ± 0.41 ng/mL and 17.01 ± 6.15 ng∙hr/mL, respectively. The steady state pharmacokinetics of tazarotenic acid had been reached by day 8 in the face-only and by day 15 in the 15% body surface area dosing groups.

In a Phase 3 clinical trial, tazarotene cream, 0.1% was applied once daily for 12 weeks to each of 48 subjects (22 females and 26 males) with facial acne vulgaris. The mean ± SD values of plasma tazarotenic acid at weeks 4 and 8 were 0.078 ± 0.073 ng/mL (N=47) and 0.052 ± 0.037 ng/mL (N=42), respectively. The highest observed individual plasma tazarotenic acid concentration was 0.41 ng/mL at week 4 from a female subject.

The magnitude of plasma tazarotenic acid concentrations appears to be independent of gender, age, and body weight.

🧬 Mechanism of Action 62 words ▾

12.1Mechanism 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 is unknown.

📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling 70 words ▾

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Tazarotene cream is a white cream available in a concentration of 0.1%. It is supplied in a collapsible aluminum tube with a tamper-evident aluminum membrane over the opening and a white polypropylene screw cap, in 30 g and 60 g sizes. Tazarotene Cream, 0.1% 30 gram NDC 51672-1373-2 60 gram NDC 51672-1373-3 Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

📦 Storage and Handling 13 words ▾

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

📋 Description 109 words ▾

11 DESCRIPTION Tazarotene cream, 0.1% is for topical use and contains the active ingredient, tazarotene. Each gram of tazarotene cream, 0.1% contains 1 mg of tazarotene in a white cream base. Tazarotene is a member of the acetylenic class of retinoids.

Chemically, tazarotene is ethyl 6-[(4,4-dimethylthiochroman-6-yl)ethynyl]nicotinate. The compound has an empirical formula of C 21 H 21 NO 2 S and molecular weight of 351.46. The structural formula is shown below: Tazarotene cream contains the following inactive ingredients: benzyl alcohol 1%, carbomer copolymer type B, carbomer homopolymer type B, edetate disodium, medium-chain triglycerides, mineral oil, purified water, sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH), sodium thiosulfate, and sorbitan monooleate.

Chemical Structure

💬 Information for Patients ~1 min read ▾

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information). Embryofetal Toxicity Inform females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise these patients to use effective contraception during treatment with tazarotene cream.

Advise patients to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1 , 8.3) ]. Photosensitivity and Risk of Sunburn Advise patients to avoid excessive sun exposure and to use of sunscreens and protective measures (hat, visor). Advise patients to avoid using tazarotene if also taking other medicines may increase sensitivity to sunlight.

Important Administration Instructions Advise the patient of the following: For the patient with psoriasis, apply tazarotene cream only to psoriasis skin lesions, avoiding uninvolved skin. If undue irritation (redness, peeling, or discomfort) occurs, reduce frequency of application or temporarily interrupt treatment. Treatment may be resumed once irritation subsides [see Dosage and Adminstration (2.1) ].

Moisturizers may be used as frequently as desired. Patients with psoriasis may use a cream or lotion to soften or moisten skin at least 1 hour before applying tazarotene cream. Avoid contact with the eyes.

If tazarotene cream gets in or near eyes, rinse thoroughly with water. Seek medical attention if eye irritation continues. Tazarotene cream is for topical use only.

Do not apply to eyes, mouth, or other mucous membrane. Not for ophthalmic, oral, or intravaginal use. Wash hands thoroughly after applying tazarotene cream.

🧬 Pharmacokinetics ~3 min read ▾

12.3Pharmacokinetics Following topical application, tazarotene undergoes esterase hydrolysis to form its active metabolite, tazarotenic acid. Little parent compound could be detected in the plasma. Tazarotenic acid was highly bound to plasma proteins (greater than 99%).

Tazarotene and tazarotenic acid were metabolized to sulfoxides, sulfones and other polar metabolites which were eliminated through urinary and fecal pathways. The half-life of tazarotenic acid was approximately 18 hours, following topical application of tazarotene to normal, acne or psoriatic skin. In a multiple dose trial with a once daily dose for 14 consecutive days in 9 psoriatic subjects (male=5; female=4), measured doses of tazarotene cream, 0.1% were applied by medical staff to involved skin without occlusion (5 to 35% of total body surface area: mean ± SD: 14 ± 11%).

The C max of tazarotenic acid was 2.31 ± 2.78 ng/mL occurring 8 hours after the final dose, and the AUC 0-24h was 31.2 ± 35.2 ng∙hr/mL on day 15 in the five subjects who were administered clinical doses of 2 mg cream/cm 2 . During clinical trials with tazarotene cream, 0.05% or 0.1% treatment for plaque psoriasis, three out of 139 subjects with their systemic exposure monitored had detectable plasma tazarotene concentrations, with the highest value at 0.09 ng/mL. Tazarotenic acid was detected in 78 out of 139 subjects (LLOQ = 0.05 ng/mL).

Three subjects using tazarotene cream 0.1% had plasma tazarotenic acid concentrations greater than 1 ng/mL. The highest value was 2.4 ng/mL. However, because of the variations in the time of blood sampling, the area of psoriasis involvement, and the dose of tazarotene applied, actual maximal plasma levels are unknown.

Tazarotene cream 0.1% was applied once daily to either the face (N=8) or to 15% of body surface area (N=10) of female subjects with moderate to severe acne vulgaris. The mean C max and AUC values of tazarotenic acid peaked at day 15 for both dosing groups during a 29 day treatment period. Mean C max and AUC 0-24h values of tazarotenic acid from subjects in the 15% body surface area dosing group were more than 10 times higher than those from subjects in the face-only dosing group.

The single highest C max throughout the trial period was 1.91 ng/mL on day 15 in the exaggerated dosing group. In the face-only group, the mean ± SD values of C max and AUC 0-24h of tazarotenic acid on day 15 were 0.10 ± 0.06 ng/mL and 1.54 ± 1.01 ng∙hr/mL, respectively, whereas in the 15% body surface area dosing group, the mean ± SD values of C max and AUC 0-24h of tazarotenic acid on day 15 were 1.20 ± 0.41 ng/mL and 17.01 ± 6.15 ng∙hr/mL, respectively. The steady state pharmacokinetics of tazarotenic acid had been reached by day 8 in the face-only and by day 15 in the 15% body surface area dosing groups.

In a Phase 3 clinical trial, tazarotene cream, 0.1% was applied once daily for 12 weeks to each of 48 subjects (22 females and 26 males) with facial acne vulgaris. The mean ± SD values of plasma tazarotenic acid at weeks 4 and 8 were 0.078 ± 0.073 ng/mL (N=47) and 0.052 ± 0.037 ng/mL (N=42), respectively. The highest observed individual plasma tazarotenic acid concentration was 0.41 ng/mL at week 4 from a female subject.

The magnitude of plasma tazarotenic acid concentrations appears to be independent of gender, age, and body weight.

🔬 Clinical Studies ~3 min read ▾

14 CLINICAL STUDIES In two 12-week vehicle-controlled clinical trials, tazarotene cream, 0.05% and 0.1% was significantly more effective than vehicle in reducing the severity of stable plaque psoriasis. Tazarotene cream, 0.1% and 0.05% demonstrated superiority over vehicle cream as early as 1 week and 2 weeks, respectively, after starting treatment. In these trials, the primary efficacy endpoint was "clinical success," defined as the proportion of subjects with none, minimal, or mild overall lesional assessment at Week 12, and shown in Table 1. "Clinical success" was also significantly greater with tazarotene cream, 0.05% and 0.1% versus vehicle at most follow-up visits.

Table 1. Subject Numbers and Percentages for Overall Lesional Assessment Scores and "Clinical Success" at Baseline (BL), End of Treatment (Week 12) and 12 Weeks After Stopping Therapy (Week 24) Trial 1 had post-treatment period observations for 12 weeks after stopping therapy, which were not part of Trial 2. in Two Controlled Clinical Trials for Psoriasis Tazarotene Cream, 0.05% Tazarotene Cream, 0.1% Vehicle Cream Trial 1 N=218 Trial 2 N=210 Trial 1 N=221 Trial 2 N=211 Trial 1 N=229 Trial 2 N=214 Score BL Wk 12 Wk 24 BL Wk 12 BL Wk 12 Wk 24 BL Wk 12 BL Wk 12 Wk 24 BL Wk 12 no plaque elevation above normal skin level; may have residual non-erythematous discoloration; no psoriatic scale essentially flat with possible trace elevation; may have up to moderate erythema (red coloration); no psoriatic scale slight but definite elevation of plaque above normal skin level; may have up to moderate erythema (red coloration); fine scales with some lesions partially covered moderate elevation with rounded or sloped edges to plaque; moderate erythema (red coloration); somewhat coarser scales with most lesions partially covered marked elevation with hard, sharp edges to plaque; severe erythema (very red coloration); thick scales with virtually all lesions covered and a rough surface very marked elevation with very hard, sharp edges to plaque; very severe erythema (extreme red coloration); very coarse, thick scales with all lesions covered and a very rough surface Clinical Success defined as an overall lesional assessment score of none, minimal, or mild.

None (0) 0 1 (0.5%) 1 (0.5%) 0 2 (1%) 0 0 0 0 6 (3%) 0 0 1 (0.4%) 0 1 (0.5%) Minimal (1) 0 11 (5%) 12 (6%) 0 7 (3%) 0 12 (5%) 14 (6%) 0 11 (5%) 0 7 (3%) 6 (3%) 0 1 (0.5%) Mild (2) 0 79 (36%) 60 (28%) 0 76 (36%) 0 75 (34%) 53 (24%) 0 90 (43%) 0 49 (21%) 43 (19%) 0 54 (25%) Moderate (3) 141 (65%) 86 (39%) 90 (41%) 100 (48%) 74 (35%) 122 (55%) 97 (44%) 107 (48%) 96 (45%) 62 (29%) 139 (61%) 119 (52%) 114 (50%) 97 (45%) 99 (46%) Severe (4) 69 (32%) 39 (18%) 51 (23%) 80 (38%) 36 (17%) 91 (41%) 36 (16%) 46 (21%) 86 (41%) 29 (14%) 81 (35%) 51 (22%) 61 (27%) 93 (44%) 47 (22%) Very Severe (5) 8 (4%) 2 (0.9%) 4 (2%) 30 (14%) 15 (7%) 8 (4%) 1 (0.5%) 1 (0.5%) 29 (14%) 13 (6%) 9 (4%) 3 (1%) 4 (2%) 24 (11%) 12 (6%) "Clinical Success" 0 91 (42% Denotes statistically significant difference for "Clinical Success" compared with vehicle. ) 73 (33% ) 0 85 (40% ) 0 87 (39% ) 67 (30% ) 0 107 (51% ) 0 56 (24%) 50 (22%) 0 56 (26%) At the end of 12 weeks of treatment, tazarotene cream, 0.05% and 0.1% was consistently superior to vehicle in reducing the plaque thickness of psoriasis.

Improvements in erythema and scaling were generally significantly greater with tazarotene cream, 0.05% and 0.1% than with vehicle. Tazarotene Cream, 0.1% was also generally more effective than tazarotene cream, 0.05% in reducing the severity of the individual signs of disease. However, tazarotene cream, 0.1% was associated with a greater degree of local irritation than tazarotene cream, 0.05%.

Table 2. Mean Decreases in Plaque Elevation, Scaling and Erythema in Two Controlled Clinical Trials for Psoriasis Tazarotene Cream, 0.05% Tazarotene Cream, 0.1% Vehicle Cream Lesion Trunk/Arm/Leg lesions Knee/Elbow lesions All Treated Trunk/Arm/Leg lesions Knee/Elbow lesions All Tre… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

🧪 Nonclinical Toxicology ~3 min read ▾

13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Carcinogenesis A long-term study of tazarotene following oral administration of 0.025 mg/kg/day, 0.050 mg/kg/day, and 0.125 mg/kg/day to rats showed no indications of increased carcinogenic risks. Based on pharmacokinetic data from a shorter term study in rats, the highest dose of 0.125 mg/kg/day was anticipated to give systemic exposure in the rat equivalent to 0.6 times that seen in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/kg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area in a controlled pharmacokinetic study.

This estimated systemic exposure in rats was 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. A long-term topical application study of up to 0.1% of tazarotene in a gel formulation in mice terminated at 88 weeks showed that dose levels of 0.05 mg/kg/day, 0.125 mg/kg/day, 0.25 mg/kg/day, and 1 mg/kg/day (reduced to 0.5 mg/kg/day for males after 41 weeks due to severe dermal irritation) revealed no apparent carcinogenic effects when compared to vehicle control animals.

Systemic exposures at the highest dose was 3.9 times that seen in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area in a controlled pharmacokinetic study, and 13 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. In evaluation of photo co-carcinogenicity, median time to onset of tumors was decreased, and the number of tumors increased in hairless mice following chronic topical dosing with intercurrent exposure to ultraviolet radiation at tazarotene concentrations of 0.001%, 0.005%, and 0.01% in a gel formulation for up to 40 weeks.

Mutagenesis Tazarotene was found to be non-mutagenic in the Ames assay and did not produce structural chromosomal aberrations in a human lymphocyte assay. Tazarotene was non-mutagenic in the CHO/HGPRT mammalian cell forward gene mutation assay and was non-clastogenic in the in vivo mouse micronucleus test. Impairment of Fertility No impairment of fertility occurred in rats when male animals were treated for 70 days prior to mating and female animals were treated for 14 days prior to mating and continuing through gestation and lactation with topical doses of tazarotene gel up to 0.125 mg/kg/day.

Based on data from another study, the systemic drug exposure in the rat would be equivalent to 0.6 times that observed in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area in a controlled pharmacokinetic study, and 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. No impairment of mating performance or fertility was observed in male rats treated for 70 days prior to mating with oral doses of up to 1 mg/kg/day tazarotene.

That dose produced a systemic exposure that was 1.9 times that observed in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area, and 6.3 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. No impairment of mating performance or fertility was observed in female rats treated for 15 days prior to mating and continuing through gestation day 7 with oral doses up to 2 mg/kg/day of tazarotene. However, there was a significant decrease in the number of estrous stages and an increase in developmental effects at that dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] .

That dose produced a systemic exposure that was 3.4 times that observed in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area and 11 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. Reprod… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

📄 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility ~3 min read ▾

13.1Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Carcinogenesis A long-term study of tazarotene following oral administration of 0.025 mg/kg/day, 0.050 mg/kg/day, and 0.125 mg/kg/day to rats showed no indications of increased carcinogenic risks. Based on pharmacokinetic data from a shorter term study in rats, the highest dose of 0.125 mg/kg/day was anticipated to give systemic exposure in the rat equivalent to 0.6 times that seen in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/kg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area in a controlled pharmacokinetic study.

This estimated systemic exposure in rats was 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. A long-term topical application study of up to 0.1% of tazarotene in a gel formulation in mice terminated at 88 weeks showed that dose levels of 0.05 mg/kg/day, 0.125 mg/kg/day, 0.25 mg/kg/day, and 1 mg/kg/day (reduced to 0.5 mg/kg/day for males after 41 weeks due to severe dermal irritation) revealed no apparent carcinogenic effects when compared to vehicle control animals.

Systemic exposures at the highest dose was 3.9 times that seen in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area in a controlled pharmacokinetic study, and 13 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. In evaluation of photo co-carcinogenicity, median time to onset of tumors was decreased, and the number of tumors increased in hairless mice following chronic topical dosing with intercurrent exposure to ultraviolet radiation at tazarotene concentrations of 0.001%, 0.005%, and 0.01% in a gel formulation for up to 40 weeks.

Mutagenesis Tazarotene was found to be non-mutagenic in the Ames assay and did not produce structural chromosomal aberrations in a human lymphocyte assay. Tazarotene was non-mutagenic in the CHO/HGPRT mammalian cell forward gene mutation assay and was non-clastogenic in the in vivo mouse micronucleus test. Impairment of Fertility No impairment of fertility occurred in rats when male animals were treated for 70 days prior to mating and female animals were treated for 14 days prior to mating and continuing through gestation and lactation with topical doses of tazarotene gel up to 0.125 mg/kg/day.

Based on data from another study, the systemic drug exposure in the rat would be equivalent to 0.6 times that observed in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area in a controlled pharmacokinetic study, and 2 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. No impairment of mating performance or fertility was observed in male rats treated for 70 days prior to mating with oral doses of up to 1 mg/kg/day tazarotene.

That dose produced a systemic exposure that was 1.9 times that observed in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area, and 6.3 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. No impairment of mating performance or fertility was observed in female rats treated for 15 days prior to mating and continuing through gestation day 7 with oral doses up to 2 mg/kg/day of tazarotene. However, there was a significant decrease in the number of estrous stages and an increase in developmental effects at that dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] .

That dose produced a systemic exposure that was 3.4 times that observed in a psoriatic patient treated with 0.1% tazarotene cream at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 35% body surface area and 11 times the maximum systemic exposure in acne patients treated with tazarotene cream, 0.1% at 2 mg/cm 2 over a 15% body surface area. Reproductive capabilities of F1… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

📄 Patient Package Insert ~3 min read ▾

Patient Information Tazarotene (taz-AR-oh-teen) Cream, 0.1% This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Revised: August 2025 5262058-0825-01 75 Important information : Tazarotene cream is for use on skin only.

Do not use tazarotene cream in your eyes, mouth, or vagina. What is the most important information I should know about tazarotene cream? Tazarotene cream may cause birth defects if used during pregnancy.

Females must not be pregnant when they start using tazarotene cream or become pregnant during treatment with tazarotene cream. For females who are able to get pregnant: Your doctor will order a pregnancy test for you within 2 weeks before you begin treatment with tazarotene cream to be sure that you are not pregnant. Your doctor will decide when to do the test.

Begin treatment with tazarotene cream during a normal menstrual period. Use an effective form of birth control during treatment with tazarotene cream. Talk with your doctor about birth control options that may be used to prevent pregnancy during treatment with tazarotene cream.

Stop using tazarotene cream and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while using tazarotene cream. What is tazarotene cream? Tazarotene cream 0.05% and 0.1% is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat people with plaque psoriasis.

Tazarotene cream 0.1% is also used on the skin to treat people with acne vulgaris. It is not known if tazarotene cream is safe and effective for: the treatment of plaque psoriasis in children under 18 years of age the treatment of acne vulgaris in children under 12 years of age Who should not use tazarotene cream? Do not use tazarotene cream if you: are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

See " What is the most important information I should know about tazarotene cream? " at the beginning of this leaflet. are allergic to tazarotene or any of the ingredients in tazarotene cream. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in tazarotene cream. What should I tell my doctor before using tazarotene cream?

Before you use tazarotene cream, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have eczema or any other skin problems are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if tazarotene cream passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about using tazarotene cream while breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain medicines, vitamins, or supplements may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight . Also, tell your doctor about any cosmetics you use, including moisturizers, creams, lotions, or products that can dry out your skin.

How should I use tazarotene cream? Use tazarotene cream exactly as your doctor tells you to use it. Apply tazarotene cream 1 time each day, in the evening.

Do not get tazarotene cream in your eyes, on your eyelids, or in your mouth. If tazarotene cream gets in or near your eyes, rinse them well with water. Call your doctor or get medical help if you have eye irritation that does not go away.

Wash your hands after applying tazarotene cream. Follow these instructions for applying tazarotene cream: If you have psoriasis: If you shower or bathe before applying tazarotene cream, your skin should be dry before applying the cream. You may use a cream or lotion to soften or moisten your skin at least 1 hour before you apply tazarotene cream.

Apply a thin layer of tazarotene cream to cover only the psoriasis lesions. If you have acne: Gently wash and dry your face before applying tazarotene cream. Apply a thin layer of tazarotene cream to cover only the acne lesions.

If you swallow tazarotene cream, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What should I avoid while using tazarotene cream? Avoid sunlight, including sunlamps, during treatment with tazarotene cream.

Tazarotene crea… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

📄 Package Label / Principal Display Panel 46 words ▾

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 30 g Tube Carton NDC 51672-1373-2 Tazarotene Cream 0.1% FOR DERMATOLOGICAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR OPHTHALMIC USE. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. 30 g Rx only PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 30 g Tube Carton carton label

Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA. Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗

Medicaid utilization & spend

📍 This exact package only: Medicaid data is reported per full 11-digit NDC — labeler, product and pack size — so every number here is for this package alone, not the drug overall. Other pack sizes report separately.
💊 Pharmacy benefit only: These are Medicaid outpatient pharmacy claims, billed by NDC. They exclude the medical benefit — clinic- or hospital-administered drugs billed under HCPCS J-codes — so drugs used mostly that way (e.g. Avastin, Lucentis, Keytruda) can look low or missing here. That’s expected, not an error.
📅 Q1 2025 – Q1 2026 · 5 quarters of data
ⓘ The newest quarter is usually incomplete when first published; states restate recent quarters in later CMS releases, so the latest figures typically revise upward. State coverage-policy changes can also shift quarter-to-quarter totals.
Prescriptions last 4 qtrs
6.7K
Units reimbursed last 4 qtrs
231.3K
Gross reimbursed last 4 qtrs
$525.2K
Avg / prescription
$78.51
Avg / unit
$2.2705
Latest quarter Q1 2026
1.7KRx
Medicaid pays / g
$2.2705
gross reimbursed
vs
NADAC / g
$1.9245
acquisition cost
=
Spread
+$0.3460
+18% vs cost
What Medicaid paid per g (before rebates; includes the pharmacy’s dispensing fee) compared with NADAC — the average price pharmacies pay to buy the drug. A positive spread means Medicaid reimbursed more than the purchase price, before manufacturer rebates.
Fee-for-service vs managed care ⓘ
59% FFS 41% MCO
Fee-for-service · 3,971 Rx Managed care · 2,719 Rx
State Medicaid map
Alaska: no data reported AK Maine: no data reported ME Washington: 1,320 units · 16.9 per 100k residents WA Idaho: no data reported ID Montana: no data reported MT North Dakota: no data reported ND Minnesota: 1,650 units · 28.8 per 100k residents MN Wisconsin: 1,230 units · 20.8 per 100k residents WI Michigan: 4,530 units · 45.1 per 100k residents MI New York: 42,030 units · 215 per 100k residents NY Vermont: no data reported VT New Hampshire: no data reported NH Oregon: no data reported OR Nevada: 1,590 units · 49.8 per 100k residents NV Wyoming: no data reported WY South Dakota: no data reported SD Iowa: 1,110 units · 34.6 per 100k residents IA Illinois: 1,380 units · 11.0 per 100k residents IL Indiana: 5,760 units · 83.9 per 100k residents IN Ohio: 4,290 units · 36.4 per 100k residents OH Pennsylvania: 6,180 units · 47.7 per 100k residents PA New Jersey: 23,070 units · 248 per 100k residents NJ Massachusetts: 2,640 units · 37.7 per 100k residents MA California: 67,890 units · 174 per 100k residents CA Utah: no data reported UT Colorado: 270 units · 4.6 per 100k residents CO Nebraska: no data reported NE Missouri: no data reported MO Kentucky: 1,440 units · 31.8 per 100k residents KY West Virginia: no data reported WV Virginia: 3,510 units · 40.3 per 100k residents VA Maryland: 4,080 units · 66.0 per 100k residents MD Connecticut: 2,820 units · 78.0 per 100k residents CT Rhode Island: 330 units · 30.1 per 100k residents RI Arizona: 330 units · 4.4 per 100k residents AZ New Mexico: no data reported NM Kansas: 780 units · 26.5 per 100k residents KS Arkansas: no data reported AR Tennessee: 2,130 units · 29.9 per 100k residents TN North Carolina: 3,780 units · 34.9 per 100k residents NC South Carolina: no data reported SC Delaware: no data reported DE Oklahoma: 10,740 units · 265 per 100k residents OK Louisiana: 1,290 units · 28.2 per 100k residents LA Mississippi: no data reported MS Alabama: 23,040 units · 451 per 100k residents AL Georgia: 2,310 units · 20.9 per 100k residents GA D.C.: 1,500 units · 221 per 100k residents DC Hawaii: no data reported HI Texas: 5,460 units · 17.9 per 100k residents TX Florida: 2,850 units · 12.6 per 100k residents FL
Units reimbursed · per 100k residents
4.4451
gray = no data reported ⓘ
Colors are per 100,000 residents, so big states don’t automatically dominate. Tap or hover a state for its actual totals.
Tap or hover a state
…for its Medicaid breakdown
🏆 Top states by units · per 100k residents
1 Alabama 451 /100k
2 Oklahoma 265 /100k
3 New Jersey 248 /100k
4 D.C. 221 /100k
5 New York 215 /100k
6 California 174 /100k
7 Indiana 83.9 /100k
8 Connecticut 78.0 /100k
National units — by quarter
💵 About the dollar figures: “reimbursed” is what Medicaid paid pharmacies before confidential manufacturer rebates, so the program’s real net cost is lower than these numbers. Fee-for-service and managed-care claims are combined unless split above. Source: CMS State Drug Utilization Data; per-100k rates use 2023 Census population estimates.

Medicaid utilization by pack size

Medicaid (SDUD) totals over the four most recent reported quarters for every package size of this drug — handy when a specific package (e.g. a starter/titration pack) carries little or no Medicaid volume on its own.
1 tube this page51672-1373-02 6,690 Rx · $525,227
1 tube51672-1373-03 4,798 Rx · $576,514
Drug total (last 4 qtrs): 11,488 Rx · 541,112 units · $1,101,741 gross reimbursed
Tap a pack size to open its page. Source: CMS State Drug Utilization Data, last 4 quarters.

Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)

Medicare Part D (outpatient prescription) spending for Tazarotene — the program that covers self-administered drugs. 6 manufacturers.
⚠️ Drug-level data: CMS publishes Part D spending by drug, not by NDC — these figures combine every manufacturer, strength and package size sold under the name Tazarotene. That’s a different level of aggregation than the Medicaid card above, which is specific to this exact 11-digit NDC (pack size included), so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Period
Total Part D spend
$865K
Claims incl. refills
4.1K
Beneficiaries
3.1K
Spend / beneficiary
$279.29
Spend / claim
$209.69
Trend by period
💵 About the dollar figures: spending is what Part D plans paid before confidential manufacturer rebates, so the program’s real net cost is lower. A blank patient count means fewer than 11 people — CMS hides counts that small to protect privacy. Source: CMS Medicare Quarterly Part D Spending by Drug (data.cms.gov), updated quarterly.
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.