Wednesday 21 March 2012

Tazarotene Cream


Pronunciation: taz-AR-oh-teen
Generic Name: Tazarotene
Brand Name: Tazorac


Tazarotene Cream is used for:

Treating psoriasis. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.


Tazarotene Cream is a retinoid. The specific way Tazarotene Cream works is not completely understood. It may decrease skin inflammation and skin changes associated with psoriasis.


Do NOT use Tazarotene Cream if:


  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Tazarotene Cream

  • you are pregnant

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.



Before using Tazarotene Cream:


Some medical conditions may interact with Tazarotene Cream. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:


  • if you are planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding

  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

  • if you are of childbearing age

  • if you have eczema, a sunburn, or high blood lipid levels, or if you are unusually sensitive to sunlight

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Tazarotene Cream. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:


  • Fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), sulfonamides (eg, glipizide, sulfamethoxazole), tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline), thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), or vitamin A because the risk of sunburn may be increased by Tazarotene Cream

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Tazarotene Cream may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.


How to use Tazarotene Cream:


Use Tazarotene Cream as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.


  • An extra patient leaflet is available with Tazarotene Cream. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.

  • Tazarotene Cream is for external use only.

  • Apply Tazarotene Cream using a thin film to cover the lesion only.

  • If a bath or shower is taken before applying Tazarotene Cream, make sure that the skin is dry before applying Tazarotene Cream.

  • Do not allow Tazarotene Cream to come into contact with unaffected skin.

  • Wash your hands immediately after using Tazarotene Cream, unless you have psoriasis on your hands.

  • If you miss a dose of Tazarotene Cream, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Tazarotene Cream.



Important safety information:


  • If your symptoms do not get better within 2 weeks or if they get worse, check with your doctor.

  • Avoid getting Tazarotene Cream in your eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, or on healthy skin. If you get Tazarotene Cream in your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water.

  • Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.

  • Avoid using other topical medication, cosmetics, or other products that have a strong drying effect. If you have dry skin from using these products, allow your skin to "rest" before using Tazarotene Cream.

  • Talk with your doctor before you use any other medicines, cleansers, sunscreen or makeup on your skin.

  • Do not use Tazarotene Cream on skin with eczema, or for any condition other than that for which it was prescribed.

  • If you have a sunburn, do not use Tazarotene Cream on the sunburned skin until it has fully healed.

  • Weather extremes, such as windy or cold weather, may irritate your skin more while you are using Tazarotene Cream.

  • If you are using a cream or lotion to soften or moisten your skin, do not apply Tazarotene Cream until the first cream or lotion has been absorbed into your skin (at least 1 hour).

  • Tazarotene Cream may cause harm if it is swallowed. If you may have taken it by mouth, contact your poison control center or emergency room right away.

  • Do not cover the treated area with dressings or bandages.

  • Tazarotene Cream may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Tazarotene Cream. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.

  • Tazarotene Cream should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.

  • Women of childbearing potential should use effective birth control methods (eg, condoms, birth control pills, diaphragms) while using Tazarotene Cream. You should have a negative pregnancy test 2 weeks before starting Tazarotene Cream. Contact your health care provider at once if you become pregnant while using Tazarotene Cream.

  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Tazarotene Cream if you are pregnant. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Tazarotene Cream is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Tazarotene Cream.


Possible side effects of Tazarotene Cream:


All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:



Burning; dry skin; irritation; itching; peeling; redness; scaling; skin inflammation; skin pain; stinging.



Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe or prolonged itching, burning, redness, or peeling; sunburn; swelling of the skin, hands, or feet; worsening of psoriasis.



This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.


See also: Tazarotene side effects (in more detail)


If OVERDOSE is suspected:


Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include severe redness, peeling, or discomfort. Tazarotene Cream may be harmful if swallowed.


Proper storage of Tazarotene Cream:

Store Tazarotene Cream at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 23 and 86 degrees F (-5 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Tazarotene Cream out of the reach of children and away from pets.


General information:


  • If you have any questions about Tazarotene Cream, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

  • Tazarotene Cream is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

  • If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

  • Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Tazarotene Cream. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.



Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Tazarotene resources


  • Tazarotene Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Tazarotene Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Tazarotene Drug Interactions
  • Tazarotene Support Group
  • 2 Reviews for Tazarotene - Add your own review/rating


Compare Tazarotene with other medications


  • Acne
  • Facial Wrinkles
  • Psoriasis

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