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|Tazarotene Topical

TAZAROTENE (Topical)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Tazorac

Category

• Antiacne agent (topical)
• antipsoriatic (topical)

Description

Tazarotene (ta-ZAR-oh-teen) is used to treat acne on the face and and to treat psoriasis.

It works to help clear acne on the face partly by keeping skin pores clear. It works in the treatment of psoriasis by making the skin less red and reducing the number and size of lesions of the skin.

This medicine is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage form(s):

• Topical
• Gel (U.S.)
• Cream (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tazarotene, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to vitamin A or retinoid medicines, such as acitretin, etretinate, isotretinoin, and tretinoin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Tazarotene is not recommended during pregnancy. It has been shown to cause serious birth defects and problems in animals. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether tazarotene passes into breast milk. However, tazarotene is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children—Studies of this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of tazarotene in children up to 12 years of age (gel) and up to 18 years of age (cream) with use in other age groups.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether or not they work in exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of tazarotene in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tazarotene. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eczema—Tazarotene may cause skin irritation and may worsen this condition

Proper Use of This Medicine

It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed . Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause irritation of the skin.

Read the patient information that will come with your medicine.

For acne—Before applying tazarotene to acne areas of the skin, wash the skin with a mild soap or cleanser and warm water, then gently pat dry. Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes before applying this medicine.

For acne or psoriasis—Do not use this medicine in or around the eyes or lips, or inside of the nose . Spread the medicine away from these areas when applying.

Do not apply this medicine to windburned or sunburned skin or on open wounds .

When using tazarotene, apply medicine to dry skin. If skin has just been washed and dried, wait at least 20 to 30 minutes before applying this medicine . Applying to wet or damp skin may cause skin irritation.

Apply a thin layer of this medicine only to lesions of psoriasis on the body or areas on face prone to developing acne. Rub medicine in gently and well. Wash medicine off skin areas not intended to be treated.

After applying the medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that might remain on them.

Dosing—The dose of tazarotene will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of tazarotene. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For topical dosage form (gel):
  • For acne:
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Apply 0.1% tazarotene to clean, dry affected areas of the face once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
  • For psoriasis:
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Apply 0.05% or 0.1% tazarotene to dry affected areas of the body once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime. Do not treat a larger area of the skin than your doctor tells you to treat.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
• For topical dosage form (cream):
  • For psoriasis:
    • Adults and children 18 years of age and older—Apply 0.05% or 0.1% tazarotene to dry affected areas of the body once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime. Do not treat a larger area of the skin than your doctor tells you to treat.
    • Children up to 18 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

If you think that you may be pregnant, stop using the medicine immediately and check with your doctor .

If you are using this medicine to treat acne of the face, your condition may seem to worsen at first before it begins to improve in about 4 weeks. Check with your doctor if your condition does not improve within 8 to 12 weeks.

If your are using this medicine to treat psoriasis, scaly patches on skin may begin to improve in about 1 to 4 weeks but redness may take longer to improve. Check with your doctor if your condition becomes worse.

Do not cover the treated area with a bandage.

When using tazarotene, do not use skin products such as abrasive soaps or cleansers; alcohol-containing products; cosmetics or soaps that dry the skin; hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal products; skin products containing spices, limes, or other ingredients that may make the skin more sensitive to the sun; or other topical medicine for the skin on the same area as tazarotene , unless otherwise directed. To do so may cause severe irritation of the skin.

Ask your doctor before taking vitamin A supplements by mouth while using this medicine.

During treatment with this medicine, avoid exposing the treated areas to sunlight when possible, since the skin may be more likely to become sunburned. Do not use a sunlamp.

Some people who use this medicine may become more sensitive to wind or cold weather, as well as to sunlight. Avoiding exposure to these conditions by using sunscreen products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more and wearing protective clothing will help protect your skin against becoming too dry, irritated, or sunburned.

Side Effects of This Medicine

It is likely that your skin may become irritated with normal use of this medicine. You should not stop using tazarotene unless your skin becomes too red, dry, puffy, or otherwise irritated. If severe irritation occurs, contact your doctor.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Developed: 11/14/1997
Revised: 03/05/2001

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