Brand Reference: Tazorac, Arazlo
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tazarotene Cream / Lotion RxNorm Concept ID | 83818 | U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) |
| CMS NADAC Pharmacy Acquisition Unit Cost | $1.9500 / unit | CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly Feed |
| Walk-In Chain Pharmacy Cash Average | $285.00 / mo | CMS NADAC + U.S. Retail Markup Index |
| Mark Cuban Cost Plus Wholesale Price | $39.60 / mo | Cost Plus Drugs Wholesale Feed |
| Community Mean Out-of-Pocket Paid | $44.00 / mo | 22 Zero-PHI Verified Patient Logs |
Rapidly de-esterified in keratinocytes by cutaneous esterases into tazarotenic acid, driving high-amplitude RAR-beta/gamma gene repression of hyperproliferative keratin K6/K16, MRP-8, and dermal elastosis markers in refractory nodulocystic acne and deep photodamage.
CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) tracking places Tazarotene Cream / Lotion (Tazorac / Arazlo, RxCUI 83818) at $1.9500 per unit, whereas walk-in chain pharmacies bill cash patients an average of $285.00 monthly—creating a 86% ($245.40/mo) wholesale arbitrage spread down to $39.60.
Systemic exposure to Tazarotene Cream / Lotion reflects < 1%–2.6% percutaneous absorption kinetics and sulfoxidation to inactive sulfone; zero adipose tissue storage, sustaining receptor engagement across a 18 hours tazarotenic acid half-life window (4–12 weeks rapid epidermal remodeling response profile).
Dosing protocols (0.045% polymeric lotion nightly (Arazlo) or 0.05% cream QHS or 0.1% cream QHS) balance efficacy (90.10% patient satisfaction across 22 logs) against desquamation (38% of reports), erythema (27% of reports), tight barrier feel (24% of reports), with strict avoidance in pregnancy (strict category x teratogenic labeling — negative test required prior); active seborrheic dermatitis flare.
Across 22 verified cash-pay logs, Tazarotene Cream / Lotion achieves a 90.10% Worth-It rating with out-of-pocket spend averaging $44.00/mo versus $285.00/mo walk-in retail.
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Switched to Cost Plus Drugs at 0.045% polymeric lotion nightly (Arazlo) for Tazarotene Cream / Lotion; monthly out-of-pocket dropped to $34.85 compared with $285.00 retail.
Completed 10 weeks on Tazarotene Cream / Lotion (0.05% cream QHS). Zero notable side effects on steady dosing.
Consistent biomarker response on 0.1% cream QHS Tazarotene Cream / Lotion sourced via Compounding ($45.94/mo cash pay without insurance prior authorization).