Tazorac Shortage: What Providers and Prescribers Need to Know in 2026

As a prescriber, you may have noticed increased callbacks, PA requests, or patient complaints about filling tazarotene prescriptions. While Tazorac is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list in 2026, the access landscape is complex — and understanding the barriers helps you proactively support your patients.

Is Tazorac in an Official FDA Shortage?

No. As of 2026, tazarotene (the active ingredient in Tazorac, Avage, Fabior, and Arazlo) is not listed in the FDA's drug shortage database. Multiple generic manufacturers produce tazarotene cream and gel, providing a diversified supply base. The first generic of Tazorac gel (0.05% and 0.1%) was approved for Cosette Pharmaceuticals, and others have followed.

However, "no shortage" from a manufacturing standpoint does not eliminate the access barriers that lead to treatment disruptions for patients.

What Are the Primary Access Barriers for Tazarotene in 2026?

1. Prior Authorization Requirements

Tazarotene requires prior authorization from most major commercial insurers and Medicare Part D plans. Common PA criteria include:

Documented diagnosis of plaque psoriasis, acne vulgaris, or photoaging

Failure or intolerance of at least one preferred retinoid (often tretinoin 0.025%–0.1% or adapalene)

Documentation of treatment duration, response, and clinical rationale for escalation

Best practice: Build a brief letter-of-medical-necessity template in your EHR that documents diagnosis, prior therapy, and rationale for tazarotene. This dramatically speeds up PA approval times.

2. Step Therapy Protocols

Many payers require step therapy for tazarotene — patients must try and fail a less expensive retinoid before tazarotene coverage is approved. In practice, this often means a trial with generic tretinoin (which costs $20–$80 with a coupon) before tazarotene access is granted.

For patients with psoriasis or those who have already failed tretinoin or adapalene, document that history clearly in the PA request. Most step therapy appeals include a clinical exception pathway for documented prior treatment failure.

3. Brand vs. Generic Stocking Issues

Brand-name Tazorac gel is less reliably stocked at retail pharmacies than generic tazarotene. If you or your patients are encountering stocking issues:

Write prescriptions for "tazarotene" (the INN) rather than "Tazorac" to allow dispensing of any generic equivalent

Ensure the DAW (dispense as written) box is unchecked

For psoriasis patients requiring the cream formulation vs. gel, document this in the prescription to guide appropriate substitution

4. Cost-Related Non-Adherence

Brand-name Tazorac has a retail price of $250–$600 per 30g tube — a significant out-of-pocket expense even for insured patients who hit their deductible. Generic tazarotene costs $40–$150 retail, and $40–$80 with GoodRx or SingleCare. Cost-related non-adherence is common in dermatology, where topical medications aren't always seen as high priority by payers.

Prescriber strategies to reduce cost barriers:

Prescribe generic tazarotene by default; write brand only when there is a clinical formulation rationale

Provide patients with GoodRx or SingleCare coupon resources, or point them to a patient savings guide

For commercially insured patients, Allergan/AbbVie copay cards can bring cost to $0–$35/month

For uninsured/underinsured patients meeting income requirements, refer to the AbbVie Patient Assistance Foundation

Clinical Considerations When Tazarotene Is Inaccessible

When tazarotene cannot be accessed for any reason, consider these evidence-based bridges:

For Acne:

Tretinoin 0.025%–0.1%: First-line retinoid bridge; widely available as generic; cost $20–$80 with coupon

Adapalene 0.1% (OTC): Widely available, inexpensive, no prescription needed; appropriate bridge for mild-moderate acne

Trifarotene 0.005% cream (Aklief): Fourth-generation retinoid; useful for truncal acne; well tolerated

For Plaque Psoriasis:

High-potency topical corticosteroids: Clobetasol, halobetasol — first-line; inexpensive generics; widely covered

Calcipotriene (Dovonex, Sorilux): Vitamin D analogue; different mechanism from retinoids; can be used as monotherapy or with a corticosteroid

Duobrii (halobetasol/tazarotene): Fixed-dose combination option if the patient can access it; note it also contains tazarotene

How Can medfinder Help Your Patients?

When patients struggle to locate their tazarotene prescription at local pharmacies, medfinder for providers offers a solution: patients provide their medication, dosage, and location, and medfinder calls pharmacies to identify which ones can fill the prescription. Results are texted directly to the patient.

For a full provider resource guide, see: How to Help Your Patients Find Tazorac in Stock: A Provider's Guide.