Two medicines, side by side
Tazarotene vs adapalene
Tazarotene and adapalene are both labeled for acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of tazarotene since 1997 and of adapalene since 1996. Pharmacies paid $6.11 per gram (Tazarotene 0.1% gel) and $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Tazarotene, “Tazarotene is a retinoid prodrug which is converted to its active form, the carboxylic acid of tazarotene, by deesterification.”; Adapalene, “Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.”
Check it at the source: the tazarotene FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2025); the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023).
Highlights of the tazarotene record
Tazarotene (Arazlo) · label of November 13, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTAZORAC ® Gel, 0.05% and 0.1% is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis of up to 20% body surface area involvement. ( 1.1 ) TAZORAC Gel, 0.1% is indicated for the topical treatment of mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of Use The safety of TAZORAC Gel use on more than 20% body surface area has not been established. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 13, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 7 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $6.11 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the adapalene record
Adapalene (Differin) · label of December 27, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsDIFFERIN Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. DIFFERIN Gel, 0.3%, is a retinoid, indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 31, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.504 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Tazarotene label of November 13, 2025, Adapalene label of December 27, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do tazarotene and adapalene differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Tazarotene, “Tazarotene is a retinoid prodrug which is converted to its active form, the carboxylic acid of tazarotene, by deesterification.”; Adapalene, “Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.”
Both are in FDA's class retinoids.
Half-life, in each label's words: Tazarotene, “The half-life of tazarotenic acid was approximately 18 hours, following topical application of tazarotene to normal …”; Adapalene, “The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 …”
Generics: tazarotene since 2017; adapalene since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Tazarotene | Adapalene | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Psoriasis, Acne | Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Retinoid | Retinoid |
| How it works (label) | Tazarotene is a retinoid prodrug which is converted to its active form, the carboxylic acid of tazarotene, by deesterification. | Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein. |
| Half-life (label) | The half-life of tazarotenic acid was approximately 18 hours, following topical application of tazarotene to normal, acne or psoriatic skin. | The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 13, 1997 | May 31, 1996 |
| First generic approved | April 3, 2017 | June 2, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 7 labelers | 33 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $6.11 per gram (Tazarotene 0.1% gel) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) |
| 12-month price change | -26% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,167 | 181,062 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to tazarotene
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions