What is Avage?
Avage Cream is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) that may reduce fine facial wrinkles and certain types of dark and light spots on the face in people who use a total skin care program and avoid sunlight.
- Avage Cream does not remove or prevent wrinkles, repair sun damaged skin, reverse skin aging from the sun (photoaging), or bring back more youthful or younger skin.
- Avage does not work for everyone who uses it. It may work better for some people than for others.
- It is not known if Avage Cream is safe and effective for the prevention or treatment of certain other skin problems.
- It is not known if Avage Cream is safe and effective in children under 17 years of age with facial fine wrinkles and certain types of dark and light spots on the face.
What is the most important information I should know about Avage?
Avage Cream may cause birth defects if used during pregnancy.
- Females must not be pregnant when they start using Avage Cream or become pregnant during treatment with Avage Cream.
- For females who are able to get pregnant:
- Your doctor will order a pregnancy test for you within 2 weeks before you begin treatment with Avage Cream to be sure that you are not pregnant. Your doctor will decide when to do the test.
- Begin treatment with Avage Cream during a normal menstrual period.
- Use an effective form of birth control during treatment with Avage Cream. Talk with your doctor about birth control options that may be used to prevent pregnancy during treatment with Avage Cream.
- Stop using Avage Cream and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while using Avage Cream.
Who should not use Avage?
Do not use Avage Cream if you:
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. See “What is the most important information I should know about Avage Cream?” at the beginning of this leaflet.
- are allergic to tazarotene or any of the ingredients in Avage Cream. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Avage Cream.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Avage?
- have eczema or any other skin problems, including skin cancers
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Avage Cream passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about using Avage Cream while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Certain medicines, vitamins, or supplements may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Also, tell your doctor about any cosmetics you use, including moisturizers, creams, lotions, or products that can dry out your skin.
How should I use Avage?
- Use Avage Cream exactly as your doctor tells you to use it.
- Apply Avage Cream 1 time a day, at bedtime.
- Do not get Avage Cream in your eyes. If Avage Cream gets in your eyes, rinse them well with water. Call your doctor or get medical help if you have eye irritation that does not go away.
- Wash your hands after applying Avage Cream.
Follow these instructions for applying Avage Cream:
- Gently wash your face with mild soap. Be sure to remove any makeup. Rinse and pat your skin dry.
- Apply a pea-sized amount to lightly cover your face. You can include your eyelids, if desired.
- In the morning, apply a moisturizing sunscreen.
- You can use a cream or lotion to soften or moisten your skin before or after you apply Avage Cream. Make sure that the first cream or lotion has absorbed into your skin and dried completely before you apply the second product.
- You can use facial moisturizers, such as lotions, oils, and creams, as often as you want.
- If you swallow Avage Cream, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What should I avoid while using Avage?
- Avoid sunlight, including sunlamps, during treatment with Avage Cream. Avage Cream can make you more sensitive to the sun, and the light from sunlamps and tanning beds. You could get a severe sunburn. Use sunscreen and wear a hat and clothes that cover your skin if you have to be in sunlight.
- Talk to your doctor if you get a sunburn during treatment with Avage Cream. If you get a sunburn, do not use Avage Cream until your sunburn is healed.
- Avoid using cosmetics or topical medicines that may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight or make your skin dry.
- Avoid using Avage Cream on skin with eczema because it may cause severe irritation.
What are the possible side effects of Avage?
Avage Cream may cause serious side effects, including:
- Skin irritation and allergic reactions (hypersensitivity). Avage Cream may cause increased skin irritation and hives. Tell your doctor if you develop hives, or itching, burning, redness, or peeling of your skin during treatment with Avage Cream. If you develop hives or skin irritation, your doctor may tell you to stop using Avage Cream until your skin heals or tell you to use Avage Cream less often. Also, wind or cold weather may be more irritating to your skin while you are using Avage Cream.
- Sensitivity to sunlight and risk of sunburn. See “What should I avoid while using Avage Cream?”
The most common side effects of Avage Cream include peeling, redness, burning, dry or irritated skin, and itching.
These are not all the side effects possible of Avage Cream. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use of Avage
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use Avage Cream for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Avage Cream to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about Avage Cream that is written for health professionals.
How should I store Avage?
- Store Avage Cream at 77°F (25°C).
- Keep Avage Cream and all medicines out of reach of children.
What are the ingredients of Avage?
Active ingredient: tazarotene
Inactive ingredients: benzyl alcohol, carbomer homopolymer type B, carbomer 1342, edetate disodium, medium chain triglycerides, mineral oil, purified water, sodium thiosulfate, sorbitan monooleate and sodium hydroxide to adjust pH
For more information call 1-800-678-1605.
