Zoryve (roflumilast) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis in adults and certain children. Zoryve comes as a .

Zoryve basics

Zoryve contains the active ingredient roflumilast. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Zoryve is a brand-name medication. It’s currently not available in a generic drug.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Zoryve. What you’ll pay for Zoryve may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons. You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Zoryve when using coupons from the site.
  • Savings program. If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Zoryve Direct may also be available to you.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Like most drugs, Zoryve may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Zoryve may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Zoryve. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Zoryve can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Zoryve’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Zoryve that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Zoryve weren’t reported in studies. However, it’s possible for Zoryve to cause an allergic reaction, which can be serious. (To learn more, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.)

If you have serious side effects from Zoryve, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Zoryve.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Zoryve. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Zoryve cream is prescribed to treat plaque psoriasis on the skin, including in skin folds such as your armpits. Zoryve cream is recently approved to treat atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. Zoryve cream is prescribed to adults and children ages 6 years and older.

Zoryve foam is prescribed to treat seborrheic dermatitis in adults and children 9 years and older.

Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes a buildup of skin cells. This may cause symptoms such as raised patches of itchy, inflamed skin.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that also causes patches of dry, inflamed, or itchy skin. The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is not known.

Seborrheic dermatitis tends to affect oily areas of skin and causes symptoms including dandruff, patches of crusted skin, and itchy skin.

How does Zoryve work?

It’s not fully known how Zoryve works to treat plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or seborrheic dermatitis. However, the drug blocks a certain enzyme that’s believed to cause inflammation (swelling). Blocking this enzyme may help Zoryve to ease symptoms of all three conditions.

If you have other questions about how Zoryve works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Zoryve that’s right for you. Below are commonly prescribed dosages, but always follow the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strength

Zoryve comes as a topical cream that you apply to your skin. It’s available in a strength of 0.3% for plaque psoriasis and 0.15% for atopic dermatitis.

Zoryve also comes as a topical foam in 0.3% strength to treat seborrheic dermatitis.

Recommended dosage

You’ll apply Zoryve once daily to the affected areas of skin.

To learn more about Zoryve’s dosage, see this article.

How to apply

Your doctor will explain how you should apply Zoryve. They’ll also explain how much to apply and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

When applying Zoryve, be sure to rub the cream completely into your skin. Wash your hands after applying the medication unless you’re using Zoryve to treat symptoms on your hands.

Questions about applying Zoryve

Below are some common questions about applying Zoryve.

Is there a best time of day to apply Zoryve? Zoryve can be applied at any time of day, but it’s best to apply it around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Zoryve work effectively.

What if I miss a dose of Zoryve? If you miss a dose of Zoryve, apply it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time to apply your next dose, skip the missed dose and apply the next dose at its usual time. You should not apply Zoryve twice in one day to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.

Will I need to use Zoryve long term? Yes, if Zoryve works well for you, your doctor will likely recommend using it long term.

How long does Zoryve take to work? Zoryve begins to work after you apply your first dose. For plaque psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, it may take about 8 weeks for Zoryve to reduce your symptoms. For atopic dermatitis, you may see improvement after 4 weeks.

Your doctor can provide more information about how long it may take for Zoryve to work to treat your plaque psoriasis.

Overdose

Do not apply more Zoryve than your doctor prescribes. Applying more than this can lead to negative effects.

What to do in case you apply too much Zoryve

Call your doctor if you think you’ve applied too much Zoryve. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Zoryve.

Is Zoryve a steroid or a biologic?

No, Zoryve is not a corticosteroid (commonly called steroids) or a biologic (a drug made from living cells). Instead, Zoryve belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase 4 blockers.

However, steroids and biologic drugs can also be prescribed to treat plaque psoriasis. For example, a steroid such as prednisone (Rayos) or a biologic such as adalimumab (Humira) can be prescribed to treat this condition.

Treatments for atopic dermatitis also can include corticosteroids or biologics, such as dupilumab (Dupixent).

Corticosteroids may be included in a treatment plan for seborrheic dermatitis, along with antifungal and anti-inflammatory medications.

If you have questions about the best treatment options for your plaque psoriasis, talk with your doctor.

Can Zoryve be prescribed for eczema or seborrheic dermatitis?

Zoryve cream 0.15% is approved to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, in adults and children ages 6 and older.

Zoryve foam 0.3% is approved to treat seborrheic dermatitis in adults and children ages 9 and old.

One study showed that roflumilast (the active ingredient in Zoryve) may reduce symptoms of eczema. And another study showed that Zoryve may also be an effective treatment option for seborrheic dermatitis.

To learn more about treatment options for eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, including Zoryve, talk with your doctor.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Zoryve, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Zoryve:

  • tapinarof (Vtama)
  • adalimumab (Humira)
  • infliximab (Remicade)
  • apremilast (Otezla)

Below is important information you should consider before starting Zoryve.

Interactions

Using a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Zoryve can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain foods.

Before starting Zoryve treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Zoryve. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Zoryve. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug group or drug nameDrug examples
erythromycin (Eryc)–
fluvoxamine (Luvox)–
cimetidine (Tagamet)–
certain birth control pills that contain
gestodene and ethinyl estradiol 		• ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Junel Fe)
• desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (Cyclessa)
• drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Loryna)

Other interactions

Alcohol is not known to interact with Zoryve. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol during your Zoryve treatment.

Before starting Zoryve treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to apply Zoryve during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Zoryve treatment.

Warnings

Zoryve can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Zoryve is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start Zoryve. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

If you have questions about Zoryve, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:

  • How can I manage any side effects that I experience from Zoryve?
  • Do any of my other medications interact with Zoryve?
  • What should I do if I become pregnant during Zoryve treatment?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.