Zoryve (roflumilast) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat plaque psoriasis 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:
- diarrhea
- headache
- insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- pain at the application site
- infection, such as an upper respiratory infection or a urinary tract infection (UTI)
- mild allergic reaction*
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 reactionSome 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 is prescribed to treat plaque psoriasis on the skin, including in skin folds such as your armpits. The drug is prescribed to adults and children ages 6 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.
How does Zoryve work?
It’s not fully known how Zoryve works to treat plaque psoriasis. However, the drug blocks a certain enzyme that’s believed to cause inflammation (swelling). Blocking this enzyme may help Zoryve to ease symptoms of plaque psoriasis.
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 one strength of 0.3%.
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 plaque psoriasis 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 of cream. But it may take about 8 weeks for Zoryve to reduce your symptoms of plaque psoriasis. 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.
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 is not approved to treat eczema or seborrheic dermatitis. But your doctor may prescribe it off-label for this use. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.)
One
To learn more about treatment options for eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, including Zoryve, talk with your doctor.
* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.
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 name | Drug examples |
| erythromycin (Eryc) | – |
| ketoconazole (Nizoral) | – |
| 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.
Zoryve can also interact with other substances, such as:
Foods. Zoryve interacts with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not consume grapefruit products 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 potential 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:
- liver problems
- past allergic reaction to Zoryve
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
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?
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
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.