Zoryve (Roflumilast) for Plaque Psoriasis

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects Copay Help FAQs

Zoryve (roflumilast) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat plaque psoriasis in certain adults and children. It comes as a cream and a topical foam.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 80 comments about Zoryve from MyPsoriasisTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Once-daily use feels simpler than rotating topical steroids.
Relief from itching and irritation can start within days in some areas.
Zoryve can help stubborn plaques on sensitive or hard-to-treat areas.

Considerations:

Application site pain or skin irritation can occur and may limit use.
Results can be uneven, with some areas improving more than others.
Insurance approval, prior authorization, or high out-of-pocket costs can delay access.

How Zoryve Works and How It’s Taken

Zoryve is a type of medication called a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor. PDE4 is an enzyme in the body, and Zoryve blocks it. In plaque psoriasis, this may help reduce inflammation and skin changes, although the exact way Zoryve works is not fully known.

Doctors prescribe Zoryve cream when adults and children ages 2 and older have plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in skin folds. They prescribe Zoryve foam when adults and children ages 12 and older have scalp psoriasis and plaque psoriasis elsewhere on the body.

Zoryve cream and foam are topical treatments applied to affected skin. Rub the medication in completely and wash your hands after using it. If you use the foam, shake the can first and apply it only when the affected skin or scalp is not wet.

Zoryve is for use on the skin only. Do not use it in your eyes, mouth, or vagina.

Typical Dosing for Plaque Psoriasis

For plaque psoriasis, apply Zoryve cream or foam to affected areas once daily and rub it in completely.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Zoryve

MHT logo These insights are based on 80 comments about Zoryve from MyPsoriasisTeam members.

Members who use Zoryve often say it can be helpful, but results, comfort, and timing vary from person to person. Many members also stress the importance of staying in touch with a dermatologist about side effects, insurance barriers, and whether Zoryve works best alone or alongside other psoriasis treatments.

1

Give it some time, but track how your skin responds.
“I was recently prescribed Zoryve and WOW! It really worked. After three days, the itching and irritation stopped. A week out, and the color is almost normal.”
2

Tell your doctor about pain or irritation after applying it.
“I was seeing benefit from the Zoryve until after about two weeks, and then my skin was irritated.”
3

Consistency matters when using topical treatment.
“I learned from Pitac, too, that consistency is key.” “I use Zoryve, which helps. The day I don’t use it, it’s back again!”

Connect with others who understand life with plaque psoriasis. Join MyPsoriasisTeam for free.

Zoryve Side Effects

In clinical studies of Zoryve, the most common side effects varied based on the dosage form used.

Side effects with Zoryve cream include:

Diarrhea
Headache
Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
Nausea
Application site pain (pain where the cream is applied)
Upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold
Urinary tract infection

Side effects with Zoryve foam include:

Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea
Nasopharyngitis (common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Flammability — Zoryve foam can catch fire. Avoid fire, flames, and smoking while applying it and right after applying it.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Zoryve

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, the manufacturer of Zoryve, offers the Zoryve Direct Savings Card Program. Eligible people with commercial drug insurance may pay as little as $0 for each prescription fill.

The program also offers enrollment by text message and access through participating pharmacies. The offer is not valid for people enrolled in government healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, or for people paying cash.

To learn more, visit the Zoryve Direct savings page or call 844-979-1288.

What To Know Before Taking Zoryve

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to roflumilast or any ingredients in Zoryve.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Do not use Zoryve if you have moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C).

If you use Zoryve foam, avoid fire, flames, and smoking during and immediately after application because the foam can catch fire.

Zoryve cream is also FDA-approved to treat atopic dermatitis.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while using Zoryve, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. Avoid using Zoryve during labor and delivery.

If you are breastfeeding, use Zoryve on the smallest area of skin and for the shortest time needed. Do not apply Zoryve directly to the nipple or areola. This helps avoid contact with your baby.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Zoryve cream for plaque psoriasis?

In two 8-week studies, Zoryve cream 0.3 percent was tested in people ages 6 and older with mild to severe plaque psoriasis. By week 8, 41.5 percent and 36.7 percent of people using Zoryve cream had skin that was “clear” or “almost clear” and at least a 2-grade improvement from the start of the study.

This compared with 5.8 percent and 7.1 percent of people using vehicle cream. A vehicle cream is the same cream without the active medicine.

Among people who had psoriasis in skin folds at the start of the studies, 71.5 percent and 67.5 percent had treatment success at week 8. This compared with 13.8 percent and 17.4 percent of people using vehicle cream.

These results show that Zoryve cream helped some people improve by week 8, but it did not work for everyone.

How effective is Zoryve foam for plaque psoriasis?

Zoryve foam 0.3 percent was studied in people ages 12 and older with plaque psoriasis of the scalp and body.

In the ARRECTOR study, 66.4 percent of people using Zoryve foam had scalp psoriasis that was “clear” or “almost clear” at week 8. This compared with 27.8 percent of people using vehicle foam.

For body psoriasis in the same study, 45.5 percent of people using Zoryve foam had treatment success. This compared with 20.1 percent of people using vehicle foam.

In Trial 204, 56.7 percent of people using Zoryve foam had scalp psoriasis that was “clear” or “almost clear” at week 8. This compared with 11.0 percent of people using vehicle foam.

For body psoriasis in Trial 204, 39.0 percent of people using Zoryve foam had treatment success. This compared with 7.4 percent of people using vehicle foam.

These results show that Zoryve foam helped some people improve by week 8, but it did not work for everyone.

Can Zoryve cause application site pain in plaque psoriasis?

Yes. In plaque psoriasis studies, application site pain was reported in 1.0 percent of people using Zoryve cream 0.3 percent.

Application site pain was not listed as a common side effect in plaque psoriasis studies of Zoryve foam 0.3 percent.

In the cream studies, 1.0 percent of people using Zoryve cream stopped treatment because of a side effect. The most common side effect that led people to stop Zoryve cream was application site urticaria (hives where the cream was applied).