Elidel is the trade name for the topically applied, prescription-only cream containing pime – crolimus. It is one of a new generation of nonsteroidal medications recommended for psoriasis. The first drug of this class was Protopic, which contains the active ingredient tacrolimus. (Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, February 2002, pages 228-241.)
No one is quite sure why Elidel works on certain types of dermatitis, and it is not a cure (Source: www. fda. gov/cder/foi/label/2001/021302lbl. pdf). It is intended for long-term use, but only for short or intermittent periods. That means you can start using it when symptoms show up and stop using it when the symptoms go away. When symptoms recur, you start once again, and you can keep up with that pattern of application forever.
A concern about using a treatment that lowers the immune response is the need to avoid sunlight, because the body will be less able to defend against UVR (ultraviolet radiation) damage. Other common side effects may include headache, flu, sore throat, and fever. If you have had warts, herpes, or shingles in the past, Elidel can trigger recurrences.
Despite the serious side effects, there is no question that research shows this drug to be successful in treating atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. And the sooner you use it when symptoms occur, the quicker and better your skin will respond. (Sources: International Journal of Clinical Practice, May 2003, pages 319-327; Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, May 2003, pages 1153-1168, and August 2002, pages 277-284; and Journal of Investigative Dermatology, October 2002, pages 876-887.)