Elidel

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

This medicine is not known to cause different types of side effects or problems in children over the age of two, than it does in adults, although some side effects may occur more often than they do in adult patients. This medicine has not been tested and should not be used in children under 2 years of age.

Geriatric

There is no specific information comparing the use of pimecrolimus in the elderly with the use in other age groups. Pimecrolimus is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eczema herpeticum (Kaposi's varicelliform eruption), or
• Herpes simplex virus infection or
• Varicella zoster virus infection (chicken pox or shingles)—Increases the risk of skin infections

• Erythroderma (exfoliative dermatitis [ED])—The safety of this medicine is not known for patients who have this condition.

• Immunocompromised patients (weakened immune system)—The safety of these patients using pimecrolimus cream has not been established.

• Lymphadenopathy or
• Mononucleosis, acute infectious—May cause enlargement of lymph nodes

• Netherton's syndrome—May cause too much of the pimecrolimus cream to be absorbed into the body

• Precancerous condition of the skin or
• Skin cancer—You should not use this medicine.

• Skin infections—Safety of using pimecrolimus cream for some skin infections is unknown.

• Skin papilloma or
• Warts—May worsen condition