From the Guidelines
Elidel (pimecrolimus) is used to treat atopic dermatitis (eczema) in patients aged 3 months and above, as approved in Taiwan 1.
Key Points
- Elidel is a topical calcineurin inhibitor that works by suppressing the immune system locally to reduce inflammation, itching, and redness.
- It is particularly useful for sensitive areas like the face, neck, and skin folds where topical steroids might cause thinning of the skin.
- According to the Taiwan guidelines, Elidel is approved for patients aged 3 months and above, making it a viable option for younger patients 1.
- The treatment should continue until symptoms resolve, but patients should be reassessed if no improvement occurs after 6 weeks.
- Side effects may include temporary burning or warmth at the application site.
- Unlike topical steroids, Elidel doesn't cause skin thinning, making it valuable for long-term management.
Usage and Application
- Elidel is applied as a thin layer to affected skin areas twice daily.
- It is usually offered as a second-line therapy for acute and chronic treatment of AD in patients who have not responded adequately to other topical treatments or when those treatments are not recommended 1.
- Twice-daily application of Elidel cream is efficacious in treating inflamed AD lesions 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
ELIDEL Cream is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat eczema (atopic dermatitis). ELIDEL ® (pimecrolimus) Cream 1% is indicated as second-line therapy for the short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in non-immunocompromised adults and children 2 years of age and older, who have failed to respond adequately to other topical prescription treatments, or when those treatments are not advisable.
Elidel is used to treat eczema (atopic dermatitis) in adults and children 2 years of age and older. It is used as a second-line therapy for short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. Key points include:
- Used for eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment
- Second-line therapy for patients who have failed to respond to other treatments
- For mild to moderate cases
- For adults and children 2 years of age and older 2, 2
From the Research
Uses of Elidel
- Elidel (pimecrolimus) is a nonsteroidal topical agent used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- It is approved for use in children as young as 2 years of age and is used for the short-term and intermittent long-term treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis in non-immunocompromised patients 3, 4
- Elidel is effective in reducing the incidence of disease flares and the need for rescue treatment with topical corticosteroids 3, 4, 5
- It is also used to improve the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of children and adolescents, and improves the QOL of parents of children with atopic dermatitis 4
- Elidel can be used as an alternative to topical corticosteroids, particularly for delicate skin, such as the face and other sensitive skin areas, because it has no atrophogenic potential 5
Benefits of Elidel
- Elidel does not cause steroid-associated local effects, such as dermal atrophy, striae, or telangiectasia 3
- It is well tolerated, with a risk of application-site reactions comparable to that of the vehicle 3
- Adverse effects are generally mild and occur at rates comparable to those in patients receiving vehicle treatment 3
- Elidel does not cause skin atrophy, a problem commonly associated with topical corticosteroids, and is not associated with clinically relevant systemic adverse events 4
Treatment Guidelines
- The Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis with Topical Therapies recommend the use of Elidel as a noncorticosteroid topical therapy for the treatment of atopic dermatitis 6
- The guidelines suggest that Elidel can be used for widespread involvement of AD according to approved use, and that noncorticosteroid topical maintenance therapy should continue to prevent flares and reduce the need for TCS 6
- A consensus statement recommends that the labelling restrictions regarding the use of pimecrolimus in infants are no longer justified, and that the validity of the boxed warning for TCIs should be reconsidered 7