Elidel

[JackABCD]

I saw my ENT doc which is very good and he notices I have redness on my face (cheeks), he recommended me to try Elidel. Today I am using Rozex and it helps and prevent Flares but still there is some redness.

I am now 6 weeks post EOT, UND and hope to stay UND.

Someone has experience with Elidel ? Can it cause any problem to the liver or to the treatement ?

Thank you,
Jack

[HectorSF]

You didn't indicate what your skin condition is.
Elidel is usually used to treat eczema.

I've used it for psoriasis for years mostly on my elbows and never had any issues with it. I do have cirrhosis and have not noticed any effects. As with most psoriasis meds it tends to become ineffective after continual use.

Note: There is a warning on the label.

WARNING
Long-term Safety of Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors Has Not Been Established
Although a causal relationship has not been established, rare cases of malignancy (e.g., skin and lymphoma) have been reported in patients treated with topical calcineurin inhibitors, including ELIDEL Cream.
Therefore:
• Continuous long-term use of topical calcineurin inhibitors, including ELIDEL
Cream, in any age group should be avoided, and application limited to areas of
involvement with atopic dermatitis.

Also limit your exposure to sunlight.

Hectorsf

[fretboard]

I used Elidel before for quite awhile, right now I just have a small amount left and I'm not seeing the same doctor.  I actually received some samples from a doctor I had years ago, my new doctor won't prescribe it for me, he's strange that way as he won't prescribe me anything for high cholesterol either.

Makes no sense to me, but he really doesn't know much as he's just my PCP.  Anyways I used it for neurodermatitis, it works great and I haven't come across anything better I just don't need it as much as I used to as my outbreaks are limited.  good luck

[jmjm530]

I've been using Elidel on and off for around 7 years. I used it before treatment, during treatment and after treatment. In fact, I used it last night :)

Yes, Elidel is "officially" indicated for Eczema, however it is prescribed for psoriais all the time. That is what I have. The beauty of Elidel is that it functions like a steroid without the problems of topical steroids -- namely skin thinning and steroid rebound.

As the "black box" warnings, I've spoken to at least five dermatoloigsts about this, and they all brush it off citing both very weak study support as well as their collective clinical experience. FWIW Elidel is often prescribed for infants its considered so safe. Keep in mind that many drugs have black box warnings, and one example is Procrit (epo) but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it.

A few tips/thoughts. Depending on how sensitive your red spots are, Elidel initially could irriate before helping. If this becomes the case, or if you want to just be proactive, what is sometimes suggested is to get the redness down using a mild or medium strength  topical steroid first, and then once the redness is down some, to use Elidel for maintenance. But only do this under the supervision of a dermatologist because the use of topical steroids on the face can cause problems if you use them too long or if you use too strong a strength. If you're not seeing a derm, now is probably a good time, because they know more about skin problems and treatment really brings them out. Another similar drug is "Protopic" although it might be more irritating than Elidel on the face, but if Elidel doesn't work, Protopic seems slightly stronger so that might be your next move.

All the best,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Forgot to mention that ELidel can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so if you apply during the day, then cover with a good sunscreen after five minutes or so while it soaks in.

[jmjm530]

Have you tried Dovonex, a vitamin D3 derivitive, on your elbows? Might be stronger than Elidel on that part of the body. Ointment is stronger than cream. Just be careful not to get it on your face so best to wear long sleeves after applying so you won't accidently touch.Also, as mentioned, Protopic -- very similar to Elidel -- is a bit stronger and sometimes works better than Elidel.

-- Jim

[sunshine585]

I Have been using Elidel as well, for a few years now. I use it for treating exzema (eczema) on the feet. It's been working very well for me, however ,I want to reiterate thesun sensitivity factor. Even though I put a high spf block on to protect, I ended up with a really bad sun burn. So use block, AND a hat.
My Hep Dr. is aware I am on it, and doesn't have a problem.

[HectorSF]

Thanks Jim for the tip on Dovonex. I used it for a number of years. I've tried many different meds for the last 10 years or so since getting psoriasis. For me what really seems to work is sunshine. Maybe the combo of sunshine and salt water. It will keep my skin clear for a number of weeks afterward.So I have an excuse to hangout at the beach! As I said, the meds are very effective for the first couple of weeks I use them and then they have less and less effect. I try to stay away from the steroids. They work for me at least, but over time they are not a good thing for your skin.

The good thing is that this Winter I've had the least outbreak since getting psoriasis 10 years ago! Maybe the Peg-Int & Riba treatment last Spring did it? Only kidding! I don't know why, but my psoriasis is barely visible. I used to have areas like my elbows and ankles that used to bleed during the Winter but so far so good. Only a change in the color of the skin is noticeable. I'm enjoying not having psoriasis being an issue for me at least right now. I'm sure it will return at some point but for now I'm happy for a little relief.

Hectorsf