A Game-Changer for Diabetes: Polymer Delivers Insulin Painlessly Through Skin
November 25, 2025
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Brand Name :
Elidel
Synonyms :
pimecrolimus topical
Class :
Calcinuerin Inhibitors, Topical Immunosuppressants
Dosage Forms & StrengthsÂ
CreamÂ
1%Â
Apply a tiny coating to the affected region every 12 hours, limiting the application to that area and continuing as long as the symptoms remain
Dosage Forms & StrengthsÂ
CreamÂ
1%Â
<2 years: Safety and efficacy not established
>2 years: Apply a tiny coating to the afflicted region every 12 hours, limiting the application to that area, and continuing as long as the symptoms remain
Refer adult dosingÂ
may increase the tacrolimus immunosuppressive effect
may increase the tacrolimus immunosuppressive effect
may increase the tacrolimus immunosuppressive effect
may increase the tacrolimus immunosuppressive effect
may increase the tacrolimus immunosuppressive effect
may increase the nephrotoxic effect of tacrolimus
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
poliovirus vaccine, live, trivalent
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
poliovirus vaccine inactivated
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, live (Rx)
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
measles mumps and rubella vaccine, live
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine, live
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
may have a decreased therapeutic effect when combined with covid-19 vaccine
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with influenza virus vaccines
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with rabies vaccine
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with sipuleucel-t
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with vaccines
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with leflunomide
may decrease the diagnostic effect when combined with coccidioides immitis test
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with COVID-19 vaccine
belimumab's immunosuppressive properties reduce the efficacy of the live rotavirus oral vaccine, leading to diminished effects
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of Immunosuppressants
respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of Immunosuppressants
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of Immunosuppressants
meningococcal A C Y and W polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccineÂ
immunosuppressants can decrease the efficacy of the vaccines
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may decrease the diagnostic effect of Immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressive agents
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with baricitinib
may have an increased adverse effect when combined with dengue tetravalent vaccine
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may increase the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus
may have an increased adverse effect when combined with nadofaragene firadenovec
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with natalizumab
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with ruxolitinib
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with talimogene laherparepvec
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with tofacitinib
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with upadacitinib
poliovirus vaccine, live, trivalent
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
poliovirus vaccine inactivated
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, live (Rx)
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
measles mumps and rubella vaccine, live
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine, live
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
may enhance the adverse/toxic effect
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with immunosuppressants
methotrexate can also enhance the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus (Topical)
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with typhoid vaccine
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with yellow fever vaccine
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with poliovirus vaccine
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with ritlecitinib
cladribine: they may increase the immunosuppressive effect of immunosuppressants
may decrease the therapeutic effect of immunosuppressants
may decrease the therapeutic effect of immunosuppressants
may decrease the therapeutic effect of immunosuppressants
may decrease the therapeutic effect of immunosuppressants
may decrease the therapeutic effect of immunosuppressants
may diminish the serum concentration of each other when combined
may diminish the serum concentration of each other when combined
may diminish the serum concentration of each other when combined
may diminish the serum concentration of each other when combined
may diminish the serum concentration of each other when combined
may increase the serum concentration of pimecrolimus
may increase the serum concentration of pimecrolimus
may increase the serum concentration of pimecrolimus
may increase the serum concentration of pimecrolimus
may increase the serum concentration of pimecrolimus
respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
may reduce the therapeutic effect of vaccines
respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with vaccines
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with vaccines
may have an increased adverse effect when combined with BCG products
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with cladribine
may increase the therapeutic effect of immunosuppressants
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with brincidofovir
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with inebilizumab
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with ocrelizumab
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with ofatumumab
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with pidotimod
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with ublituximab
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with tacrolimus
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with pneumococcal vaccines
antithymocyte globulin rabbitÂ
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with antithymocyte globulin
leniolisib reduces the efficacy of the live rotavirus oral vaccine by exerting immunosuppressive effects
The immunosuppressive effects of obinutuzumab diminish the effectiveness of the live rotavirus oral vaccine
antithymocyte globulin equineÂ
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with antithymocyte globulin
respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted
immunosuppressants decrease the efficacy of vaccines
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
immunosuppressants decrease the efficacy of vaccines
may have an increased immunosuppressive effect when combined with immunosuppressants
elevated doses of corticosteroids can inhibit the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test response after a two-week course of treatment
typically, the response reverts to its pre-treatment level within a few weeks after discontinuing steroid therapy
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with covid-19 vaccine
Actions and Spectrum:Â
Frequency definedÂ
>10%Â
Headache (7-25%)Â
Nasopharyngitis (8-27%)Â
Bronchitis (<11%)Â
Burning sensation (2-26%)Â
Fever (1-13%)Â
Cough (2-16%)Â
Upper respiratory tract infection (4-19%)Â
<1%Â
Malignant melanomaÂ
Basal cell carcinoma of the skinÂ
FlushingÂ
EczemaÂ
Squamous cell carcinomaÂ
Septic arthritisÂ
Ocular irritationÂ
Skin discolorationÂ
Malignant lymphomaÂ
Frequency not definedÂ
ParaesthesiaÂ
DrynessÂ
Skin infectionÂ
DesquamationÂ
Application site painÂ
RashÂ
Black box warning:Â
Contraindications/caution:Â
Contraindications:Â
Caution:Â
Pregnancy consideration: CÂ
Lactation: Excretion of the drug in human breast milk is unknownÂ
Pregnancy category:Â
Category A: well-controlled and Satisfactory studies show no risk to the fetus in the first or later trimester.  Â
Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women.Â
Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.   Â
Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.   Â
Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.   Â
Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this categoryÂ
Pharmacology:Â
Pharmacodynamics:Â
pimecrolimus inhibits the activity of calcineurin, a protein that plays a vital role in the activation of T-cells in the immune system. T-cells are involved in the immune response and contribute to inflammation and itching, common symptoms of atopic dermatitis. By suppressing the activity of calcineurin, pimecrolimus reduces the activation of T-cells and therefore reduces inflammation and itching in the affected area Â
Pharmacokinetics:Â
AbsorptionÂ
pimecrolimus is a lipophilic compound well absorbed through the skin. It penetrates the skin and reaches the deeper layers, where it exerts its effects. After topical application, pimecrolimus is absorbed into the systemic circulation, although systemic absorption is minimal. Â
DistributionÂ
pimecrolimus is highly bound to plasma proteins (approximately 99%). The drug is distributed throughout the body and accumulates in the liver but not in the skin. Â
MetabolismÂ
pimecrolimus is extensively metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, primarily by CYP3A4. The metabolites are inactive and are excreted in the urine. Â
Elimination and ExcretionÂ
pimecrolimus and its metabolites are excreted primarily in the urine, with a small amount excreted in the feces. The elimination half-life of pimecrolimus is approximately 30 hours, which is relatively shortÂ
Administration:Â
Patient information leafletÂ
Generic Name: pimecrolimus topicalÂ
Pronounced: [ PIM-e-KROE-li-mus-TOP-ik-al ]Â
Why do we use pimecrolimus topical?Â
pimecrolimus is used to treat atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema because it is an effective topical immunomodulator that can help reduce inflammation and itching associated with this condition. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by itchy, red, and scaly patches on the skin.Â
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