 ELIDEL AND PROTOPIC LINKED TO CANCER RISK
Elidel and Protopic are creams prescribed to children and adults to treat the skin disease eczema. In January 2006, the FDA announced that the drugs would carry a black box warning alerting patients to the possible increased risk of non-Hodgkins lymphona (lymph node cancer) or skin cancer from the use of Elidel and Protopic.
In 2005, reports were released in which the medications were shown to cause skin cancer in mice. There has not been a direct link between Elidel or Protopic use and cancer established in humans, but rare reports of cancer in patients using Elidel or Protopic have been documented.
In February 2005, the FDA Pediatric Advisory Panel recommended that major black box warnings be added to the Elidel and Protopic labels informing of the potential risk of the development of cancer. A public health advisory was issued in March 2005 to alert physicians to the possible cancer risk.
Elidel (picmecrolimius) cream and Protopic (tacrolimus) cream are prescribed for eczema patients as an alternative to topical steroids. Elidel and Protopic work to selectively reduce the inflammatory symptoms of eczema, which is also known as atopic dermatitis.
Eczema is a chronic, itchy inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. It most commonly occurs on the face, neck, upper chest, shoulders, and the elbows and knees. Elidel and Protopic are prescribed for use in children 2 years of age and older.
Elidel and Protopic are calcineurin inhibitors, which is also known as an immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressants inhibit activity of the immune system.
The only method for avoiding possible cancer risk is to refrain from continuous, long-term use of Elidel or Protopic. The application of the cream should be limited to only the affected areas of the skin.
Elidel and Protopic should only be used if other treatments have failed in treating the eczema. The use of Elidel or Protopic should end as soon as the eczema resolves itself, and patients should be re-evaluated if the symptoms of eczema continue for more than six weeks.
The risk of cancer increases as the dose of the drug increases, so only the lowest effective dose should be used. Patients with a weakened immune system should not use Elidel or Protopic.
If
you or a member of your family has taken Elidel or Protopic, then you may qualify for a lawsuit
claim. Thousands of people have already
filed claims.
In
America today there are thousands of mass lawsuits and billions of dollars in unclaimed
monies available for victims. If you have
been wronged by a major corporation, you may
be entitled to compensation for treatments
and pain and suffering. |