Protopic Ointment (Tacrolimus) and/or alternatives

General Information on Protopic Ointment

Protopic Ointment is indicated to patients suffering from severe atopic dermatitis or eczema. It is a skin condition which involves itchy rash leading to redness, scaling, and sores. The generic name of the drug is Tacrolimus and it belongs to the class of topical macrolide immunosuppressants. You can buy Protopic Ointment in the form of 10gm and 30gm tubes. It works by curbing the immune reaction of the skin, leading to a reduction in the allergy and the alleviation of eczema. The ointment can be used in patients more than 2 years old only if other eczema medications have failed to treat the condition.

Side Effects for Protopic Ointment

Some of the mild side effects of Protopic Ointment include mild itching, stinging, redness and burning, acne, headache, increased sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures, and symptoms of flu or cold such as sneezing, stuffy nose and sore throat. Most of these side effects can be easily managed and diminish on their own within a few days. However, if any of these become intolerable, you should seek medical help. If you are experiencing severe burning, itching, stinging or soreness, or if you have developed signs of a new skin infection such as redness, itching, oozing or swelling, you should immediately stop using Protopic Ointment and seek contact your doctor. You should also look out for swollen glands or ‘crushing’ around the hair follicles.

An allergic reaction to Protopic Ointment can be identified by swelling or itching of the face, throat, tongue or lips, difficulty breathing, hives, or severe dizziness. If you experience any of these, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Precautions

Before your doctor asks you to buy Protopic Ointment, you should inform him/her if you are suffering from a skin infection such as chickenpox or herpes or skin cancer. You should also tell him/her if you have weak immunity, Netherton’s syndrome, a kidney disease, or redness, swelling, or irritation over a large area of your skin. As the drug lowers your blood cell count and weakens your immunity, you become more susceptible to infections like herpes or chickenpox. Therefore, you should try to stay away from people suffering from these conditions. If you get exposed to such illnesses, you should immediately seek help from your doctor.

If you are pregnant, you should use Protopic Ointment only if required. This is because its safety during pregnancy has not yet been established. If you are breastfeeding a baby, you must know that this drug can pass into your breast milk and harm your nursing baby. Therefore, you should use this ointment only after discussing the risks and benefits involved.

Protopic Ointment Dosage

Protopic Ointment is present in 0.03% and 0.1% concentrations. Protopic Ointment 0.1% is meant for adults, and Protopic Ointment 0.03% is meant for children. You may be advised to apply a thin layer of the medicine on the affected area twice a day. You will notice the benefits after around one week of using the ointment.

Interactions

Your doctor will not advise you to use Protopic Ointment if you are using HIV/AIDS medicines such as ritonavir or saquinavir, blood pressure or heart medications such as felodipine or verapamil, anti-fungal medications such as itraconazole or voriconazole, antidepressants such as nefazodone and antibiotics such as telithromycin or erythromycin. You should also inform your doctor if you take drugs like imatinib, isoniazid, or conivaptan.

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