Pimecrolimus

Introduction

Written by Lee Holland, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on August 23, 2023

Pimecrolimus (pim e KROE li mus) is a generic medication prescribed for atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema. Pimecrolimus belongs to a group of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors.

Boxed warning: Risk of cancer

Pimecrolimus cream has a boxed warning about the risk of cancer. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for pimecrolimus” section.

Common questions about pimecrolimus

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about pimecrolimus.

How does pimecrolimus compare with tacrolimus?

Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus belong to a group of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors.

Pimecrolimus comes as a cream, which is a thick lotion. Tacrolimus comes in a few forms, including an ointment. This form is thicker and denser than a cream.

Tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus are used to treat atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema. Other forms of tacrolimus are used for other conditions, including preventing rejection of transplanted organs.

If you have questions about which drug is right for your condition, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What brand names are available for pimecrolimus?

Pimecrolimus is a generic medication. The brand-name version of pimecrolimus is Elidel.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less than brand-name drugs.

If you’d like to know more about the brand-name version of this drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can I get pimecrolimus over the counter?

No, pimecrolimus isn’t available over the counter. It’s only available as a prescription medication. You’ll need a prescription from your healthcare professional to get this product.

If you have questions about this, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is pimecrolimus a steroid?

No, pimecrolimus isn’t a steroid. Instead, it belongs to a group of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors.

Steroids typically work by lowering inflammation in your body. To learn how pimecrolimus works, see the answer directly below. Or you can talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more.

Pimecrolimus may sometimes be used with topical steroids for atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema. But using multiple medications may increase your risk of side effects.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about using a steroid with pimecrolimus.

How does pimecrolimus work? And how long does it take to start working?

Pimecrolimus is used for atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema. With this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks the skin. This causes the skin to become dry, red or discolored, and itchy.

Pimecrolimus works by stopping certain parts of the immune system from attacking the skin. The drug starts working in about 3 weeks after you begin treatment.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects of pimecrolimus

Pimecrolimus may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of pimecrolimus and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about pimecrolimus’ side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for pimecrolimus listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with pimecrolimus are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about pimecrolimus’ side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for pimecrolimus listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Pimecrolimus topical cream’s mild side effects include:

• skin infection
• a burning sensation where pimecrolimus is applied
• headache
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for pimecrolimus” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of pimecrolimus are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about pimecrolimus’ side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for pimecrolimus listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, pimecrolimus’ serious side effects include:

• boxed warning: risk of cancer*
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for pimecrolimus” section.

Uses of pimecrolimus

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as pimecrolimus for certain conditions. Approved uses for pimecrolimus are described below.

Use for atopic dermatitis

Doctors may prescribe pimecrolimus cream for treating atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema. It’s used for this purpose in adults and children ages 2 years and older. It’s prescribed as a short-term treatment and should not be used for longer than 6 months.

With atopic dermatitis, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the skin. The immune system typically clears out germs that cause infections. When it attacks skin, it causes the skin to be dry, red or discolored, and irritated. It can also cause a rash.

Pimecrolimus is prescribed when other treatments for atopic dermatitis don’t work as they should.

Doctors may not prescribe pimecrolimus cream in certain situations. This includes prescribing it to people with skin infections or weakened immune systems.

Interactions and warnings for pimecrolimus

Below, you’ll find information about pimecrolimus’ possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of pimecrolimus

Pimecrolimus isn’t known to interact with any medications or supplements. (Interactions can affect how a drug works.) But this doesn’t mean drug interactions with pimecrolimus won’t happen or be reported sometime. For instance, medications created at a later time could interact with pimecrolimus.

Because of this, you should ask your doctor and pharmacist about possible interactions with pimecrolimus. They can check for any interactions that may affect you, such as those with:

• vaccines
• foods or alcohol
• other drugs

Warnings for pimecrolimus

Pimecrolimus should not be used by certain people, including  those with weakened immune systems and skin infections.

Boxed warning: Risk of cancer

Pimecrolimus has a boxed warning about the risk of skin cancer and lymphoma. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. There are several forms of skin cancer, and each type has different symptoms. If you notice any changes in your skin, including new moles or dark spots, tell your doctor right away.

Lymphoma is cancer that affects the lymph nodes. Symptoms include lumps under the skin, tiredness, night sweats, and weight loss. If you have any of these symptoms, tell your doctor right away.

These cancers were reported in studies of drugs similar to pimecrolimus. The drugs were given systemically and over a long period of time. (Systemic treatment affects the whole body. It’s usually taken by mouth or as an injection into a vein.) This is different from pimecrolimus, which is a topical treatment. (A topical treatment is applied on the skin.)

The cancers have rarely been reported in people using topical pimecrolimus. And it’s not known for sure if the drug caused them.

If you have concerns about these warnings, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely discuss possible risks and benefits of using pimecrolimus.

Other warnings

Pimecrolimus could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether pimecrolimus is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of pimecrolimus you use.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for pimecrolimus, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Pimecrolimus can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to pimecrolimus or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe pimecrolimus. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to pimecrolimus, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of pimecrolimus

Do not use more pimecrolimus than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve used too much pimecrolimus, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and pimecrolimus

Information about pimecrolimus and pregnancy and breastfeeding are described below.

Pimecrolimus and pregnancy

It’s not known whether pimecrolimus should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should use pimecrolimus during pregnancy.

Pimecrolimus and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether pimecrolimus should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should use pimecrolimus during this time. Your doctor may recommend other healthy ways to feed your child.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know whether you have questions about pimecrolimus or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How long can I use pimecrolimus cream?
• Which areas of my skin should I apply pimecrolimus cream to?
• How should I apply pimecrolimus cream to my skin?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Pimecrolimus — pimecrolimus cream. (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/6601e43e-ce7d-446a-8568-8e7b24b86f06/spl-doc
• Tacrolimus & pimecrolimus. (n.d.). https://www.aocd.org/page/TacrolimusPimecro

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.