Protopic, Astellas Pharma’s topical eczema cream and a similar drug, Novartis’ eczema cream, Elidel, are immunosuppressants. This means that they lower the body’s normal immune response to disease and cancer. Protopic has been linked to numerous reports of skin cancer and non-Hodgkin’s Lympoma. Studies done on animals have shown that the risk of cancer increases with the use of Protopic and with higher does of Protopic.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. This cancer may look like eczema or psoriasis and usually occurs in areas of the body not exposed to sunlight. Immunodepressants, including Protopic and Elidel, have also been linked to vitiligo, a loss of skin pigmentations that leaves milky, white patches on the skin.
There are 25 types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which start in the lymph nodes. Symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
According to the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration), Protopic may increase the rate of respiratory infections in children under 2. Protopic should NOT be used on children younger than 2 years.
Protopic may also cause the following side effects:
If you or a loved one is using Protopic you should consult a health care provider immediately to see if any alternative treatments are available. Use only the lowest possible dose and get checked regularly for skin cancer. Be aware that skin cancer can look like eczema.
If you or a loved one has suffered side effects from Protopic, you should have your case evaluated to see if you have a valid Protopic lawsuit. See Protopic Attorney and Lawyer – How to Hire to find out more about finding an attorney who specializes in this kind of litigation.
Check out the following articles for more information about Protopic, filing a Protopic lawsuit and finding a Protopic attorney: