PROTOPIC OINTMENT 0.1%

DKSH SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.

DKSH SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.

Therapeutic

Prescription Only

OINTMENT

**Posology and Method of Administration** Protopic® treatment should be initiated by physicians with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis. Protopic® is available in two strengths, Protopic® 0.03 % and Protopic® 0.1 % ointment. _Method of administration_ Protopic® ointment should be applied as a thin layer to affected or commonly affected areas of the skin. Protopic® ointment may be used on any part of the body, including face, neck and flexure areas, except on mucous membranes. Protopic® ointment should not be applied under occlusion because this method of administration has not been studied in patients (see Special warnings and special precautions for use – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). Posology Flare treament Protopic® can be used for short-term and intermittent long-term treatment. Treatment should not be continuous on a long-term basis. Protopic® treatment should begin at the first appearance of signs and symptoms. Each affected region of the skin should be treated with Protopic® until lesions are cleared, almost cleared or mildly affected. At the first signs of recurrence (flares) of the disease symptoms, treatment should be re-initiated. _Adult and adolescents (16 years of age and above)_ Treatment should be started with Protopic® 0.1% twice a day and treatment should be continued until clearance of the lesion. If symptoms recur, twice daily treatment with Protopic® 0.1% should be restarted. An attempt should be made to reduce the frequency of application or to use the lower strength Protopic® 0.03% ointment if the clinical condition allows. Generally, improvement is seen within one week of starting treatment. If no signs of improvement are seen after two weeks of treatment, further treatment options should be considered. _Paediatric population_ Children (2 years of age and above) should use the lower strength Protopic® 0.03% ointment. Treatment should be started twice a day for up to three weeks. Afterwards the frequency of application should be reduced to once a day until clearance of the lesion (see special warnings and special precautions for use – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). Protopic® ointment should not be used in children aged below 2 years until further data are available. _Elderly patients (65 years of age and above)_ Specific studies have not been conducted in elderly patients. However, the clinical experience available in this patient population has not shown the necessity for any dosage adjustment. Maintenance treatment Patients who are responding to up to 6 weeks treatment using tacrolimus ointment twice daily (lesions cleared, almost cleared or mildly affected) are suitable for maintenance treatment. _Adult and adolescents (16 years of age and above)_ Adult patients should use Protopic® 0.1% ointment. Protopic® ointment should be applied once a day twice weekly (e.g. Monday and Thursday) to areas commonly affected by atopic dermatitis to prevent progression to flares. Between applications there should be 2–3 days without Protopic® treatment. After 12 months treatment, a review of the patient’s condition should be conducted by the physician and a decision taken whether to continue maintenance treatment in the absence of safety data for maintenance treatment beyond 12 months. If signs of a flare reoccur, twice daily treatment should be re-initiated (see Flare treatment section above). _Paediatric population_ Children (2 years of age and above) should use the lower strength Protopic® 0.03% ointment. Protopic® ointment should be applied once a day twice weekly (e.g. Monday and Thursday) to areas commonly affected by atopic dermatitis to prevent progression to flares. Between applications there should be 2-3 days without Protopic® treatment. The review of the child’s condition after 12 months treatment should include suspension of treatment to assess the need to continue this regimen and to evaluate the course of the disease. Protopic® ointment should not be used in children aged below 2 years until further data are available. _Elderly patients (65 years of age and above)_ Specific studies have not been conducted in elderly patients (see Flare treatment section above).