Verteporfin (Systemic)
Brand Names : Visudyne, benzoporphyrin derivative
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.
This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For verteporfin, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to verteporfin. Also, tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods or preservatives.
Pregnancy - Verteporfin has not been studied in pregnant women.
However, it has caused harm to the fetus in animals. Before using this medicine,
make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether verteporfin passes into
breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,
many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking
this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in
adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of verteporfin
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Studies show that the effects of verteporfin are
less in patients 75 years of age or older.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together
at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if
an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change
the dose or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using verteporfin,
it is especially important that your health care professional know if you
are taking any of the following:
-
Calcium channel blocking agents (medicine class for blood pressure)
or
-
Polymyxin B (antibiotic in eye preparations) or
-
Radiation therapy - Use of these medicines with verteporfin may
increase the effects of verteporfin
-
Alcohol or
-
Antioxidant vitamins and minerals (e.g., Beta-carotene)
or
-
Dimethyl sulfoxide (e.g., DMSO, Rimso-50) or
-
Medications that decrease blood clotting and blood vessel constriction - The
effects of verteporfin may be decreased
-
Antidiabetics, oral (diabetes medicine you take by mouth) or
-
Griseofulvin (e.g., Fulvicin, Gris-PEG) or
-
Phenothiazines (antipsychotic medications) or
-
Sulfonamides (sulfa medicine) or
-
Tetracyclines (medicine for infection) or
-
Thiazide diuretics (water pills) - Use with verteporfin may increase
the sensitivity of skin to light
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of verteporfin. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Liver function impairment
-
Porphyria - Sensitivity to light may be increased
-
Previous reaction to verteporfin - Reaction is more likely to
occur again
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