Verteporfin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Visudyne, benzoporphyrin derivative

Before Using This Medicine

In 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