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|Methoxsalen

Methoxsalen

Methoxsalen is used for:

Treating vitiligo and severe psoriasis. It is also used to treat skin problems associated with a certain type of lymphoma. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Methoxsalen is a psoralen. It works by making the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. It appears that this sensitivity results in damage to the skin cells when UV light treatment is given. Damaged skin cells grow more slowly and the rate of tissue growth is reduced.

Do NOT use Methoxsalen if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in this medicine or to similar medicines
• you have a history of light-sensitive disease (eg, the blood disease porphyria, lupus, xeroderma pigmentosum)
• you have aphakia or a history of melanoma or certain types of skin cancer
• your skin is sensitive to the sun or light

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Methoxsalen :

Some medical conditions may interact with Methoxsalen . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have an infection, cataracts or other eye problems, liver disease, heart disease or blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, stomach problems, or other skin conditions
• if you have had x-ray or grenz ray therapy, or arsenic or radiation therapy

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Methoxsalen . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Hydantoins (eg, phenytoin) because the effectiveness of Methoxsalen may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Methoxsalen may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Methoxsalen :

Use Methoxsalen as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Methoxsalen with low-fat food or milk.
• Take Methoxsalen before UVA exposure according to your doctor"s instructions. The amount of time you take Methoxsalen before UVA exposure depends on the condition being treated.
• If nausea occurs, take Methoxsalen in 2 divided doses 30 minutes apart.
• If you miss a dose of Methoxsalen , check with your doctor because it may be necessary to reschedule your light therapy.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Methoxsalen .

Important safety information:

• Methoxsalen may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Methoxsalen . Using Methoxsalen alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Different brands of this drug are not interchangeable because they have significant differences in how they act in the body.
• Do not sunbathe for at least 24 hours before receiving Methoxsalen and light therapy. After your treatment, avoid any exposure to sunlight for at least 8 hours. This includes indirect light through a window or on cloudy days. If you can not avoid exposure to sunlight, wear protective clothing, or use a sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or greater, as directed by your doctor. Protect all areas of the body, including lips, from sun exposure. Do not sunbathe or use a tanning booth without checking with your doctor and wait at least 48 hours after your treatment.
• Serious burns from either UV light or sunlight (even through a window glass) can occur if the recommended doses of Methoxsalen or exposure schedules are not maintained.
• To protect your eyes, wear special wrap-around sunglasses that absorb UVA during daylight hours for 24 hours after taking Methoxsalen . Regular sunglasses do not adequately protect your eyes because they allow light to enter from the side.
• You will need to have an eye exam before starting Methoxsalen . You will also need to have an eye exam once a year thereafter.
• Exposure to sunlight or UV radiation may cause early aging of the skin.
• During treatment with Methoxsalen and UVA light, wear total UVA absorbing/blocking goggles designed to provide maximal protection of the eyes.
• Protect stomach skin, breasts, genitals, and other sensitive areas for about one third of the exposure time until tanning occurs.Unless affected by disease, male genitals should be shielded.
• Be careful using Methoxsalen with other light-sensitizing medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: anthralin, coal tar and derivatives, griseofulvin, phenothiazines, nalidixic acid, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, halogenated salicylanilides, bacteriostatic soaps, staining dyes (eg, methylene blue, toluidine blue, rose bengal, methyl orange), sulfonamides, tetracyclines, or thiazide diuretics.
• LAB TESTS, including complete blood cell counts and liver and kidney function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Methoxsalen with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Use Methoxsalen with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Methoxsalen during pregnancy. It is unknown if Methoxsalen is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Methoxsalen , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Methoxsalen :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Depression; dizziness; headache; itching; leg cramps; nausea; nervousness; redness of the skin; trouble sleeping; upset stomach.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blistering; burns on the treated area from overexposure to UVA or sunlight; severe swelling or redness of the skin; swelling of the feet or lower legs; tenderness.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Methoxsalen at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Methoxsalen out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Methoxsalen , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Methoxsalen is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Methoxsalen . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.