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|Visudyne

Visudyne

Visudyne is used for:

Treating macular degeneration, pathologic myopia, and presumed histoplasmosis infection of the eye. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

It works by causing clotting in the blood vessels of the eye, which decreases damage already done in the eye.

Do NOT use Visudyne if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Visudyne
• you have the blood disease porphyria

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

Before using Visudyne :

Some medical conditions may interact with Visudyne . 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 liver problems or a blockage of your bile duct
• if you are undergoing radiation therapy

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

• Calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil), griseofulvin, phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole), sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide), tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline), or thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide) because the side effects of Visudyne may be increased
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, beta-carotene (eg, vitamin A), dimethyl sulfoxide, formate, or mannitol because the effectiveness of Visudyne may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Visudyne 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 Visudyne :

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

• Visudyne is usually administered as an injection at your doctor"s office, hospital, or clinic.
• If you miss a dose of Visudyne , contact your doctor right away.

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

Important safety information:

• Visudyne may cause blurred vision or other vision changes. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Visudyne . Using Visudyne alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Visudyne causes sensitivity to bright light for 5 days following treatment. Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, tanning booths, bright halogen lighting, and all other bright, indoor light for 5 days following treatment with Visudyne . Use of a sunscreen is not effective protection. Wear protective clothing over all skin and dark sunglasses if you must be outside, even for a short period of time.
• Avoid getting Visudyne on the skin or in the eyes.
• Avoid surgery or dental procedures during the 5 days following infusion of Visudyne .
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Visudyne .
• Use Visudyne with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Visudyne , discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Visudyne during pregnancy. It is unknown if Visudyne is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Visudyne , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Visudyne :

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:

Blurred vision or other vision changes; headache; mild discomfort or redness at the injection site.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); pain or swelling at the injection site; sensitivity to bright light lasting more than 5 days after your dose; severe vision changes or vision loss; skin rash or severe sunburn.

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.

Visudyne is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Visudyne at home, store Visudyne as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Visudyne out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Visudyne , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Visudyne 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 Visudyne . 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.