METHOXSALEN
(meth OX a len) Brand: 8-Mop, Oxsoralen-Ultra
What is the most significant information I must know about methoxsalen?
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to methoxsalen, if you have a condition that makes you more sensitive to easy (lupus, porphyria, albinism, and others), or if you have a history of skin cancer or hurt to the lenses of your eyes due to surgery, injury, or genetic condition.
• Till taking methoxsalen, speak your doctor if you have heart malady, kidney or liver malady, a history of cataracts, a skin pigment mess, if you are extremely sensitive to sunlight, if you have ever received radiation or x-ray therapy, or if you have recently gained or lost weight.
• After taking methoxsalen and receiving UVA treatment, you should protect your eyes and skin from natural sunlight (even sun shining through a window). You may develop cataracts if you do not properly protect your eyes after you are treated with methoxsalen and UVA treatment.
• Call your doctor at once if you have severe skin redness within 24 hours after UVA treatment, or if you have any severe effects on your skin such as swelling, itching, discomfort, blisters, or severe rash.
• There are much another drugs that can interact with methoxsalen, including drugs applied to the skin. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
What is methoxsalen?
• Methoxsalen is a naturally occurring stuff that is reactive to easy. It works by enhancing the body's sensitivity to ultraviolet easy A (UVA).
• Methoxsalen is used in combination with UVA easy therapy to treat severe psoriasis.
• Methoxsalen is generally given after another psoriasis medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.
• Methoxsalen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
What must I discuss with my health care provider till taking methoxsalen?
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to methoxsalen, or if you have:
· a history of skin cancer;
· lupus, porphyria, albinism, or another conditions that create you more sensitive to easy; or
· hurt to the lenses of your eyes caused by surgery, injury, or genetic condition.
• Before your UVA treatment: Do not expose your skin to sunlight for at least 24 hours till you take methoxsalen. Avoid applying sunscreen to areas of psoriasis that will be treated with UVA therapy.
• You may need to have your eyes examined till you start taking methoxsalen.
• To create certain you can safely take methoxsalen, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· kidney disease;
· liver disease;
· a history of cataracts;
· a skin pigment disorder;
· if you are extremely sensitive to sunlight;
· if you have ever received radiation or x-ray therapy; or
· if you have recently gained or lost weight.
• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether methoxsalen will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
• It is not known whether methoxsalen passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using methoxsalen.
How must I take methoxsalen?
• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Taking too many methoxsalen can reason your skin to be overly sensitive to easy, and severe sunburn may result.
• Take this medicine with low-fat food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
• The methoxsalen soft gelatin capsule is more easily absorbed in the body than the heavy gelatin capsule. For this cause, you may be sensitive to UVA treatment more quickly after taking the soft gelatin capsule.
• Methoxsalen is generally taken 90 minutes to 2 hours till you are scheduled to receive UVA treatment. The timing of your medicine may depend on whether you are taking the soft gelatin capsule or the heavy gelatin capsule. You may need to hold taking methoxsalen once each another day after your UVA treatment.
• Methoxsalen will create your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result, which could interfere with your psoriasis treatment.
• For at least 8 hours after you take methoxsalen:
· Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds.
· Even sunlight shining through clouds or through a glass window can expose you to deleterious UV rays.
· Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) when you are outdoors or around a window.
· Do not apply sunscreen to areas of active psoriasis that will be treated with UVA therapy.
• For 24 to 48 hours after you receive UVA treatment:
· You should protect your skin and eyes from natural sunlight (even sun shining through a window).
· Wear sunglasses for at least 24 hours after treatment.
· For utmost protection, wear a pair of wraparound UVA-absorbing sunglasses, even while you are indoors around a window.
· Do not expose your skin to sunlight or tanning beds for at least 48 hours. Wear protective clothing including a hat and gloves. Use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, and apply it to all uncovered skin areas exposed to light.
• You may develop cataracts if you do not properly protect your eyes after you are treated with methoxsalen and UVA treatment.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about applying topical psoriasis medications or any moisturizing lotions after your methoxsalen and UVA treatment.
• While taking methoxsalen, check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer, such as a little growth or nodule, a scaly or crusted lesion, a brownish spot or speckles, or a change in the size, color, or feel of a mole. After receiving UVA treatments, you may need to check your skin for signs of cancer throughout the rest of your life.
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your methoxsalen doze or forget to take the medication within 90 minutes to 2 hours till your scheduled UVA treatment.
• The timing of when you take methoxsalen is very significant in relation to UVA treatment. Therefore, you may need to reschedule your easy therapy appointment if you have not taken methoxsalen at the proper time beforehand.
What happens if I overdose?
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. You will be extremely sensitive to easy after an overdose.
What must I avoid while taking methoxsalen?
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays another than your scheduled easy therapy treatments.
What are the possible side effects of methoxsalen?
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Methoxsalen is expected to manufacture skin redness that may not occur before different hours after your UVA treatment. This redness may recent for 2 or 3 days. You may also have slight swelling. These are usual effects of the medicine and UVA treatment.
• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
· severe skin redness within 24 hours after UVA treatment;
· severe itching, swelling, or severe skin discomfort;
· blisters, pimples, or skin rash;
· blurred vision, eye pain, or seeing "halos" near lights;
· feeling like you might pass out; or
· worsening of your psoriasis.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· mild skin redness, itching, or tenderness;
· nausea;
· depressed mood;
· feeling nervous;
· sleep problems (insomnia);
· cool sores;
· headache, dizziness; or
· leg pain.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What another drugs will affect methoxsalen?
• Speak your doctor about all medications you use now or have used in the past (including those applied to the skin), especially:
· arsenic trioxide (Trisenox);
· anthralin (Drithrocreme, Micanol);
· a bacteriostatic soap;
· coal tar (Betatar Gel, Denorex, Fototar, Ionil T, MG217, Neutrogena T/Gel or T/Derm, Tegrin Medicated Soap, and others);
· griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin);
· nalidixic acid (NegGram);
· a staining paint such as methylene blue, toluene blue, rose bengal, or methyl orange;
· a sulfa drug (Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim, SMX-TMP, and others);
· a diuretic (water pill) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and others;
· an antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and others;
· a tetracycline antibiotic such as doxycycline (Doryx, Oracea, Periostat, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn), or tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap); or
· phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Pentazine, Phenergan, Anergan, Antinaus), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine).
• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with methoxsalen. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about methoxsalen.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
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