Methoxsalen, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: psoralen

Generic and brand names: methoxsalen, injection; Uvadex

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma (a kind of skin cancer) in people who have not responded to other treatment.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• an allergy to any medicine or to sunlight
• albinism
• eye problems such as aphakia (loss of the lens of the eye) or cataracts
• heart or liver disease
• skin cancer
• skin diseases such as porphyria, acute lupus erythematosus, and xeroderma pigmentosum that make your skin sensitive to light.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had arsenic therapy, radiation treatment, or X-rays. You may be more sensitive to this treatment.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

These infusions are given by your healthcare provider. White blood cells are collected from your blood using an intravenous (IV) tube. This medicine is injected into the bag that contains the white blood cells and then the cells are exposed to ultraviolet light. The treated blood cells are then returned to you through the IV.

Your skin will start to heal after a few weeks, but significant improvement may take 6 to 9 months of treatments.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly. If you do not understand any part of this treatment, ask your healthcare provider to explain.

What should I watch out for?

This is a very powerful medicine and treatment. Serious burns can result if this medicine is not used properly, or if you are overexposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning beds or booths.

Avoid exposure to the sun, even on a cloudy day or through windows, for at least 24 hours before and 48 hours after treatment. If you cannot avoid sun exposure, wear protective clothing, such as a hat and gloves, and sunscreen lotion of at least SPF 15 on all exposed skin, including your lips. Sunscreen should not be used on areas of your skin that are to be treated.

Wear wrap-around ultraviolet sunglasses during daylight for at least 24 hours after treatment. This is very important to protect your eyes from cataracts.

You will need to have lab tests and eye exams regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious: Report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe burns, severe blistering and peeling of the skin, swelling in your feet and legs, vision problems.

Other: Minor blistering or irritation of the skin.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking or using:

• anthralin (Psoriatec, Anthra-derm, Dithranol, Drithocreme, Micanol Cream)
• antibacterial soaps
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin, Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin, (Floxin), and trovafloxacin (Trovan)
• coal tar products such as coal tar bath solution, shampoos, and lotions
• griseofulvin (Fulvicin U/F, Fulvicin P/G, Grifulvin, Grisactin, Grisactin-Ultra, Gris-Peg)
• nalidixic acid (NegGram)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), thioridazine, promethazine (Phenergan), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• sulfa drugs such as sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol, Bactrim, Septra)
• tetracyclines such as Achromycin V, Sumycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, Doryx), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin), oxytetracycline (Terramycin)
• thiazide diuretics (water pills) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), hydroflumethiazide (Saluron), methyclothiazide (Enduron), and polythiazide (Renese, Minizide)

Avoid foods such as carrots, celery, figs, limes, mustard, parsley, and parsnips while you are taking this medicine. They may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.