Metvixia
Generic name:methyl aminolevulinate (topical) [ METH-il-a-MEE-noe-LEV-ue-LIN-ate ]
Drug class:Topical photochemotherapeutics
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 1, 2021.
The Metvixia brand name has been discontinued in the U.S. If generic versions of this product have been approved by the FDA, there may be generic equivalents available.
What is Metvixia?
Metvixia cream makes your skin more sensitive to light. It works by causing a reaction with light that can destroy certain types of diseased skin cells.
Metvixia cream is used in combination with red light therapy to treat to treat skin growths on the face and scalp called actinic keratosis of the face and scalp.
Metvixia cream is only used for actinic keratosis skin growths that are thin and not dark colored. Actinic keratosis skin growths are not cancer and are caused partly by too much sun exposure.
Warnings
You should not use Metvixia if you are allergic to porphyrins, peanuts or almonds, or if your skin is especially sensitive to light.
Before you are treated with Metvixia, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Also tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially drugs that can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, such as certain antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, diuretics (water pills), sulfa drugs, oral diabetes medications, or NSAID pain or arthritis medicines.
Metvixia is applied by a healthcare provider in a clinic setting. For at least 48 hours after your treatment, avoid exposing treated skin to sunlight, sunlamps, tanning beds, or other bright lights. Sunscreen is not effective enough to protect treated skin from harm caused by bring light during this time. Wear protective clothing whenever you are outdoors. Call your doctor at once if you have severe stinging, burning, redness, oozing, or swelling of treated skin areas, especially if you have these effects for longer than 3 weeks after treatment.
It may take several weeks before you notice improvement in your skin condition. Your doctor will need to check your treated skin 3 months after the end of your last treatment with Metvixia.
Your skin lesions may need to be treated more than once, and they may come back after treatment. Talk to your doctor about the number of treatments needed to treat your condition.
Before receiving this medicine
You should not use Metvixia cream if you are allergic to methyl aminolevulinate, or if you have:
an allergy to peanuts or almonds;
an allergy to porphyrins; or
if your skin is especially sensitive to light.
To make sure Metvixia is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
a bleeding disorder; or
a history of skin cancer or skin growths.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Metvixia will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
It is not known...
