Verteporfin
Generic name: verteporfin [ VER-te-PORE-fin ]
Brand name: Visudyne
Dosage form: intravenous powder for injection (15 mg)
Drug class:Miscellaneous antineoplastics
What is verteporfin?
Verteporfin works by enhancing the eye's sensitivity to light. Verteporfin affects abnormal blood vessels in the eye.
Verteporfin is used together with "photodynamic" laser light therapy to treat blood vessel disorders in the eye caused by macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
Verteporfin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You should not receive verteporfin if you have porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system).
Before taking this medicine
You should not receive verteporfin if you are allergic to it, or if you have porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system).
To make sure verteporfin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
if you are receiving radiation treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether verteporfin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
Verteporfin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using verteporfin.
How is verteporfin given?
Verteporfin is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. Verteporfin must be given slowly, and the IV infusion can take at least 10 minutes to complete.
Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when verteporfin is injected.
You will receive laser light treatment to your eye(s) within 15 minutes after the start of your verteporfin infusion.
After receiving verteporfin, you must protect your eyes from natural sunlight and bright indoor light for at least 5 days.. For best protection, wear dark sunglasses whenever you are outdoors or while indoors under bright lighting.
You should not stay in the dark while you are indoors, as this can actually cause the drug to stay active in your body longer. It is best to spend your time in ambient indoor light such as indirect sunlight through a window, or low-wattage incandescent lighting. Avoid areas where you will be exposed to halogen or fluorescent light.
Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any sched...
