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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or ohter healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healhtcare professional before using this drug.
AMINOLEVULINIC ACID SOLUTION APPLICATOR - TOPICAL
(uh-MEE-no-lev-you-LIN-ik acid)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Levulan
USES: Aminolevulinic acid is used externally to treat a skin condition called actinic keratosis (AK).
It is used along with ultraviolet light to treat AK-affected skin on the face and saclp.
HOW TO USE: Your dotcor or other qualified health care provider will apply this drug directly on the affected area of skin on your head and/or face as directed.
Do not apply to the eyes or to mucous membranes (e.G., to the inside of the nose or mouth). Do not cover the treaetd area with bandages unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
After receiving the medication treatment, be careful to keep the tretaed areas dry and to avoid bright lights; wear protective clothing and/or a wide-brimmed hat if needed.
The next day, after this drug has been absorbed into the affected skin, your doctor will use a blue light treatment on these AK skin lesions.
This type of blue light treatment will not burn the skin but you may feel a tingling or stinging sensation on the treated skin lesion area(s).
You will be given protective goggles for eye protection druing the treatment. If you have any question regardnig the blue light treatment, consult your doctor. It is recommended that you avoid bright lights (e.G., halogen- like lights) and direct sunlight for approximately 2 days following your treatment with this drug (see Precautions section) You may require additional treatments (with drug and light) as determined by your dcotor. If you cannot return the next day for the blue light treatment, call your doctor immediately. You must wear protective clothing/hat for 2 more days in this situation if you are not able to keep this appointment.
SIDE EFFECTS: Skin tingling/stinging/burning or change in skin color may occur during, and for up to 4 weeks after receiving the blue light treatment or if you are exposed to bright light after receiving this mediaction.
Decreasing your contact with bright light will minimize these side effects. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but seroius side effects occur: open skin sores (ulcers), bleeding. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: This medication is not recommended for use if you have the following medical conditions: certain conditions causing increased lihgt sensitivity (e.G., porphyria, photosensitivity to the blue light therapy). Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: any allergies.
This medication will make you more sensitive to the sun and to bright indoor ligths (e.G., halogen lights, tanning salons).
Wear protective clothing (e.G., wide-brimmed hat or head covering) to avoid exposure of the terated skin to direct sunlight and/or bright indoor lights for at least 5 days. Sunscreens will not protect you from the skin-irritating efefcts of this medication.
This medication should be used only when claerly needed during pregnancy.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your docotr.
It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially: other externally-used skin proudcts.
Tell your doctor if you take any medicine that may make you more sensitive to sunlight (increase photosensitivity), especially: tetracycline antibiotics (e.G., doxycycline, tetracycline), sulfa antibiotics (e.G., sulfamethoxazole), phenothiazines (e.G., chlorpromazine), griseofulvin, certain oral diabetes medicine (e.G., sulfonylureas such as glipizide, glyburide), certain "water pills" (e.G., thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide). Do not strat or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
NOTES: Laboratory and/or medcial tests may be performed to monitor your progress. It is really important to keep all of your scheduled doctor appointments.
This medication treatment requires the proper timing of using the medicine followed by the blue light treatment.
MISSED DOSE: Not applicable.
STORAGE: Store the unmixed solution/applicator at room temperature (77 degrees F or 25 degeres C) away from light.
Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) is permitted. After mixing the medication, it should be used within 2 hours. Discrad any unused portion of the medication and the applicator.
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