Verteporfin
Description
Verteporfin is used together with laser light therapy for the treatment of a wet type of age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease characterized with an abnormal growth of leaky blood vessels in the eye which impairs central vision.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Verteporfin
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Eye pain
- Fainting
- Pale skin
- Irregular heartbeat
- Discoloration of skin
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Headache
Uses of Verteporfin
What is it prescribed for?
- Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Use of ethanol is not recommended along with Verteporfin because it can alter the desired effects of Verteporfin.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to verteporfin or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Porphyria
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a condition called porphyria which is a rare disorder resulting in the accumulation of porphyrin in the body.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings
Liver impairment
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of liver function tests is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Light exposure
It is advised not to get exposed to sunlight or bright indoor lights for 2 to 5 days after the therapy with this medicine due to the risk of adverse effects.
Kidney impairment
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of kidney function tests, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Use in children
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 18 years of age since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.
Visual disturbances
This medicine may cause temporary visual disturbances in some patients on therapy. It is advised that you do not perform any activities that require high mental alertness like driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you experience any such symptoms.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very less. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Use of ethanol is not recommended along with Verteporfin because it can alter the desired effects of Verteporfin.
Interaction with Medicine
Amitriptyline
Acetazolamide
Ranibizumab
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Verteporfin gets activated by light and works by inhibiting the abnormal blood vessel formation and leakage within the eyes to prevent vision loss.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antineovascularisation Agents, Ocular Vascular Disorder Agents, Macular Degeneration Agents
Schedule
Schedule H
DailyMed - Visudyne- verteporfin for injection injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2019 [cited 28 March 2019]. Available from:
Verteporfin Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2019 [cited 28 March 2019]. Available from:
Visudyne 15 mg, powder for solution for infusion - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (eMC) [Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2019 [cited 28 March 2019]. Available from:
[Internet]. Accessdata.fda.gov. 2019 [cited 28 March 2019]. Available from:
Verteporfin - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2019 [cited 28 March 2019]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 28 May 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.