Uvadex

Uvadex along with ultraviolet A light is used in the treatment of and mycosis fungoides (white blood cell lymphoma).

Uvadex belongs to a group called psoralen. Uvadex (a psoralen) and ultraviolet A together treats white blood cells (WBC) in the blood, a process called photopheresis.

These treated WBCs helps to control skin problems associated with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system.

It is available in the form of solution or injection, given only by your doctor or under his/her supervision.

If you are about to start Uvadex, speak with your doctor about what you need to know.

Before starting the treatment your doctor should be informed about condition such as:

Allergy: Inform your doctor if you are allergic to any food, preservatives, dyes, or had an allergic reaction when you used this drug before.

Children: Methoxsalen should not be used in children younger than 12 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Elderly: It should be used with caution as they may be more sensitive to its effects.

Pregnancy: It is a category C drug. It is not safe in pregnancy. It may cause harm and abnormalities in an unborn baby.

Breast Feeding: There are no adequate studies which prove that Methoxsalen passes into breast milk or not. If you are using Methoxsalen while nursing, discuss it with your doctor for possible risk factors.

Drug Interactions: Methoxsalen may interact with other drugs. Your doctor should be informed of any other medicines which you are taking. He/she may want to change the dosage or drug. Some of them are listed below:

• Phenytoin
• Anagrelide
• Clozapine
• Pirfenidone
• Tegafur
• Fosphenytoin

Other Medical Problem: Several other conditions may reduce its effectiveness.

Make sure you inform your doctor of conditions such as:

• Skin diseases
• Infections
• Heart or blood vessel disease
• Fair skinned
• History of coal tar UV treatment
• History of ionizing radiation
• History of arsenic compounds or oral psoralen UVA treatment.
• Lupus erythematosus
• Porphyria
• Skin cancer
• Eye diseases (cataract)
• Liver disease

Proper usage of Uvadex requires strict adherence to your doctor’s orders. A doctor or a trained health professional will inject this medicine through a needle into your vein.

Dosage: It is different for different patients. You must follow your doctor’s command.

Before using Uvadex, there are some precautions you must take. Your doctor should check your daily progress at regular visits. He/she may want a blood or urine test to check for unwanted effects.

Avoid sun exposure for at least 24 hours before and 8 hours after the treatment. It includes indirect light through a window or on cloudy days.

Wear protective clothing, or use a sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or greater, if you cannot avoid the sun. Protect all areas of the body, including lips, from sun exposure. Use extra caution for at least 72 hours following each treatment if you plan to spend any time in the sun.

The treated area of skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight. Serious sunburn can occur even through a window glass or on cloudy days.

Protect your eyes during daylight with special wraparound sunglasses that totally block absorption of ultraviolet light at least 24 hours after you take this medicine. It protects from cataracts. Wear even in indirect light, such as light coming through window glass or on a cloudy day.

Make sure you meet with your doctor in using Uvadex to avoid unwanted potential side effects. Some people may experience none or minor side effects.

Consult with your doctor if they become problematic or frequent:

More common are:

• Dryness or redness of the skin
• Skin itching
• skin sores
• new skin growths,
• Premature aging of the skin
• Skin cancers

Symptoms of overdose are:

• Fever
• Blistering and peeling of skin
• Reddened, sore skin

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.