Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Share by Email
Print
Visudyne Generic Name & Formulations
Legal Class
Rx
General Description
Verteporfin 15mg/vial; pwd for IV inj after reconstitution and dilution.
Pharmacological Class
Light-activated drug.
How Supplied
Single-use vial—1
Manufacturer
Generic Availability
NO
Visudyne Indications
Indications
Treatment of patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration, pathologic myopia or presumed ocular histoplasmosis.
Visudyne Dosage and Administration
Adult
See full labeling regarding lesion size determination, spot size determination, light administration, and concurrent bilateral treatment. Use largest arm vein possible for inj; avoid small veins of the back of the hand. Give by IV infusion over 10mins at a rate of 3mL/min. Usual dose: 6mg/m2. After infusion, the second step is activation of verteporfin with light from a nonthermal diode laser. Reevaluate every 3 months and if choroidal neovascular leakage is detected on fluorescein angiography, therapy should be repeated.
Children
Not established.
Visudyne Contraindications
Contraindications
Porphyria.
Visudyne Boxed Warnings
Not Applicable
Visudyne Warnings/Precautions
Warnings/Precautions
Avoid sunlight or bright indoor light exposure of skin or eyes for 5 days after injection. If severe decrease of vision of ≥4 lines within 1 week after treatment, do no retreat; wait until vision recovers to pretreatment levels. Use of incompatible lasers could result in incomplete treatment. Discontinue immediately if extravasation, anaphylactic or other allergic reaction occurs; treat appropriately. Moderate to severe hepatic impairment. Biliary obstruction. Elderly. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers: not recommended.
Visudyne Pharmacokinetics
See Literature
Visudyne Interactions
Interactions
Calcium channel blockers, polymyxin B, radiation therapy: may enhance rate of verteporfin uptake by vascular endothelium. Increased risk of photosensitivity reactions with concomitant photosensitizing agents (eg, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, phenothiazines, sulfonylureas, thiazides, griseofulvin). May be antagonized by dimethyl sulfoxide, β-carotene, ethanol, formate, mannitol, drugs that decrease clotting, vasoconstriction, or platelet aggregation (eg, thromboxane A2 inhibitors).
Visudyne Adverse Reactions
Adverse Reactions
Inj site reactions (eg, pain, edema, inflammation, extravasation, rash, hemorrhage, discoloration), visual disturbances (eg, blurred vision, flashes of light, decreased visual acuity, visual field defects including scotoma); others.
Visudyne Clinical Trials
See Literature
Visudyne Note
Not Applicable
Visudyne Patient Counseling
See Literature
