Generic Name: aminolevulinic acid (a MEE no le vue lih nick)
Brand Names: Levulan Kerastick
What is aminolevulinic acid?
Aminolevulinic acid causes skin cells to become much more sensitive to certain types of light. Skin cells treated with aminolevulinic acid and exposed to a special light die and then slough off.
Aminolevulinic acid is used to treat warty overgrowths of skin (actinic keratoses) on sun-exposed areas of the face and scalp. Treatment involves application of aminolevulinic acid, followed 14 to 18 hours later by exposure to a special blue light.
Aminolevulinic acid may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about aminolevulinic acid?
Only a qualified doctor or other healthcare professional should apply aminolevulinic acid. Aminolevulinic acid is not intended for application by the patient.
After aminolevulinic acid has been applied, wear sunlight-protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat or similar head covering. Sunscreens will not protect you. Avoid exposure to sunlight or bright indoor light (examination lamps, operating room lamps, tanning beds, or very close lights). If you experience stinging or burning of the treated skin, reduce your exposure to light. It has not been determined if perspiration can spread aminolevulinic acid outside the treatment site to the eyes or surrounding skin.
Who should not use aminolevulinic acid?
Before using aminolevulinic acid, tell your doctor if you have
porphyria, or
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder.
You may not be able to use aminolevulinic acid, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment.
Aminolevulinic acid is the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether aminolevulinic acid will harm an unborn baby. Do not use aminolevulinic acid without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. It is unknown whether aminolevulinic acid passes into breast milk. Do not use aminolevulinic acid without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I use aminolevulinic acid?
Only a qualified doctor or other healthcare professional should apply aminolevulinic acid. Aminolevulinic acid is not intended for application by the patient.
Your doctor or other health care professional will prepare the aminolevulinic acid solution in the applicator. Aminolevulinic acid solution application will be completed within 2 hours of preparation.
Application of aminolevulinic acid involves either scalp or face lesions, but not both at the same time. It will be applied directly to the individual areas and not to the surrounding skin.
After aminolevulinic acid has been applied, wear sunlight-protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat or similar head covering. Sunscreens will not protect you. Avoid exposure to sunlight or bright indoor light (examination lamps, operating room lamps, tanning beds, or very close lights). If you experience stinging or burning of the treated skin, reduce your exposure to light. It has not been determined if perspiration can spread aminolevulinic acid outside the treatment site to the eyes or surrounding skin.
Fourteen to eighteen hours after application of aminolevulinic acid, you must return to the doctor's office to receive a special blue light treatment. Prior to the blue light treatment, the lesions will be rinsed with water. You will be given special goggles to wear during the treatment which will last about 17 minutes. The blue light is of low intensity and will not heat the skin. However, you may experience tingling, stinging, prickling, or burning of the treated skin. These feelings of discomfort should improve at the end of the light treatment.
Following the treatment, you will experience some redness, swelling, and scaling of the lesions, and to some degree, the surrounding skin. These changes are temporary and should completely resolve by 4 weeks after treatment. If these side effects are excessive, talk to your doctor.
Aminolevulinic acid and light treatment is usually done once to each area with lesions. The procedure may be repeated after 8 weeks on lesions that have not completely resolved.
Store aminolevulinic acid at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
If for any reason you cannot return for the blue light treatment during the prescribed period of time after application of the aminolevulinic acid solution, call your doctor. Also, continue to avoid exposure of the treated areas to sunlight or prolonged or intense light for at least 40 hours. If you experience stinging or burning of the treated area(s), reduce your exposure to light.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of this medication is unlikely to occur. If you do suspect an overdose, or if aminolevulinic acid has been ingested, call an emergency room or poison control center near you. Avoid exposure to intense light sources for at least 40 hours.
What should I avoid while using aminolevulinic acid?
After aminolevulinic acid has been applied, wear sunlight-protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat or similar head covering. Sunscreens will not protect you. Avoid exposure to sunlight or bright indoor light (examination lamps, operating room lamps, tanning beds, or very close lights). If you experience stinging or burning of the treated skin, reduce your exposure to light. It has not been determined if perspiration can spread aminolevulinic acid outside the treatment site to the eyes or surrounding skin.
Aminolevulinic acid side effects
Serious side effects are not likely to occur. Stop using aminolevulinic acid and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives).
You may experience some tingling, stinging, prickling, or burning of the area treated with aminolevulinic acid during the special light treatment. These feelings of discomfort should improve at the end of the light treatment. Following treatment, you will experience some redness, swelling, and scaling of the lesions, and to some degree, the surrounding skin. These changes are temporary and should completely resolve by 4 weeks after treatment. If these side effects are excessive, talk to your doctor.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect aminolevulinic acid?
Before treatment with aminolevulinic acid, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Grisactin, others);
an oral diabetes medicine such as glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase, others), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others;
a phenothiazine including chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon), mesoridazine (Serentil), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others;
a sulfa drug (sulfonamide) such as sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol, others), sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra, Septra DS, others), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), and others;
a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin), minocycline (Minocin), doxycycline (Monodox, Doryx, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs), and others; or
a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Esidrix, Oretic, Microzide, others), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), chlorothiazide (Diuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and others.
You may not be able to use aminolevulinic acid, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with aminolevulinic acid. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
More aminolevulinic acid resources
- Aminolevulinic acid Side Effects (in more detail)
- Aminolevulinic acid Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Aminolevulinic acid Drug Interactions
- Aminolevulinic acid Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Aminolevulinic acid - Add your own review/rating
Compare aminolevulinic acid with other medications
- Actinic Keratosis
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has additional information about aminolevulinic acid written for health professionals that you may read.
See also: aminolevulinic acid side effects (in more detail)
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