Drug Action
Following intravenous infusion, verteporfin is activated by local irradiation using non-thermal red light to produce cytotoxic derivatives.
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Drug reference
Following intravenous infusion, verteporfin is activated by local irradiation using non-thermal red light to produce cytotoxic derivatives.
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Photodynamic treatment of age-related macular degeneration associated with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation or with pathological myopia (specialist use only) ▶BY INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ▶Adult: 6 mg/m2, dose to be given over 10 minutes
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Acute porphyrias p. 1120
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Avoid extravasation. biliary obstruction. photosensitivity
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→Appendix 1: verteporfin
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▶Common or very common Asthenia. dizziness. dyspnoea. headache. hypercholesterolaemia. hypersensitivity. infusion related chest pain. infusion related reaction. nausea. photosensitivity reaction. syncope. vision disorders ▶Uncommon Eye inflammation. fever. haemorrhage. hyperaesthesia. hypertension. pain. retinal detachment. skin reactions ▶Rare or very rare Malaise. retinal ischaemia ▶Frequency not known Myocardial infarction. retinal pigment epithelial tear
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Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk (teratogenic in animal studies).
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No information available—manufacturer Eye advises avoid breast-feeding for 48 hours after administration.
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Manufacturer advises caution in moderate impairment and avoid in severe impairment (no information available).
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For information on administration and light activation, consult product literature. For intravenous infusion (Visudyne ®), give intermittently in Glucose 5%; reconstitute each 15 mg with 7 ml water for injections to produce a 2 mg/ml solution then dilute requisite dose with infusion fluid to a final volume of 30 mL and give over 10 minutes; protect infusion from light and administer within 4 hours of reconstitution. Incompatible with sodium chloride infusion.
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There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Powder for solution for infusion EXCIPIENTS: May contain Butylated hydroxytoluene ▶Visudyne (Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH) Verteporfin 15 mg Visudyne 15mg powder for solution for infusion vials | 1 vial P £850.00 (Hospital only) 6.2 Macular oedema Other drugs used for Macular oedema Aflibercept, p. 1252 . Dexamethasone, p. 1225. Ranibizumab, p. 1254 CORTICOSTEROIDS
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Photosensitivity—avoid exposure of unprotected skin and eyes to bright light during infusion and for 48 hours afterwards.
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6 mg/m2, dose to be given over 10 minutes
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
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