Verteporfin: Uses, indications and precautions when using

Verteporfin is used concurrently with laser light therapy to treat certain eye conditions (eg, macular degeneration, pathological myopia, ocular skin tissue disease). After you receive the injection, your doctor will use a laser light treatment on the affected eye(s).

Verteporfin is a solid powder that is made into a solution for intravenous injection. Verteporfin is usually given over 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes after starting the infusion, your doctor will shine a special laser into your eye. If both of your eyes need treatment, your doctor will shine a laser into your second eye right after the first. If you have never used Verteporfin before and both of your eyes need treatment, your doctor will treat only one eye with laser light during your first visit. If there aren't any serious problems, your doctor will treat your second eye 1 week later. Your doctor will examine your eyes 3 months after treatment with Verteporfin to decide if you need another treatment regimen.
Wear a bracelet for 5 days after injecting this medicine to notify other health care professionals that you have been treated with this medicine and to remind you to avoid bright light (e.g. halogen lights) and direct sunlight. However, do not stay completely dark after treatment. You should expose your skin to indirect/indoor light regularly as doing so will help prevent any medications in the skin from damaging skin cells.
Avoid contact with eyes and skin of this medication during preparation and handling. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection if you handle this medication. Accidental spills should be cleaned up with a damp cloth and handled properly.

When using Verteporfin injection site reactions (eg, pain, redness, irritation, swelling), headache, fatigue or blurred vision may occur.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: chest pain, fainting, sweating, eye pain, sudden vision changes.

Before injecting Verteporfin:
Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Verteporfin, any other medicines or any of the ingredients in Verteporfin injection Tell your doctor if you are confused porphyria (a condition that causes photosensitivity). Tell your doctor if you are being treated with radiation therapy and if you have ever had gallbladder or liver disease. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what medicines you are taking, especially these: anticoagulants; antihistamines ; aspirin, other pain relievers; beta carotene; calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, and verapamil; diuretic; griseofulvin; medicines for diabetes, mental illness and nausea; polymyxin B; sulfa antibiotics; and tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline and tetracycline. If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, within 5 days of your Verteporfin infusion, tell your doctor or dentist that you have used this medicine. You should know that Verteporfin can cause vision problems. Talk to your doctor about testing your vision at home during your treatment. This medicine will make you more sensitive to the sun and bright lights in the house. Avoid exposure to the sun, halogen lamps, high-powered indoor lights used in operating rooms, dental clinics, solariums, and sunlight for at least 5 days after injection. this drug. Wear protective clothing and sunglasses when outdoors.

Some drugs that can interact with Verteporfin include: antioxidants (eg, beta carotene, mannitol, dimethylsulfoxide-DMSO), anticoagulants (eg, aspirin, ticlopidine, warfarin), polymyxins B.
Verteporfin Injection is used in combination with photodynamic therapy (treatment with laser light) to treat eye conditions. To ensure the effectiveness of the treatment, the patient must strictly follow the instructions of the doctor.

Reference source: webmd.com