Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride, Topical a-MEE-noh-le-voo-LIN-ik A-sid hy-droh-KLOR-ide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: photodynamic therapy

Generic and brand names: aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride, topical; ALA, topical; Levulan Kerastick

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat sores called actinic keratoses on the face or scalp. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• porphyria (nerve pain or sensitivity to sunlight)

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Your healthcare provider applies this medicine to your sores. Do not bandage the area where the cream is applied. Then 14 to 18 hours later you will have light therapy. In this procedure your sores are exposed to blue light from a Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator (BLU-U).

If you are not able to have the blue light therapy 14 to 18 hours after the medicine is applied, contact your healthcare provider.

This medicine is used on your face or scalp, but not both at one time.

Do not get any of the solution into your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Do not wash treated sores before your blue light treatment.

After 8 weeks, your healthcare provider will examine your sores. Any that have not healed may be treated again. The number of treatments you need will depend on how your sores heal.

What if I overdose?

An acute overdose of this medicine is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I watch out for?

After the application of the medicine and before exposure to the blue light, your sores will be sensitive to sunlight and bright indoor light. Stay away from light sources such as sunlamps and examination lamps. If you need to be outdoors, shade the treated sores with a wide-brimmed hat or umbrella. After you use this medicine, sunscreens will not protect your sores from sensitivity to light.

Continue to keep out of the sun and away from other bright light for 40 hours after your treatment. If your sores sting or burn, reduce your exposure to light even more, if possible.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are using this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Stinging or burning that become severe.

Other: Scaling, crusting, itching, redness, light or dark spots on your skin, wearing away of skin, pimples that are filled with pus, skin ulcers.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant drug interactions have been reported. However, it is possible that use of this medicine along with other medicines known to cause sensitivity to light may make your sores sting or burn even more in bright light. Some of these medicines are:

• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), demeclocycline, doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Monodox, Vibramycin), minocycline (Minocin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), oxytetracycline (Terramycin), and tetracycline
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), and meclizine (Antivert, Dramamine)
• diabetes medicine such as acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), tolazamide, and tolbutamide
• griseofulvin (Fulvicin-U/F, Grifulvin V, Gris-peg)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpropamide, fluphenazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, and thioridazine
• sulfonamides such as sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP, Bactrim, Septra, Co-trimoxazole)
• thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), and hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene (Dyazide, Maxzide)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.