Verteporfin for injection

Product Description

Why is this medication prescribed?

Verteporfin injection is used in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT; treatment with a laser light) to treat abnormal growth of leaky blood vessels in the eye caused by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD; an ongoing disease of the eye that causes loss of the ability to see straight ahead and may make it more difficult to read, drive, or perform other daily activities), pathologic myopia (a serious form of nearsightedness that worsens with time), or histoplasmosis (a fungal infection) of the eye. Verteporfin is in a class of medications called photosensitizing agents. When verteporfin is activated by light, it closes up the leaking blood vessels.

How should this medicine be used?

Verteporfin injection comes as a solid powder cake to be made into a solution to be injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor. Verteporfin is usually infused over 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes after the start of the verteporfin infusion, your doctor will administer a special laser light to your eye. If both of your eyes need treatment, the doctor will administer the laser light to your second eye immediately after the first eye. If you have never used verteporfin before and both your eyes need treatment, the doctor will treat only one eye with the laser light on your first visit. If you do not have any serious problems due to the treatment, the doctor will treat your second eye 1 week later with another verteporfin infusion and laser light treatment.

Visudyne Injection is used to treat eye conditions such as wet form of macular degeneration.

Visudyne Injection is administered under the supervision of healthcare professionals. Do not self administer this injection. Inform your doctor before taking this injection, if you have any known allergy to it. The common side effects include injection site reaction (pain, swelling, redness) and visual disturbances.

However, if you experience these side effects for a longer duration or any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, please inform your doctor. Caution is advised for driving after administration of this injection, as side effects may cause difficulty for eyes to concentrate and react.

USES OF VISUDYNE POWDER FOR INJECTION

Wet age-related macular degeneration

BENEFITS OF VISUDYNE POWDER FOR INJECTION

In Wet age-related macular degeneration

Macula is the part of the retina responsible for central vision. Wet age-related macular degeneration is an eye disorder that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in your visual field due to abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid or blood into the macula. This leads to vision problems. Visudyne Injection helps prevent leakage of such abnormal blood vessels and therefore prevents vision loss. It is given as an injection by a doctor or nurse and should not be self-administered.

SIDE EFFECTS OF VISUDYNE POWDER FOR INJECTION

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Visudyne

Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness)

Visual impairment

HOW TO USE VISUDYNE POWDER FOR INJECTION

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

Your doctor will examine your eyes 3 months after verteporfin and PDT treatment to decide whether you need another treatment.