Aminolevulinic acid (On the skin)

Introduction:

Aminolevulinic Acid (a-mee-noe-lev-ue-LIN-ik AS-id)

Treats wart-like lesions (actinic keratoses) on the face or scalp.

Brand Name(s):

Levulan Kerastick

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Stick

• You will receive this medicine in a clinic or doctor's office.
• A nurse or other caregiver will apply the medicine. The next day, or several hours later, you will be treated with a special blue light.
• After treatment with this medicine, stay out of the sun or bright light as much as possible. Wear protective clothing when going outside.
• During the blue light treatment, you will be given special goggles to wear to protect your eyes.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Be sure your doctor knows if you are using griseofulvin (Fulvicin®), diuretics (water pills), tetracycline antibiotics, sulfa drugs (Bactrim®, Septra®), prochlorperazine (Compazine®), or diabetes medicine taken by mouth (DiaBeta®, Glipizide®, Glucotrol®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before receiving this medicine.
• During the blue light treatment you may feel stinging, tingling, prickling, or burning of the lesions, but this should go away after the treatment.
• Redness, scaling, and swelling may occur but should clear up after 4 weeks of treatment.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Bleeding, blistering, or oozing of treated areas

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Changes in color of treated skin
• Itching
• Stinging, burning, tingling

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: