Methoxsalen, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: psoralen

Generic and brand names: methoxsalen, oral; Oxsoralen-Ultra, 8-MOP, oral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat:

• psoriasis (a disease that turns patches of skin red and scaly)
• vitiligo (a disease that turns patches of skin smooth and white)
• cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma (skin cancer) in people who have not responded to other treatment.

It is used along with ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your health care provider if you have:

• eye problems such as aphakia (loss of the lens of the eye) or cataracts
• heart or liver disease
• an allergy to this medicine or to sunlight
• melanoma (skin cancer)
• skin diseases such as porphyria, acute lupus erythematosus, and xeroderma pigmentosum that make your skin sensitive to light.

Tell your health care provider if you have ever had radiation treatment or x-rays. You may be more sensitive to this treatment.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine, contact your health care provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed.

Be sure you understand how many capsules you must take and how soon you should take the medicine before each UV treatment. If you do not take this medicine at the correct time, tell your health care right away.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Your skin will start to heal after a few weeks, but significant improvement may take 6 to 9 months of treatments.

Follow your health care provider's instructions exactly. If you do not understand any part of this treatment, ask your health care provider to explain.

What should I watch out for?

This is a very powerful medicine and treatment. Serious burns can result if this medicine is not used properly, or if you are overexposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight.

Avoid exposure to the sun, even on a cloudy day or through windows, for at least 24 hours before and after treatment. If you cannot avoid sun exposure, wear protective clothing, such as a hat and gloves, and sunscreen lotion of at least SPF 15 on all exposed skin, including your lips. Sunscreen should not be used on areas of your skin that are to be treated.

Wear wrap-around ultraviolet sunglasses during daylight for 24 hours after treatment. This is very important to protect your eyes from cataracts.

You will need to have lab tests and eye exams regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

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 health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious: Report these to your health care provider right away): Severe burns, severe blistering and peeling of the skin, swelling in your feet and legs, vision problems.

Other: Nausea, itching, skin rash, nervousness, trouble sleeping, depression, dizziness, hives, leg cramps.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking or using:

• anthralin (Psoriatec, Anthra-derm, Dithranol, Drithocreme, Micanol Cream)
• antibacterial soaps
• griseofulvin (Fulvicin U/F, Fulvicin P/G, Grifulvin, Grisactin, Grisactin-Ultra, Gris-Peg)
• nalidixic acid (NegGram)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• sulfa drugs such as sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol, Bactrim, Septra)
• tetracyclines such as Achromycin V, Sumycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, Doryx), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin), oxytetracycline (Terramycin)
• thiazide diuretics (water pills) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Esidrix, Oretic), benzthiazide (Exna), bendroflumethiazide (Naturetin), hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin, Saluron), methyclothiazide (Aquatensen, Enduron), polythiazide (Renese), and trichlormethiazide (Diurese, Metahydrin, Naqua).

Avoid foods such as carrots, celery, figs, limes, mustard, parsley and parsnips while you are taking this medicine. They may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care 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 medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.