Methoxsalen (On the skin)
meth-OX-a-len
Treats vitiligo (skin disease). Used along with ultraviolet light found in sunlight and some special lamps.
Drug classes
Antipsoriatic, Hypopigmentation Agent (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Methoxsalen belongs to the group of medicines called psoralens. It is used along with ultraviolet light (found in sunlight and some special lamps) in a treatment called psoralen plus ultraviolet light A (PUVA) to treat vitiligo, a disease in which skin color is lost. Methoxsalen may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Methoxsalen is available only with a prescription and is to be administered by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, topical methoxsalen is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Alopecia areata
Inflammatory dermatoses
Mycosis fungoides
Need to increase tolerance of skin to sunlight
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Lotion
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using medicines such as anthralin, coal tar, griseofulvin, or phenothiazines (Compazine®, Phenergan®).
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a sulfa drug (such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Bactrim®, Cotrim®, or Septra®). Tell your doctor if you also use nalidixic acid, or tetracyclines such as doxycycline, minocycline, Minocin®, or Vibramycin®.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using antiseptic soaps, diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Maxide®), or certain organic staining dyes such as methylene blue, toluidine blue, rose bengal, or methyl orange.
Do not put cosmetics or skin care products on the treated skin.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to methoxsalen, or to other psoralen compounds. You should not use this medicine if you have melanoma, skin cancer, or if you have a disease with extreme sensitivity to sunlight (such as porphyria, lupus).
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
Do not use this medicine to treat a skin problem your doctor has not examined.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Severe burns of the treated area of your skin.
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Blistering of your skin.
Mild skin rash.
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Oxsoralen, Ultramop
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
