TRISORALEN

Drug Name: TRISORALEN

TRISORALEN DESCRIPTION:
TRIOXSALEN - ORAL (try-OCK-sull-in)

COMMON TRISORALEN BRAND NAME(S):
Trisoralen

TRISORALEN SIDE EFFECTS:
Nausea, stomach upset, headache, skin tenderness, nervousness, swelling of the hands or feet, leg cramps, skin rash, skin burns or itching may occur. Notify your doctor if any of these effects is severe or continues. Use of TRISORALEN has been associated with increased risk of eye damage, skin aging and skin cancer. Discus the risks and benefits of this therapy with your doctor. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

HOW TO USE TRISORALEN:
TRISORALEN: Take TRISORALEN by mouth as directed with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. It is usually taken 2 to 4 hours before exposure to UV light. Do not increase your dose or take this more often than prescribed.

TRISORALEN WARNING:
Because serious side effects could occur during treatment with trioxsalen (eye lens damage, other skin problems), patients must be carefully selected and be under close medical supervision.

TRISORALEN USES:
TRISORALEN is a photosensitizer used to increase skin tolerance to sunlight and enhance pigmentation. It darkens the skin and thickens skin layers. It is used with UV light therapy.

TRISORALEN PRECAUTIONS:
Tell your doctor if you have any liver disease, eye problems, heart disease, history of cancer, porphyria or if you have any allergies. TRISORALEN should be used only if clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known if TRISORALEN is found in breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

TRISORALEN DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription medication you may take especially: sulfa or tetracycline antibiotics, water pills, griseofulvin, phenothiazines, coal tar products. Ingestion of certain foods may increase the risk of side effects of TRISORALEN. Use them sparingly, if at all, during therapy: limes, figs, carrots, celery, mustard, parsnips, parsley. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

TRISORALEN OVERDOSE:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

TRISORALEN NOTES:
Follow your doctors instructions closely for UV light exposure. Overexposure to sunlight or sunlamp can result in severe burns.

MISSED TRISORALEN DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

TRISORALEN STORAGE:
Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) away from heat and light. Do not store in the bathroom.