What is Metvixia?
The cream increases your skin's sensitivity to light. The cream works by creating a light reaction that destroys certain kinds of skin-damaged cells. The combination of metvixia and red light therapy is effective in treating skin cancers that appear on the scalp and face, also known as actinic keratosis.Metvixia is used only for thin, light-colored actinic skin lesions. Actinic keratosis is not a cancerous skin condition and can be caused by excessive sun exposure.
Warnings
Metvixia should be avoided if you have an allergy to peanuts, almonds, or porphyrins or if your skin is particularly sensitive to sunlight.Tell your doctor all your health conditions before you start Metvixia. Tell your doctor all of your medications. This includes any drugs that can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, including certain antibiotics.Metvixia can only be applied in the clinic by healthcare professionals. Avoid exposing the treated skin to bright light, sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds for at least 48 hours after treatment. In this period, sunscreen is ineffective at protecting treated skin against harm from bright light. When you're outdoors, wear protective clothing. If you experience severe burning, swelling, stinging, or redness in the treated area, call your doctor immediately.Your results may take several weeks to become visible.After your Metvixia treatment, your doctor must check the skin three months later.You may have to treat your skin lesions more than once, and they could return after treatment. Speak to your doctor to determine the number of treatment sessions needed for your particular condition.
Before you take this drug
Metvixia should not be used if:
- An allergy to almonds or peanuts.
- Porphyrin allergy;
- If your skin is particularly sensitive to the light,
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that metvixia will be safe for you:
- A bleeding disorder;
- A history of skin cancers or growths.
Metvixia is in FDA pregnancy category C. Unborn children do not face any known risks during gestation.. If you plan to get pregnant or are already pregnant, tell your doctor.There is no way to know if methyl aminolevulinate can pass into the breast milk or harm nursing babies. You should tell your doctor that you are breastfeeding a child.
How to take Metvixia?
Metvixia cream is used to treat skin lesions prior to receiving red light therapy. This medicine will be applied by a healthcare professional in a clinic setting. Your skin lesions are gently scraped before this medication is applied to remove scales and crusting. Your caregiver will apply Metvixia Cream and then cover the area treated with a bandage. This bandage must be left on for three hours. Avoid exposure to sunlight, cold temperatures, or indoor bright lights during this three-hour time period. If you have to be outside during these three hours, wear a wide-brimmed cap. You will then be able to remove any remaining medication with a solution of saline. Then you are ready for the light therapy. You will receive eye protection to shield your eyes from the red light during treatment. During light therapy, you may experience a mild stinging sensation or burning. If you experience any kind of discomfort, tell your caregivers.
Two sessions of red light and metvixia are usually scheduled, one week apart. You may have a different treatment plan. You should follow your doctor's advice. Your skin may take several weeks to show any improvement from Metvixia treatment, and after three months your physician must check it again.You may have to see your doctor more than once to get rid of your skin lesions.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for keratosis:
In immunocompetent individuals, apply directly to the lesion or lesions up to 1 gram of product (half tube). It is recommended to administer two sessions, one week apart. After cream application, AktiliteCL 128 red-light illumination should be used to activate the photoactivation.
Before applying Metvixia, use a dermal curette to remove crusts or scales from the affected area and roughen its surface. A spatula should be used to apply a layer of cream approximately 1mm thick on each lesion and 5mm surrounding normal skin. After application, the area must be covered for three hours (2.50 to 4.50 hours) with a non-absorbent occlusive dressing. The same treatment can be used for multiple lesions up to a size of 80 x 180 mm.
After removing the dressing, wash the affected area thoroughly with saline solution and gauze. Then begin the treatment using the red light, Aktilite. The light dose is 37 J/cm2, with the lamp placed between 50 and 80 mm from the skin. The calculation of the required illumination duration (7–10 minutes) takes place automatically. Both the patient and the operator must wear eye protection when using the illumination. Automatically, the illumination will stop.
You can restart the Aktilite treatment if it is stopped or interrupted for whatever reason. The cream can be washed off if the patient is unable to have the treatment within the specified time period.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Metvixia is only applied when necessary prior to the red light therapy. You will not have a schedule of doses.
What happens if I overdose?
As this medication is administered in a medical environment by trained healthcare providers, overdoses are unlikely.
What should be avoided?
Do not hesitate to tell your doctor if you get any medicine in your mouth, nose, eyes, or ears. After metvixia has been applied, avoid touching any treated areas of skin. The healthcare professional must wear special gloves when applying the medication. You should avoid letting your fingers come into contact with it. Avoid exposing the treated skin to bright light, such as sunlight, tanning beds, and sunlamps, for at least 48 hours after treatment. Sunscreens are not enough to protect the treated skin against harm from bright lights during this period. When you're outdoors, wear protective clothing. You must protect your skin for at least 48 hours following the application of the Metvixia cream, even if the treatment does not include light therapy.
Side effects of Metvixia
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy to metvixia, seek emergency medical attention: Hives, difficulty breathing, swelling in your mouth, face, tongue, or throat
If you experience:
- Severe stinging or burning of the treated area, as well as redness or swelling (especially if this effect gets worse over time or persists longer than three weeks).
Metvixia may cause side effects such as:
- Skin redness or warmth
- Blisters, skin ulcers;
- Peeling or crusting on treated skin.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Report side effects by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with other drug
Metvixia applied topically is unlikely to be affected by other medications you may take orally or even inject. Many drugs may interact. Inform your healthcare providers of all the medicines that you take, including vitamins and herbal products, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medicines.
