Aminolevulinic Acid Solution

• It is used to treat a precancerous skin problem called actinic keratosis.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• The treated area may be more sensitive to light. Protect the treated area and skin around it from sun, sunlamps, bright indoor lights, and tanning beds after aminolevulinic acid solution is put on and for as long as you have been told by your doctor. Sunscreens will not help.
• Do not use sunscreen or other drugs on affected part.
• Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs or products on your skin.
• This medicine may cause harm if swallowed. If this medicine is swallowed, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• People using aminolevulinic acid solution may get skin reactions where this medicine is used or around the area. These reactions may include redness, scaling, or swelling. Most of the time, these reactions will go away within a few weeks after using aminolevulinic acid solution. Talk with the doctor.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a skin reaction that bothers you or if the reaction makes it hard to keep putting this medicine on. Call your doctor right away if you have a skin reaction that causes problems with daily living.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using aminolevulinic acid solution while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• This medicine is used with light therapy.
• Your doctor will put on the skin.
• Keep out of your mouth, nose, and eyes (may burn).
• If you get aminolevulinic acid solution in any of these areas, rinse well with water.
• You will need to protect your eyes during the light therapy. Follow what your doctor has told you.
• If you cannot have the light therapy after this medicine has been put on, talk with your doctor. Avoid bright light for as long as you have been told by your doctor.
• You will need to go back to your doctor's office the next day.
• Do not use coverings (bandages, dressings, make-up) unless told to do so by the doctor.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Bleeding where aminolevulinic acid solution is used.
• Eyelid swelling.
• Change in color of skin where drug is used.
• Memory problems may rarely happen with the use of this medicine and light therapy. Most of the time, these memory problems go back to normal after a short amount of time. Call your doctor right away if you have memory problems or loss.