Valchlor

Common side effects of the Valchlor include the following:

• redness
• swelling
• itching
• skin ulcers or blisters
• skin infection
• darkening of skin areas

This is not a complete list of Valchlor side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories -A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Valchlor falls into category D. It has been shown that use of Valchlor in pregnant women caused some babies to be born with problems.  However, in some serious situations, the benefit of using this medication may be greater than the risk of harm to the baby. Please refer to the FDA warning section for more information.

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.  Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Valchlor gel is applied as a thin film of gel once a day to affected skin areas. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling while you are taking the gel. Your doctor may stop the medication for a time or tell you to apply it less often if you experience side effects. See the "Drug Usage" section for additional information on using Valchlor gel.

Mechlorethamine topical (for the skin) is used to treat Stage 1A or 1B mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Mechlorethamine topical is usually given after other skin treatments have been tried without success.

Mechlorethamine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of mechlorethamine topical in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of mechlorethamine topical in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted skin reactions, which may require caution in patients using this medicine.

Pregnancy

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• If you get Valchlor in your eyes, it may cause eye problems like very bad eye pain, swelling, or blurred eyesight. Sometimes blindness and long-last injury may happen. Do not touch your eyes while using this medicine. If you get Valchlor in your eyes, flush with water and call your doctor.
• Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs or products on your skin.
• Do not let your skin where the gel was used touch anyone else's skin while wearing the gel. Cover the treated skin with clothes.
• If anyone else touches the gel, wash the skin with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and take off any clothing that gets gel on it.
• This medicine may add to the chance of getting other skin cancers. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may catch on fire. Do not use near an open flame or while smoking.
• Avoid fire, flames, or smoking until the gel has dried.
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking Valchlor, call your doctor right away.

Use Valchlor gel exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Valchlor gel is usually applied once daily.

Store this medicine in its original container (box) in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Avoid allowing this medicine to come into contact with food in the refrigerator.

Apply the medicine within 30 minutes after removing it from the refrigerator. After use, put the medicine back into the refrigerator right away.

Do not use within the first 30 minutes after taking a shower or bath. Make sure the skin is completely dry before applying the medicine. Do not bathe or shower for at least 4 hours after applying Valchlor gel.

Apply a thin layer of the medicine to the affected skin areas. Allow the gel to dry for 5 to 10 minutes before covering the treated skin with clothing.

Do not cover the treated skin area with a bandage.

You may apply skin lotion, cream, or oil to treated skin 2 hours before or 2 hours after applying Valchlor.

Wash your hands after applying or handling this medicine. If you are a caregiver, wear disposable gloves to apply the medicine to the patient and wash your hands after removing the gloves and throwing them away.

Valchlor gel is flammable. Do not use near high heat or open flame. Do not smoke until the gel has completely dried on your skin.

Throw away any unused Valchlor gel after 90 days. Throw away unused gel, empty tubes, and used disposable gloves in a trash container out of the reach of children and pets.

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Valchlor gel: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• a new skin lesion;

• severe skin irritation, itching, or blistering; or

• redness or swelling, warmth, pus, oozing, or other signs of skin infection.

Common Valchlor side effects may include:

• mild skin itching or other irritation; or

• changes in the color of treated skin.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.