Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Pigmenting Agents
Dosage Forms
Brands / Synonyms
8-MOP; Ammodin; Ammoidin; Meladinin; Meladinine; Meladoxen; Meloxine; Methoxa-Dome; Methoxalen; Methoxaten; New-Meladinin; Oxoralen; Oxsoralen; Oxsoralen Lotion; Oxsoralen-Ultra; Oxypsoralen; Proralone-Mop; Psoralen-Mop; Puvalen; Puvamet; Ultra Mop; Ultramop Lotion; Uvadex; Xanthotoxin; Xanthotoxine; Xanthoxin; Zanthotoxin
Indications
For the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo
Pharmacology
Methoxsalen selectively inhibits the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The guanine and cytosine content correlates with the degree of Methoxsalen-induced cross-linking. At high concentrations of the drug, cellular RNA and protein synthesis are also suppressed.
Mechanism of Action
After activation it binds preferentially to the guanine and cytosine moieties of DNA, leading to cross-linking of DNA, thus inhibiting DNA synthesis and function.
Absorption
Not Available
Toxicity
Not Available
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Not Available
Contraindications
Photosensitivity
UVADEXÒ (methoxsalen) Sterile Solution is contraindicated in patients
exhibiting idiosyncratic reactions to psoralen compounds. Patients possessing a specific history of a light sensitive
disease state should not initiate methoxsalen therapy. Diseases associated with photosensitivity include lupus
erythematosus, porphyria cutanea tarda, erythropoietic protoporphyria, variegate porphyria, xeroderma pigmentosum and
albinism.
UVADEXÒ Sterile Solution is contraindicated in patients with aphakia,
because of the significantly increased risk of retinal damage due to the absence of lenses.
Drug Interactions
Concomitant Therapy
Special care should be exercised in treating patients who are receiving concomitant therapy (either topically or systemically) with known photosensitizing agents such as anthralin, coal tar or coal tar derivatives, griseofulvin, phenothiazines, nalidixic acid, halogenated salicylanilides (bacteriostatic soaps), sulfonamides, tetracyclines, thiazides, and certain organic staining dyes such as methylene blue, toluidine blue, rose bengal and methyl orange.
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