Porfimer Side Effects

Brand Names: Photofrin

Please note - some side effects for Porfimer may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Porfimer - for the Consumer

Porfimer

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Porfimer:

Anxiety; appetite loss; belching; confusion; constipation; diarrhea; fever; headache; hiccups; indigestion; nausea; oral infection; swelling of the hands and feet; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weight loss.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); back pain; burns or blisters on the skin; changes in vision; chest pain; chills; coughing; dark, bloody stools; dehydration; depression; difficulty swallowing; fast heartbeat; irregular heartbeat; lightheadedness; pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; pneumonia; shortness of breath; slow or difficult breathing; throat, stomach, or abdominal pain; tightness in the chest; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Side Effects by Body System

General

General side effects have included fever (31%), pain (up to 22%), chest pain (up to 22%), back pain (up to 11%), weight decrease (9%), peripheral edema (up to 7%), dehydration (7%), asthenia (6%), generalized edema (5%), and surgical complication (5%). Patients with at least one adverse event have been as high as 95%.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including pleural effusion (32%), dyspnea (up to 30%), pneumonia (up to 18%), hemoptysis (16%), coughing (up to 15%), pharyngitis (11%), bronchitis (10%), respiratory insufficiency (up to 10%), increased sputum (8%), and tracheoesophageal fistula (6%) have been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included edema (18%), atrial fibrillation (10%), cardiac failure (7%), hypotension (7%), tachycardia (6%), and hypertension (6%).

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included dysphonia (5%).

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included constipation (up to 24%), nausea (24%), abdominal pain (20%), vomiting (17%), dysphagia (10%), esophageal edema (8%), esophageal tumor bleeding (8%), hematemesis (8%), dyspepsia (6%), esophageal stricture (6%), diarrhea (5%), eructation (5%), esophagitis (5%), and melena (5%).

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included insomnia (up to 14%), anorexia (8%), confusion (8%), and anxiety (up to 7%).

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included anemia (32%).

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects have included moniliasis (9%).

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included photosensitivity reaction (up to 22%).

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included urinary tract infection (7%).

Local

Local side effects have included exudate (22%), obstruction (19%), stricture (11%), and ulceration (9%).

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included ocular discomfort (commonly described as sensitivity to sun, bright lights, or car headlights).

A case of cataracts has been reported in a fifty-one year old obese man treated with porfimer. The patient suffered from a photodynamic therapy (PDT) response. Within two months post PDT, the patient noted difficulty with his distant vision. A thorough eye examination revealed a change in the refractive error that later progressed to cataracts in both eyes.

Both of the parents of the patient with cataracts in both eyes had a history of cataracts in their seventies. Whether porfimer directly caused or accelerated a familial underlying condition is unknown.

Other

Other side effects including a few cases of fluid imbalance have been reported following the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with porfimer in patients with overtly disseminated intraperitoneal malignancies.

Fluid imbalance is an expected PDT treatment-related event.

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