Verteporfin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 19, 2024.

Applies to verteporfin: powder for solution.

Precautions

For 5 days after you receive an injection of verteporfin, your eyes will be extra sensitive to light, including sunlight and bright indoor lights. Certain types of sunglasses can help protect your eyes during this time. Check with your doctor about which sunglasses to use.

For 5 days after you receive an injection of verteporfin, your skin will be extra sensitive to sunlight and to very bright indoor lights, such as tanning lamps, bright halogen lighting and lights in dental offices or operating rooms. Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight or to bright indoor lights during this time. Sunscreens will not protect your skin from a severe reaction to light (blistering, burning, and swelling of the skin). However, exposure to normal amounts of indoor light (for example, daylight or light from lamps with shades) will help clear up the verteporfin remaining in your skin. Therefore, do not protect your skin from normal amounts of indoor light. If you have any questions about whether the light in your home is too bright, check with your doctor or nurse. If you do have a severe reaction to light, call your doctor immediately.

Serious side effects of verteporfin

Along with its needed effects, verteporfin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking verteporfin:

Other side effects of verteporfin

Some side effects of verteporfin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to verteporfin: intravenous powder for injection.

Ocular adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Cataract (up to 20%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Visual impairment (e.g., blurry, hazy, fuzzy vision, flashes of light), visual acuity reduced, visual field defect (grey or dark haloes, scotoma, black spots), blepharitis, cataract in the untreated eye, dry eye, severe vision decrease with or without subretinal/retinal or vitreous hemorrhage, diplopia conjunctivitis/conjunctival injection, ocular itching
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Retinal detachment, retinal hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal edema
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Retinal ischemia (retinal or choroidal vessel nonperfusion)
• Frequency not reported: Retinal pigment epithelial tear, macular edema^[Ref]

Severe vision decrease, equivalent of more than 4 lines, within 7 days after treatment has been reported in 1% to 5% of patients. Partial recovery of vision was observed in some patients.^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site edema, injection site inflammation, injection site extravasation, injection site pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Injection site hemorrhage, injection site discoloration, injection site hypersensitivity
• Frequency not reported: Injection site vesicles, injection site necrosis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disorder, varicose veins
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension
• Frequency not reported: Irregular heart rate, blood pressure fluctuation, flushing, myocardial infarction^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Photosensitivity reaction, pruritus, skin disorder, eczema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Hyperhidrosis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, constipation, GI cancer
• Frequency not reported: Pelvic pain^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Leukopenia, anemia, white blood cell count decreased, white blood cell count increased^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Elevated liver function tests^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, arthrosis, arthralgia, myasthenia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Syncope, headache, vertigo
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia
• Frequency not reported: Presyncope (vasovagal reactions)^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough, dyspnea, pharyngitis, pneumonia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Prostatic disorder^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, decreased hearing
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pyrexia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Malaise^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Influenza syndrome^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypercholesterolemia, albuminuria, creatinine increased^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Sleep disorder^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Verteporfin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer