Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
topical gel (Ameluz)
- 10%
topical solution (Levulan Kerastick)
- 20%
Actinic Keratosis
Ameluz: Used in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using BF-RhodoLED lamp, a narrowband, red light illumination source, is indicated for lesion-directed and field-directed treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) of mild-to-moderate severity on the face and scalp
Levulan Kerastick: Indicated for treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses of the face, scalp, or upper extremities with blue light illumination using the BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Illuminator
See Administration
<18 years: Safety and efficacy not established
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Adverse Effects
Adverse effects are for all grades unless otherwise specified
>10%
Ameluz
- Erythema (92%)
- Pain/burning (92%)
- Irritation (72%)
- Edema (35%)
- Pruritus (34%)
- Exfoliation (19%)
- Scab (19%)
- Induration (12%)
- Vesicles (12%)
Levulan Kerastick
Face
- Scaling/crusting (1-71%)
- Itching (1-25%)
- Hypo/hyperpigmentation (22%)
- Erosion (1-14%)
Scalp
- Scaling/crusting (2-64%)
- Hypo/hyperpigmentation (36%)
- Itching (7-14%)
- Skin disorder NOS (12%)
Upper extremities
- Erythema (100%)
- Stinging/burning (96%)
- Scaling and dryness (87%)
- Hyperpigmentation (73%)
- Edema (56%)
- Hypopigmentation (50%)
- Oozing/vesiculation/crusting (41%)
1-10%
Ameluz
- Paresthesia (9%)
- Hyperalgesia (5%)
- Discomfort (3%)
- Erosion (3%)
- Discharge (2%)
- Bleeding (1%)
- Pustules (1%)
Levulan Kerastick
Face
- Wheal/flare (1-7%)
- Skin disorder NOS (5%)
- Ulceration (4%)
- Bleeding/hemorrhage (4%)
- Vesiculation (4%)
- Pustules (4%)
- Dysesthesia (2%)
- Scabbing (1-2%)
- Excoriation (1%)
- Oozing (1%)
- Pain (1%)
- Tenderness (1%)
- Edema (1%)
Scalp
- Vesiculation (5%)
- Tenderness (2%)
- Ulceration (2%)
- Bleeding/hemorrhage (2%)
- Erosion (2%)
- Wheal/flare (2%)
Postmarketing Reports
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Erythema, swelling, application site inflammation, skin discoloration; increased photosensitivity
Eye disorders: Eye irritation, diplopia, ocular hyperemia, photophobia, and blurred vision
Coagulation defects
Transient amnestic episodes
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to porphyrins
Hypersensitivity to any gel components, which includes soybean phosphatidylcholine
Porphyria; drug may cause uncontrolled phototoxic effects
Known photodermatoses of varying pathology and frequency (eg, metabolic disorders [aminoaciduria], idiopathic or immunological disorders [polymorphic light reaction], genetic disorders [xeroderma pigmentosum], and diseases precipitated or aggravated by exposure to sun light [lupus erythematoides or pemphigus erythematoides])
Levulan Kerastick
- Cutaneous photosensitivity at wavelengths of 400-450 nm
Cautions
Ameluz
- Transient amnestic episodes reported during postmarketing use of topical gel in combination with photodynamic therapy
- BF-RhodoLED lamp may cause eye irritation, glare, or injury; protective eye equipment must be used by patient, healthcare providers and any person present during the illumination period
- Has not been tested on patients with inherited or acquired coagulation disorders; special care should be taken to avoid bleeding during lesion preparation
- Eyelid edema and mucous membrane irritation reported; rinse eyes with water in case of accidental contact
Levulan Kerastick
- Topical solution contains alcohol and is intended for topical use only; irritation may occur if applied to eyes or mucus membranes; do not apply to eyes or to mucous membranes; excessive irritation may be experienced if this product is applied under occlusion >3 hr
- Treatment site will become photosensitive and patients should avoid exposure of photosensitive treatment sites to sunlight or bright indoor light (e.g., examination lamps, operating room lamps, tanning beds, or lights at close proximity) for 40 hours; exposure may result in a stinging and/or burning sensation and may cause erythema and/or edema of the lesions; before exposure to sunlight, patients should protect treated lesions from sun by wearing a wide- brimmed hat or similar head covering of light-opaque material, and/or a long-sleeved shirt and/or gloves; because of potential for skin to become photosensitized, the topical solution should be used by a qualified health professional to apply drug to no more than 5mm of perilesional skin surrounding the target actinic keratosis lesions
- Safety and efficacy not established on patients with inherited or acquired coagulation defects
Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Ameluz: No available data
Levulan Kerastick: Limited available data with topical solution use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes
Lactation
Unknown if distributed in human breast milk
Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Aminolevulinic acid is a precursor of photoactive porphyrins, which accumulate in the skin lesions where the product has been applied and are subsequently illuminated with a photodynamic lamp
When exposed to the light, the accumulated photoactive porphyrins produce a photodynamic reaction, resulting in a cytotoxic process dependent on the simultaneous presence of oxygen, which as a result generates a singlet oxygen; the singlet oxygen can then react to form superoxide and hydroxyl radicals
Absorption
Ameluz
- Plasma concentration: After occlusion for 3 hr, up to 2.5-fold increase of aminolevulinic acid plasma concentrations observed
- Peak plasma time: 3 hr
- Peak plasma concentration: 27.19 ng/mL
- AUC: 142.83 ng·hr/mL
Levulan Kerastick
- Peak plasma time: 2 hr
- Peak plasma concentration: 249.9 ng/mL
- AUC: 669.9 ng·hr/mL
Excretion
Levulan Kerastick
- Half-life: 5.7 hr
Administration
Topical Administration
Topical product should be only applied by physician or qualified medical personnel
For topical use only; not for ophthalmic, oral, or intravaginal use
Photodynamic therapy is a multistep process
Ameluz
- One session of photodynamic therapy should be administered for single lesions or an entire field affected by multiple lesions
- Evaluate 3 months after treatment
- Non- or partially responding lesions should be retreated in a second session
Step 1: Lesion preparation
- Before applying gel, carefully wipe all lesions with an ethanol or isopropanol-soaked cotton pad to ensure degreasing of the skin
- Thereafter, gently roughen all lesion surfaces; take care to avoid bleeding
Step 2: Gel application
- Using gloved protected fingertips or spatula, apply gel ~1 mm thick to lesion(s) and include ~5 mm of the surrounding skin; if multiple lesions, cover the entire area (not to exceed 20 cm² and no more than 2 g (ie, 1 tube) for a session
- The gel can be administered to healthy skin around the lesions, whereas application near the eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears or mucosa should be avoided (keep a distance of 1 cm)
- Avoid direct contact of gel with the eyes or mucous membrane; if accidentally exposed, rinse with water
Step 3: Occlude for 3 hours
- Allow gel to dry for ~10 minutes, before an occlusive light-tight dressing is placed over the treatment site
- Following 3 hr of incubation, the dressing should be removed and the remnant gel wiped off
Illumination with red light
- Immediately after cleaning the lesions, the entire treatment area will be illuminated with a red light source with a narrow spectrum around 635 nm that delivers a light dose of approximately 37 J/cm² within 10 minutes
- During illumination the lamp should be fixed at the distance from the skin surface that is indicated in the user manual
- Position the lamp head 5-8 cm from the skin’s surface; when an area of 8 x 18 cm is illuminated, the effective treatment area is 6 x16 cm
- Larger areas can be illuminated in several steps
- If for any reason, the lesions cannot be illuminated within 3 hr after application, rinse off the gel with saline and water
- For 2 days, protect the lesion sites and surrounding skin from sunlight or prolonged or intense light
Levulan Kerastick
- Prepare solution by crushing the bottom ampule (diluent) and then the top ampule (powder) of the stick to; shake gently for 30 sec
- 1 application per site per 8 week session
- Apply to affected area; allow to dry
- Do not apply solution to the periorbital area or allow it to contact ocular or mucosal surfaces
- For upper extremities: Occlude upper extremity with low density polyethylene plastic wrap and hold in place with an elastic net dressing
- Follow application with blue light (400-450 nm) photodynamic blue light treatment 14-18 hr later
- May treat a second time lesions that did not completely healed after 8 hr
- At light illumination visit before treatment, gently rinse treated area with water and patted dry
Storage
Ameluz
- Unopened gels: Store refrigerated between 2-8°C (36-46°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F)
- Opened gels: Refrigerate at 2-8°C (36-46°F) if the tube is tightly closed for up to 12 wk
Levulan Kerastick
- Unused applicators: Store between 20-25°C (68-77°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F)
- Prepared solutions: Must be used within 2 hr of dissolution
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Formulary
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