BASED ON THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF VERTEPORFIN, MANY DRUGS USED CONCOMITANTLY COULD INFLUENCE THE EFFECT OF VERTEPORFIN THERAPY. POSSIBLE EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS, POLYMYXIN B OR RADIATION THERAPY COULD ENHANCE THE RATE OF VERTEPORFIN UPTAKE BY THE VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM. OTHER PHOTOSENSITIZING AGENTS (E.G., TETRACYCLINES, SULFONAMIDES, PHENOTHIAZINES, SULFONYLUREA HYPOGLYCEMIC AGENTS, THIAZIDE DIURETICS AND GRISEOFULVIN) COULD INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR SKIN PHOTOSENSITIVITY REACTIONS. DRUGS THAT DECREASE CLOTTING, VASOCONSTRICTION OR PLATELET AGGREGATION, E.G., THROMBOXANE A2 INHIBITORS, COULD ALSO DECREASE THE EFFICACY OF VERTEPORFIN THERAPY.