Oxsoralen
Oxsoralen capsules contain 10mg of methoxsalen, a psoralen taken before UVA light treatment for psoriasis and vitiligo, and come in packs of 40 to 360.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 40 capsules | $34.80 | $0.87 |
| 10mg | 80 capsules | $56.00 | $0.70 |
| 10mg | 120 capsules | $79.20 | $0.66 |
| 10mg | 200 capsules | $118.00 | $0.59 |
| 10mg | 360 capsules | $194.40 | $0.54 |
- Category
- Skin Care
- Active ingredient
- Methoxsalen
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule
- Strengths
- 10mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Therapeutic Class
- Psoralen
- Pharmacological Class
- Photochemotherapy agent
- Minor Side Effects
- Itching, nausea
- Moderate Side Effects
- Erythema, pigmentation changes
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Valeant
- Onset Time
- 1–3 hours
- Duration
- Varies with UV treatment protocol
- Storage Instructions
- Protect from light.
- Drug Interactions
- Photosensitizing agents
What you will receive
Oxsoralen is the originator brand name, made by Valeant. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Oxsoralen.
- The same active ingredient (Methoxsalen) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Oxsoralen strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Oxsoralen pages list 10mg capsules in packs of 40, 80, 120, 200 or 360. The pack contains generic methoxsalen, not the original Oxsoralen. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
How is Oxsoralen delivered to Hong Kong?
Oxsoralen parcels can be sent by standard airmail, which takes 14 to 21 business days, or 30 at most, and is untracked. Every order arrives in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents. If a parcel arrives damaged, it is sent again free, or refunded if that is not possible.
How long before the UVA lamp do I take Oxsoralen?
Photosensitivity peaks about 1.5 to 2 hours after the capsule, and the lamp session is timed to that window. Blood levels of methoxsalen halve roughly every two hours, so the gap between capsule and lamp matters more than anything else in the treatment.
Can I go out in the sun after taking Oxsoralen?
Avoid it. After a capsule the skin stays sensitive for hours, and methoxsalen can still be detected in the body for up to 12 hours. Sitting by a window does not help, because glass stops the UVB that burns but lets UVA through. Cover up and keep UVA-blocking sunglasses on for the rest of the day.
How long does a course of PUVA with Oxsoralen last?
PUVA runs as a course rather than an ongoing medicine: light sessions a few times a week for several weeks, with the UVA dose adjusted as the skin responds. Capsules are taken only on session days, so how many are used depends on how many sessions the course takes.
Can I take other medicines with Oxsoralen?
Some medicines make skin light-sensitive on their own — certain antibiotics, water tablets (diuretics) and a few acne treatments among them. Taken alongside methoxsalen they add to the reaction, so the chance of a burn is higher than with either alone.
About Oxsoralen
How Oxsoralen works with UVA light
Oxsoralen is a 10mg capsule of methoxsalen, one of the psoralens — drugs that make skin far more sensitive to ultraviolet A (UVA) light. Swallowed before a light session, methoxsalen spreads through the body and settles in the skin, where the UVA switches it on. The activated drug interferes with the DNA of skin cells that divide quickly, which is how it slows the thickened, scaly plaques of psoriasis. In vitiligo, the same pairing is used to encourage repigmentation (the return of colour to white patches). The treatment is known as PUVA — psoralen plus UVA.
Timing the capsule against the lamp
Everything depends on the gap between capsule and light. Photosensitivity peaks roughly 1.5 to 2 hours after a soft gelatin capsule, so a session is planned around the dose rather than the other way round. Doses are worked out by body weight, which for most adults means several 10mg capsules at once. Take them with food or a glass of milk: nausea is the commonest complaint and food helps settle it. A dose belongs only to a day when the lamp is used, so if a session is cancelled the capsules are skipped rather than saved.
Side effects and longer-term risks
Expect nausea, itching and redness on the treated skin. A stinging, sunburn-like feeling after a session usually means that day's light dose was too strong, and blisters mean the skin has reacted too hard.
The bigger risks build up slowly. Years of PUVA age the skin and raise the chance of skin cancer, melanoma among them. Methoxsalen also reaches the lens of the eye, so wear sunglasses that block UVA on treatment days. Any other medicine that makes skin sensitive to light can add to the burn.
Who should not take methoxsalen?
Conditions that are already light-sensitive, such as lupus, porphyria and albinism, rule the treatment out, as does a personal history of melanoma or other skin cancer, or serious liver disease. It is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Pack sizes and storage
The capsules come in one strength, 10mg, in packs of 40, 80, 120, 200 or 360, so the pack can be matched to the length of the course. Keep them in their blister strips, away from strong light and damp; a normal indoor shelf is fine.
Sources
- Label: METHOXSALEN capsule, liquid filled - DailyMed - NIH — DailyMed
- Methoxsalen G.L. Pharma 20 micrograms/ml solution for blood fraction modification - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) | 15562 — electronic medicines compendium (emc)