Ammifurin, 0.3% 50 ml

Ammifurin® is the sum of furocoumarins: isopympinellin, bergapten and xanthotoxin isolated from the fruit of Ammi majus L, family of celery (Umbelliferae) – Apiaceae (Umbelliferae).

Ammifurin® has a photosensitizing effect.

Indications

Ammifurin® is used in adults for vitiligo, multiple and total baldness, and psoriasis.

Active ingredient

Ammi large furocumarine fruit

Composition

Active ingredient:

Ammifurin® – 0.3 g (ammonia fruit sum of furocoumarins) (in terms of 100% substance)

Excipients:

Ethyl alcohol 95% – 74 ml (ethanol 95%);

glycerin – 13 ml;

purified water – up to 100 ml.

How to take, the dosage

Ammifurin® is administered in combination with ultraviolet irradiation (UVI). Ammifurin® solution is applied externally to the lesions 1 hour before irradiation.

In common forms of the disease, external application of the drug is combined with oral administration.

In psoriasis, the treatment is done 4 times a week. The UV irradiation will start with 1/2 bio dose; it will be gradually increased up to 5-6 bio doses, which means (depending on the patient’s individual sensitivity to UV radiation) the duration of the irradiation period varies from 1-2 min to 10-15 min. The total amount of irradiation is 15-20 procedures. Treatment of psoriasis patients can be combined with long-wave UV radiation.

When vitiligo, multiple and total baldness are treated 3 times a week (every other day) 20-25 exposures. The total number of treatments is 4-6 courses.

Patients with limited lesions are prescribed only with external application of Ammifurin® in the form of 0.3% solution followed by UVA. The lesion area is smeared with 0.3% Ammifurin® solution 1 hour before irradiation. Procedures are performed 3-4 times a week. UVB starts with 1/2 biodose, gradually increasing to 5-6 biodoses. The number of procedures depends on the treatment results and make up 20-25 irradiations in general. In the summer time the quartz lamp irradiation can be replaced by dosed solar insolation in all cases.

The course dose of Ammifurin® is 1-2 bottles of 0.3% solution in 50 ml (0.15-0.3 g). Repeated courses are carried out at intervals of 1-1.5 months.

Interaction

It potentiates the effect of other photosensitizers (including photosensitizing foods and cosmetics).

The indicated therapy may be carried out against the background of conventional medical treatment including the use of penicillin, lidaza, vascular drugs, and external agents.

Special Instructions

Caution should be exercised when using foods and cosmetics containing photosensitizing agents.

In order to avoid irradiation of apparently healthy skin surrounding the scleroderma lesions, zinc paste or photoprotective cream should be applied, 1-2 cm away from the lesion borders, during localized exposure. After the procedure, the zinc paste is removed with a cotton swab moistened with vegetable oil.

In common forms of the disease, external application of Ammifurin® solution is combined with its oral administration in the form of 20 mg tablets. The drug is used after meals with milk at a dose of 0.8 mg/kg, but not more than 80 mg per dose, once 2 hours before the UVA.

Contraindications

Intolerance to UVB and psoralen, diseases accompanied by hypersensitivity to light (albinism, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.), in combination with UVB in the following diseases: tuberculosis, thyrotoxicosis, blood diseases, liver, kidney, cardiovascular system, hypertension II-III degree, central nervous system diseases, diabetes, pregnancy, lactation, cataracts, multiple pigmented nevi, benign and malignant tumors.

Side effects

Secondary skin pigmentation, moderate erythema, itching.

Overdose

Acute dermatitis (erythema, edema, blisters may occur) may occur in case of overdose of solar and artificial UV radiation. In this case the treatment should be stopped until the dermatitis resolves.