| Treatment |
Indication |
Dose |
| Sunscreen |
Sunscreen and protective clothing
can minimize exposure to Ultraviolet light. |
|
| Beta-carotene |
This vitamin can neutralize porphyrins
(harmful products created by exposure to UV light).
Indicated for patients in whom sunscreen and protective
clothing is not sufficient to control symptoms. |
120-180 mg by mouth once daily. |
| Activated charcoal |
Absorbs porphyrins and hastens
their removal in the stool. Indicated for patients
in whom sunscreen and protective clothing is not
sufficient to control symptoms. |
500-520 mg by mouth after meals. |
| Cholestyramine |
Absorbs porphyrins and hastens
their removal in the stool. Indicated for patients
in whom sunscreen and protective clothing is not
sufficient to control symptoms. |
Optimal dose undefined |
| Chloroquine |
Used in porphyria cutanea tarda
to absorb porphyrins and hasten removal in urine.
It is an important therapy when phlebotomy (removal
of blood) is not possible because of other medical
conditions. |
125 mg by mouth twice weekly. |
| Hemin |
This intravenous heme
preparation is recommended to curtail an acute
attack. |
3 to 4 mg per kg of
body weight once daily by intravenous administration
given over a period of 10 to 15 minutes for 4-14
days. |
| Cimetidine |
Used if standard therapies
have failed to curtail an acute attack. This medication
is much cheaper than hemin. |
800 mg by mouth once
daily. |
| |
|
 |
| Medication |
Reasons not to take
this medicine |
Side-effects |
| Albendazole |
If you have an allergy
to albendazole or any other part of this medicine. |
Worsening laboratory tests
of liver function
Hair loss.
Belly pain.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals,
frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free
candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
|
| Activated charcoal |
Do not take this medication
if your stomach or intestine is blocked or perforated.
Not recommended in children less than 1 year old. |
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Constipation
Swelling of abdomen.
Abnormalities in levels of blood minerals. |
| Beta-Carotene |
If you have an allergy
to beta-carotene or any other part of this medicine.
If you have severe kidney disease. |
Yellowing of palms,
hands, or soles of feet
Bruising |
| Cimetidine |
If you have an allergy
to cimetidine or any other part of this medicine. |
Headache.
Diarrhea.
Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise,
or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with
healthcare provider about a stool softener or
laxative. |
| Chloroquine |
If you have an allergy
to chloroquine phosphate or any other part of
this medicine.
If you have any changes in vision due to chloroquine. |
Anemia.
Belly pain.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent
mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or
chewing sugar-free gum may help.
Eye damage can rarely occur. |
| Cholestyramine |
If you have an allergy
to cholestyramine or any other part of this medicine.If
you have a blockage in your intestine. |
Headache.
Abdominal bloating.
Diarrhea.
Gallstones.
Pancreatic irritation. |
| Hemin |
If you have an allergy
to hemin or any other part of this medicine. |
Mild fever.
Inflammation at injection site.
Increase in white blood cell levels. |
| Mebendazole |
If you have an allergy
to mebendazole or any other part of this medicine. |
Swelling of hands,
feet, and face.
Fever.
Headache, dizziness.
Convulsions (seizure).
Rash.
Itching.
Hair loss.
Belly pain.
Diarrhea.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent
mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or
chewing sugar-free gum may help. |
| Ribavarin |
If you have an allergy
to ribavirin or any other part of this medicine.
If you have any of the following conditions: Autoimmune
hepatitis, poor kidney function, sickle cell anemia,
or thalassemia major.
If you are taking ribavirin alone for treatment
of hepatitis C infection.
If you are of childbearing age, but are not using
two forms of birth control or if you are planning
to become pregnant during your treatment or within
6 months after treatment has ended.
If you are a male patient with a sexual partner
who is pregnant or plans on becoming pregnant
at any time while you are being treated or within
6 months after your treatment has ended.
If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding. |
Feeling lightheaded,
sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in
thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks
or activities that require you to be alert or
have clear vision until you see how this medicine
affects you.
Anemia.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent
mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or
chewing sugar-free gum may help.Not hungry. |
| |
|
|
| Treatment |
Indication |
Dose |
| Pancrelipase |
Helps improve foul-smelling, fatty
diarrhea caused by lack of chemicals necessary
to digest food. |
Adjust dose to correct symptoms.
Maximum dose: 2500 units of lipase per kg
of body weight per meal by mouth (10,000 units
of lipase per kg per day): 4000-48,000 units
of lipase with meals and with snacks.
|
| Levothyroxine |
Used in the 20% of
PBC patients who also develop hypothyroidism. |
|
| Propanolol |
Used to prevent gastrointestinal
bleeding in patients with anemia that cannot be
corrected with iron replacement. |
Lowest dose that lowers
resting pulse by 25%. |
| Ursodeoxycholic acid |
Reduces the concentration
of bile acids and has been shown to delay progression
to end-stage liver disease and improve survival. |
13-15 mg per kg of
body weight by mouth once daily. |
| |
|
|