Drug reference
aminolevulinic acid
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Drug class
Miscellaneous (Miscellaneous)
Mechanism of action
Exogenous ALA leads to accumulation of the metabolite protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor cells. Under blue light, tumor tissue is visualized as red fluorescence; tissue lacking sufficient PpIX appears blue.
Common side effects
- Pyrexia
- Hypotension
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Aphasia
- Hemiparesis
- Elevated ALT and GGT
- Headache
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to aminolevulinic acid or porphyrins
- Acute or chronic types of porphyria, due to potential ineffectiveness of the drug
Known interactions (70)
- acitretin + aminolevulinic acid Major
- aminolevulinic acid + doxycycline Major
- aminolevulinic acid + isotretinoin Major
- aminolevulinic acid + amiodarone Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + atenolol-chlorthalidone Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + azilsartan-chlorthalidone Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + bicalutamide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + candesartan-hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + captopril-hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + celecoxib Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + chlorpromazine Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + chlorpropamide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + chlorthalidone Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + ciprofloxacin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + diclofenac Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + diflunisal Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + enalapril-hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + eprosartan-hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + etodolac Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + fluphenazine Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + fosinopril-hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + gemifloxacin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + gliclazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + glimepiride Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + glimepiride-pioglitazone Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + glipizide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + glipizide-metformin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + glyburide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + glyburide-metformin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + griseofulvin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide-irbesartan Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide-lisinopril Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide-losartan Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide-olmesartan Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide-telmisartan Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + indapamide Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + indomethacin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + ketoprofen Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + ketorolac Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + levofloxacin Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + meclofenamic acid Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + mefenamic acid Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + meloxicam Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + metolazone Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + minocycline Moderate
- aminolevulinic acid + moxifloxacin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
What drug class is aminolevulinic acid?
aminolevulinic acid belongs to: Miscellaneous.
How does aminolevulinic acid work?
Exogenous ALA leads to accumulation of the metabolite protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor cells. Under blue light, tumor tissue is visualized as red fluorescence; tissue lacking sufficient PpIX appears blue.
What are the common side effects of aminolevulinic acid?
Pyrexia, Hypotension, Nausea, Vomiting, Aphasia, Hemiparesis, Elevated ALT and GGT, Headache
Which drugs interact with aminolevulinic acid?
acitretin, doxycycline, isotretinoin, amiodarone, amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan, amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide, atenolol-chlorthalidone, azilsartan-chlorthalidone, bicalutamide, candesartan-hydrochlorothiazide, captopril-hydrochlorothiazide, celecoxib, chlorpromazine, chlorpropamide, chlorthalidone
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.