Photosensitivity

• What is Photosensitivity?

  Photosensitivity is an abnormal or exaggerated response by the skin to sunlight or artificial light. It can include reactions such as mild reddening of the skin, second-degree burns, blistering and fever.
  
  

• Photosensitizing Agents

  Many medications are implicated in causing photosensitivity reactions. This is because sunlight and a variety of medications do not mix. The following are some examples of common drugs that can be photosensitive: in other words the medication causes your skin to be increasingly reactive to sunlight or artificial light.
  • Antihistamines
    • astemizole (Hismanal)
    • diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
    • terfenadine (Seldane)
    • tripelennamine (Pyribenzamine)
  • Certain antibiotics
    • tetracycline
    • sulfa drugs (eg. Bactrim)
    • quinolone derivatives (eg. Noroxin, Cipro)
  • Certain psychiatric drugs
    • chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
    • loxapine (Loxapac)
    • paroxetine (Paxil)
    • phenothiazines (Chlorpromazine, thioridazine, perphenazine, methotrimeprazine (Nozinan)
    • sertraline (Zoloft)
    • trazadone (Desyrel)
    • tricyclic derivatives (eg. amitriptyline, nortriptyline)
  • Anti-diabetic drugs
    • chlorpropamide
    • glyburide
    • gliclazide (Diamicron)
    • tolbutamide
    • acetohexamide (Dimelor)
  • Cardiovascular drugs
    • thyazide diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
    • amiodarone (Cordarone)
    • ACE inhibitors (enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril)
    • diltiazem (Cardizem)
    • felodipine (Plendil, Renedil)
    • flecainide (Tambocor)
    • hydralazine (Apresoline)
    • methyldopa (Aldomet)
    • quinidine
    • sotalol (Sotacor)
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
    • diclofenac (Voltaren, Arthrotec)
    • diflunisal (Dolobid)
    • etodolac (Ultradol)
    • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
    • ketoprofen (Orudis)
    • naproxen (Naprosyn)
    • phenylbutazone
    • piroxicam (Feldene)
    • sulindac (Clinoril)
    • tenoxicam (Mobiflex)
    • tiaprofenic acid (Surgam)
  • Other medications
    • 5-ASA (Asacol, Pentasa)
    • carbamazepine (Tegretol)
    • cholestyramine (Questran)
    • coal tar derivatives
    • dantrolene (Dantrium)
    • flutamie (Euflex)
    • fluvastatin (Lescol)
    • interferon (Intron)
    • omeprazole (Losec)
    • pravastatin (Pravachol)
    • quinine
    • selegilene (Eldepryl)
    • simvastatin (Zocor)
   

• Prevention of Photosensitivity  Reactions

  If you are taking medications that are photosensitive, tighten up on the rules that you should already be following:
  1. Avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  2. Apply a sunscreen (after sweating, swimming and 30 minutes before going outdoors).
  3. Avoid sunscreens that are scented or sunscreens containing PABA
  
  Make a habit to ask your pharmacist if the medication you are taking reacts adversely in the sun. If it does, cover up or avoid the sun altogether. Finally, do not confuse photosensitivity with a faster way to tan.

Back to Kelly's Info Page