Photosensitive medication are drugs that make your skin sensitive to
the sun. Typically prescription drugs are clearly labelled with a
warning to stay out of the sun, though the list below contains items
that may cause photosensitivity. If you are in doubt about your
medication, please check with your physician.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
- clomipramine (Anafranil)
- socarboxazid (Marplan)
- maprotiline (Ludiomil)
- mirtazapine (Remeron)
- sertaline (Zoloft)
- TRICYCLIC AGENTS, eg., Elavil, Asendin, Norpramin, Sinequan,
Tofranil, Aventyl, Vivactil, Surmontil, venlafixine (Effexor)
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ANTIHISTAMINES
- astemizole (Hismanal)
- cetirizine (Zytec)
- cyproheptadine (Periactin)
- dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)
- loratadine (Claritin)
- terfenadine (Seldane)
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ANTIMICROBIALS
- azithromycin (Zithromax)
- griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grisactin)
- *nalidixic acid (NegGram)
- QUINOLONES, eg., Cipro, Penetrex, Levaquin, Floxin,
*Maxaquin, Noroxin, *Zagam
sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
- *SULFONAMIDES, eg., Gantrisin, Bactrim, Septra
- TETRACYCLINES, eg., *Declomycin, Vibramycin,
Minocin, Terramycin
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ANTIPARASITICS
- *bithionol (Bitin)
- chloroquine (Aralen)
- mefloquine (Lariam)
- pyrvinium parnoate (Povan, Vanquin) quinine
ANTIPSYCHOTICS
- chlorprothixene (Taractan, Tarasan)
- haloperidol (Haldol)
- *PHENOTHIAZINES, eg.,
Compazine, Mellaril, Stelazine, Phenergan, Thorazine
- risperidone (Risperdal)
- thiothixene (Navane)
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CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY
- *dacarbazine (DTIC)
- fluororacil (5-FU)
- methotrexate (Mexate)
- procarbazine (Matulane, Natulan)
- vinblastine (Velban, Belbe)
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CARDIOVASCULARS
(see alsoDiuretics)
- ACE INHIBITORS, eg., Capoten, Vasotec, Monapril, Accupril,
Altace, Univasc
- *amiodarone (Cordarone)
- diltiazem (Cardizem)
- disopyramide (Norpace)
- losartan (Hyzaar)
- lovastatin (Mevacor)
- nifedipine (Procardia)
- pravastin (Pravachol)
- quinidine (Quinaglute)
- simvastatin (Zocor)
- sotalol (Betapace)
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DIURETICS
(see also Cardiovasculars)
- acetazolamide (Diamox)
- amiloride (Midamor)
- furosemide (Lasix)
- metolazone (Diulo, Zaroxolyn)
- *THIAZIDES, eg., HydroDiuril, Naturetin,
*HYPOGLYCEMIC SULFONYLUREAS
- acetohexamide (Dymelor)
- chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
- glimepiride (Amaryl)
- glipzide (Glucotrol)
- glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase)
- tolazamide (Tolinase)
- tolbutamide (Orinase)
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NSAIDs
- All nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, eg.,ibuprofen
(Motrin)naproxen (Anaprox, Naproxyn, Orudis, Feldene, Voltaren, etc.
- The new NSAID agents include: etodolac (Lodine),
nabumetone(Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro)
SUNSCREENS
- *benzophenones (Arimis, Clinique)
- cinnamates (Arimis, Estee Lauder)
- dioxbenzone (Solbar Plus)
- oxybenzone (Eclipse, PreSun, Shade)
- PABA (PreSun)
- *PABA esters (Block Out, Sea & Ski, Eclipse)
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MISCELLANEOUS
- benzocaine
- benzoyl peroxide (Oxy 10)
- carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- coal tar, eg., Tegrin, Zetar)
- CONTRACEPTIVES, oral
- estazolam (ProSom)
- *etretinate (Tegison)
- felbamate (Felbatol)
- gabapentin (Neurontin)
- gold salts (Myochrysine, Ridaura, Solganal)
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- hexachlorophene (pHisoHex)
- hypericum (St. John's Wort)
- interferon beta-1b (Betaseron)
- *isetretinoln (Accutane)
- masoprocol (Actinex)
- olsalazine (Dipentum)
- *PERFUME OILS, eg.,bergamot, citron, lavender,
sandalwood, cedar, musk
- *PSORALENS
- selegiline (deprenyl, Eldepryl)
- *tretinoin (Retin-A, Vitamin A Acid)
- zolpidem (Ambien)
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Note : Items with an asterisk (*) are shown in bold dark
because they are more likely to cause photosensitivity reactions. Overall, the
drugs listed above cause reactions in less than 1% of patients. If you get an
unusual "sunburn," allergic, or eczematous reaction in skin areas exposed
to light then it is suggested you let your physician or pharmacist know about
the problem and to discontinue exposure to UV radiation .
----- this list provided Courtesy of and according to LOOKING FIT Magazine and
National Tanning Institute |
