The following list of medications is certainly not all-inclusive since many different classes of
prescription and over-the-counter drugs can make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays.
Some of the more popular photosensitizing medications include:
Antibiotics: tetracycline,doxycycline hyclate(not the smaller-dose doxycycline found
in the brand name product "Oracea.") and sulfa-containing antibiotics such as trimethoprim/
sulfamethoxazole.
Arthritis drugs: ibuprofen, naproxen
Blood pressure/"water pill" drugs: hydrochlorthiazide(more a blood pressure drug than
a water pill) furosemide(more a water pill than a blood pressure drug).Both of these contain
sulfa,which is a photosensitizer.
A recent study indicated that the calcium channel blocker nifedipine and the ACE
inhibitor lisinopril both increased sun-sensitivity and made users more likely to develop
lip cancer.
Diabetes drugs: glipizide,glyburide, and chlorpropamide all contain sulfa and,therefore,
are more likely to be sun-sensitizers.
Antihistamine: the popular diphenhydramine
Acne medications: include those related to Vitamin A such as isotretinoin,tretinoin,and
acetretin.
Anti-cancer(chemotherapy) drugs: 5-fluorouracil and dacarbazine
Psychiatric drugs such as the major tranquilizers chlorpromazine and the tricyclic
antidepressants desipramine and imipramine.
External (topical) products such as scented or deordorant soaps, toiletries, cosmetics or fragrances
In summary, the benefit of these drugs probably outweighs the potential sun-senitivity side
effects (especially with the judicious use of sunscreens and sun exposure time). If not,they
should only be discontinued with the consent of the health care practitioner prescribing
them.
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