Tulsa World: Many medicines spark photosensitive reactions, nasty sunburns

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Many medicines spark photosensitive reactions, nasty sunburns

By SUZY COHEN Dear Pharmacist
Published: 6/6/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 6/6/2009 4:19 AM

Dear Pharmacist: I just started taking "doxycycline" for acne. The prescription label says to "avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight." My roommate says he took doxycycline before going on a cruise and nothing happened to him. He bet me $100 to go outside for an hour. Should I? — CN, Gainesville, Fla.

Don't take the bet because if you lose, you lose big time.

Only you, not your roommate, run the risk of turning into a blistering red-faced 'gator. Photosensitivity is a fairly common skin reaction that is sparked by taking medicine that interacts with the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. It happened to me, luckily just on the top of my hands, and I can tell you the burning pain of it, and associated pins-and-needles sensation rendered me out of writing commission for two days.

Photosensitive reactions are very unpredictable. Some people get severe sunburns and brown splotches in their skin, some get redness, tenderness, a rash, hives, or other types of inflammation (such as swelling or generalized pain). Some skin reactions are permanent.

There are hundreds of other offending drugs. Here are some relatively common ones:

Antibiotics: Sulfa drugs, tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin.

Antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds: Elavil, Norpramin, Sinequan, Effexor, Zoloft, Remeron and Xanax.

Accutane and Retin A used to improve skin.

Allergy meds: Zyrtec, Benadryl, Claritin.

Blood-pressure pills: Capoten, Vasotec, Accupril, Altace, diltiazem, nifedipine.

Diabetic drugs: Glipizide, glyburide, tolbutamide, glimepiride.

Birth control pills or menopausal drugs.

Statin cholesterol drugs: Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor.

Diuretics: HCTZ or furosemide.

Anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs: Ibuprofen and naproxen.

info@dearpharmacist.com By SUZY COHEN Dear Pharmacist

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

0 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.

Post Your Comment