Photosensitive Medicines Listed

Q: In a recent column you said that the sun’s UVA rays could cause photosensitivity reactions in people taking certain drugs. Could you provide a list of drugs?

A: Drug-induced photosensitivity reactions (sensitivity to UVA rays of the sun or tanning devices) may result in an exaggerated sunburn or, more rarely, an allergic reaction with itching and a blister-like eruption.

Your best defense is to wear protective clothing and apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that protects against both UVB and UVA rays.

Here’s an alphabetized list of potentially photosensitizing drugs (generic name followed by brand name). Some implicated drugs are more likely to cause reactions than others.

_ANTI-ANXIETY/SLEEPING AGENTS: alprazolam (Xanax); chlordiazepoxide (Librium); eszopiclone (Lunesta); zaleplon (Sonata); zolpidem (Ambien).

_ANTIBIOTIC/ANTIFUNGAL/ANTIVIRAL AGENTS: acyclovir (Zovirax); amantadine (Symmetrel); azithromycin (Zithromax); capreomycin (Capastat); cefazolin (Ancef); ceftazidime (Fortaz); ciprofloxacin (Cipro); cycloserine (Seromycin); dapsone demeclocycline (Declomycin); doxycycline (Vibramycin); ethionamide (Trecator-SC); flucytosine (Ancobon); gemifloxacin (Factive); griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Gris-PEG); isoniazid (Nydrazid); levofloxacin (Levaquin); lomefloxacin (Maxaquin); metronidazole (Flagyl); minocycline (Minocin); moxifloxacin (Avelox); nalidixic acid (NegGram); norfloxacin (Noroxin); ofloxacin (Floxin); oxytetracycline (Terramycin); pyrazinamide ritonavir (Norvir); saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim); sulfasalazine (Azulfidine); sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin); terconazole (Terazol); tetracycline (Achromycin); voriconazole (VFEND); zalcitabine (Hivid).

_ANTI-CANCER AGENTS: bexarotene (Targretin); capecitabine (Xeloda); dacarbazine (DTIC); epirubicin (Ellence); fluorouracil (5-FU); interferon alfa (Intron A, Alferon-N); methotrexate (Mexate); pentostatin (Nipent); procarbazine (Matulane); tretinoin oral (Vesanoid); vinblastine (Velban, Velbe).

_ANTICONVULSANTS: carbamazepine (Tegretol); felbamate (Felbatol); gabapentin (Neurontin); lamotrigine (Lamictal); oxcarbazepine (Trileptal); topiramate (Topamax); valproic acid (Depakene).  

_ANTIDEPRESSANTS: amitriptyline (Elavil); amoxapine (Asendin); bupropion (Wellbutrin); citalopram (Celexa); clomipramine (Anafranil); desipramine (Norpramin); doxepin (Sinequan); escitalopram (Lexapro); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); imipramine (Tofranil); maprotiline (Ludiomil); mirtazapine (Remeron); nefazodone (Serzone); nortriptyline (Pamelor); paroxetine (Paxil); protriptyline (Vivactil); sertraline (Zoloft); trazodone (Desyrel); trimipramine (Surmontil); venlafaxine (Effexor).

_ANTIDIABETIC AGENTS: acetohexamide (Dymelor); chlorpropamide (Diabinese); glimepiride (Amaryl); glipizide (Glucotrol); glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase); tolazamide (Tolinase); tolbutamide (Orinase).

_ANTIHISTAMINES: cetirizine (Zyrtec); cyproheptadine (Periactin); diphenhydramine (Benadryl); loratadine (Claritin).

_ANTI-MALARIA AGENTS: chloroquine (Aralen); hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil); pyrimethamine (Daraprim); pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Fansidar); quinine.

_ANTIPSYCHOTICS: chlorpromazine (Thorazine); clozapine (Clozaril); fluphenazine (Prolixin); haloperidol (Haldol); loxapine (Loxitane); olanzapine (Zyprexa); perphenazine (Trilafon); prochlorperazine (Compazine); quetiapine (Seroquel); risperidone (Risperdal); thioridazine (Mellaril); thiothixene (Navane); trifluoperazine (Stelazine); ziprasidone (Geodon).

_DIURETICS: bendroflumethiazide (Corzide); chlorthalidone (Thalitone); furosemide (Lasix); hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide); hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin); indapamide (Lozol); methyclothiazide (Enduron); metolazone (Zaroxolyn); polythiazide (Renese); triamterene (Dyrenium).

_HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AGENTS: captopril (Capoten); diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac); enalapril (Vasotec); nifedipine (Procardia).  

_HORMONES: Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone); Oral contraceptives.

_LIPID-REGULATING AGENTS: atorvastatin (Lipitor); fenofibrate (Tricor); fluvastatin (Lescol); gemfibrozil (Lopid); lovastatin (Mevacor); pravastatin (Pravachol); rosuvastatin (Crestor); simvastatin (Zocor).

_PAIN-RELIEVERS: celecoxib (Celebrex); cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril); dantrolene (Dantrium); diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren); diflunisal (Dolobid); etodolac (Lodine); ibuprofen (Motrin); ketoprofen (Orudis); mefenamic acid (Ponstel); meloxicam (Mobic); nabumetone (Relafen); naproxen (Anaprox); oxaprozin (Daypro); piroxicam (Feldene); rofecoxib (Vioxx); sulindac (Clinoril); sumatriptan (Imitrex); valdecoxib (Bextra).

_TOPICAL AGENTS (applied to the skin): benzocaine (Americaine); benzyphenones cinnamates; coal tar hexachlorophene (PHisoHex); minoxidil (Rogaine); PABA; tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic); tazarotene (Tazorac); tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A).

_OTHER: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); chlorhexidine (Peridex, Hibiclens); clopidogrel (Plavix); gold salts; isotretinoin (Accutane); methoxsalen (Uvadex, Oxsoralen); promethazine (Phenergan); quinidine; selegiline (Eldepryl); sotalol (Betapace); thalidomide (Thalomid).

_DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: bitter orange; chlorella; dong quai; gossypol; gotu kola; pyridoxine (Vitamin B6); St. John’s wort; Vitamin A.

_NOTE: I’ll share reader comments on my recent shingles column soon.

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Richard Harkness is a consultant pharmacist, natural medicines specialist, and author of eight published books. Write him at 1224 King Henry Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564; or rharkn@aol.com. Selected questions will be used in the column.

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(c) 2007, The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.).

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