If you are one of many people who must take a prescribed medication for a medical condition, then you will want to be aware of this important information. Its true, some medications can cause you to get sun burned, its called Photosensitivity.
Most Americans are on some type of medication and when you go to the Doctor or Pharmacist and get your meds, they rarely will tell you of this serious side effect of your medication. Some of the more common medications that cause Photosensitivity are:
Antidepressants such as: Elavil, Norpramin, Petroiliam, Doxepin, Imipramine, Nortriptylin, Protriptyline and Trimipramine, just to mention a few.
If you use a Antihistamine such as Periactin, Benadryl or Claritin then these too will cause Photosensitivity.
A common anti-inflamatory drug to watch for is called Naprosen.
If you use one of the following antimicrobials then these too can be dangerous to you if your in the sun ; Declomycin, Doxycycline, Griseofulvin, Methacycline, NegGram, Terramycin, Sulfacyntine. In addition to these , there is Neotrizine, Sulfamethizoic, Sulfamethoxaole, Sulfamethoxazolc-trimethoprim (Bactrim and septra), Sulfasalazinc , Sulfisolazole and tetracyclines.
If you are directed to use an AntiPsychotic Drug such as ; Thorazinc, Permitil, Prolixin, Haldol, Trilafon, Quide, Thioridazine Hydrochloride, Mellaril Hydrochloride, Trifluperazine, Triflupromazine or Trimeprazine.
For those folks that have to take a Diuretic, the following drugs may be dangerous to you if your out in the sun;
Naturetin, Exna, Diuril, Anhydron, Lasix, Diucardin, HydroDiuril, Aquatensen, Enduron, Diulo, Zaroxolyn, Renese, Hydromox, Metahydrin, and Diuril.
You may also want to be careful with some of the Herbal meds such as St John's wort.
And for those women who utilize Birth Control medications, be aware that most of the Hormonal and Birth Control drugs can also cause a problem if your out in the sun.
And on a final note, for those Diabetics, the following Hypoglycemics may be of some concern to you if your out in the sun; Dymelor, Diabinese, Insulase, tolinase and Orinase.
While this is not a comprehensive list of medications, it should give you some idea of those meds that can cause a problem if your out in the sun. Always check with your Medical Provider and or your Pharmacist. They can help you prevent further medical problems when your taking medications.
Denny Knutson, LPN,EMT, Maa
Emergency Room Nurse
