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Photosensitivity
There are over 400 drugs that can make the skin super sensitive to sunlight. These 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 blister like eruptions on the skin.
Here's an alphabetized list of the most common drugs known for photosensitizing skin (generic name followed by brand name). Some implicated drugs are more likely to cause a reaction 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)
Anticancer 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
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)
Dietary supplements
Miscellaneous
- amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
- chlorhexidine (Peridex, Hibiclens)
- clopidogrel (Plavix)
- gold salts
- isotretinoin (Accutane)
- methoxsalen (Uvadex, Oxsoralen)
- promethazine (Phenergan)
- quinidine
- selegiline (Eldepryl)
- sotalol (Betapace)
- thalidomide (Thalomid)
Your best defense against photosensitivity is to wear protective clothing and apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that protects against both the UVB and UVA rays of the sun.
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