Something many don't think about, including myself, but should... is that the medications that you are on may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to UV Rays and cause severe sunburn.
I unfortunately experienced this myself late Monday morning. I spent only about an hour at the table in my yard doing some paperwork. The sun was bright, but it was still cool enough that I was wearing a sweater. The result was second degree burns on my hands. Not something anyone wants to deal with and it could have been much worse had I been out longer or had more skin exposed.
Here is a listing of medications that have this possible risk. Many of these medications have a minimal risk and some are not related to Bipolar at all. I'm putting all of them here, because I have been on my meds for a long time and this has never happened to me. The only new med I take is Flexeril, so I'm assuming that's what did it, but who knows. Many of us do take meds related to other issues as well.
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Your best defense is to wear protective clothing and apply a sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays.
Here's an alphabetized list of potentially photosensitizing drugs (by generic/brand). The list may not be complete, so check prescription labels for a photosensitivity caution.
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-LOWERING 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), sulindac (Clinoril), sumatriptan (Imitrex)
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, St. John's wort, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
