Light sensitive drugs / medicines: List

Many medications and supplements contain ingredients that may cause photosensitivity, which is defined as a chemically induced change in the skin that makes an individual unusually sensitive to light. 

An individual who has been photosensitized may develop a rash, a sunburn, or another adverse effect from exposure to light of intensity or duration that would normally not affect that individual.

We have provided a list of drugs / medicines which are sensitive to light.

Classes of Drugs / Medicines sensitive to light

- Antihistamines

- Contraceptives, Oral and Estrogens

- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

- Phenothiazines

- Psoralens

- Sulfonamides

- Sulfonylureas

- Thiazide Diuretics

- Tetracyclines

- Tricyclic Antidepressants

Here are some examples

1. Antihistamines

AstemizoleAzatadineBrompheniramineBuclizineCarbinoxamineChlorpheniramineClemastineCyclizineCyproheptadineDexchlorpheniramineDimenhydrinateDiphenhydramineDiphenylpyralineDoxylamineHydroxyzineMeclizineMethapyrileneMethdilazineOrphenadrinePheniraminePromethazinePyrilamineTerfenadineTrimeprazineTripelennamineTripolidine 

2. Contraceptives, Estrogens & Progestogens

Estrogens  ChlorotrianiseneDiethylstilbestrolEstradiolEstrogens, conjugatedEstrogens, esterifiedEstopipateProgestogens  Ethinyl estradiolMedroxyprogesteroneMegestrolNorethindroneNorgestrelQuinestrol

3. NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

DiclofenacDiflunisalFenoprofenFlurbiprofenIbuprofenKetoprofenMeclofenamateNaproxenPhenylbutazonePiroxicamSulindacSuprofenTolmetin  

4. Phenothiazines (major tranquilizers, anti-emetics)

AcetophenazineButaperazineCarphenazineChlorpromazineEthoproprazineFluphenazineMesoridazineMethdilazineMethotrimeprazinePerphenazinePiperacetazineProchlororperazinePromazinePromethazinePropiomazineThiethylperazineThioridazineTrifluoperazineTriflupromazineTrimeprazine 

5. Psoralens

MethozsalenTriozsalen 

6. Sulfonamides ("sulfa" drugs, antimicrobials, anti-infectives)

AcetazolamideSulfacytineSulfadiazineSulfadoxineSulfamethizoleSulfamethoxazoleSulfasalazineSulfapyrazoneSulfisoxazole

7. Sulfonylureas (oral anti-diabetics, hypoglycemics)

AcetohexamideChlorpropamideGlipizideGlyburideTolazamideTolbutamide

8. Thiazide Diuretics ("water-pills")

BendroflumethiazideBenzthiazideChlorothiazideChlorothalidoneCyclothiazideHydrochlorothiazideHydroflumethiazideMethyclothiazidePloythiazideTrichlormethiazide  

9. Tetracyclines (antibiotics, anti-infectives)

ChlortetracyclineDemeclocyclineDoxycyclineMethacyclineMinocyclineOxytetracyclineTetracycline  

10. Tricyclic Antidepressants

AmitriptylineAmoxapineDesipramineDoxepinImipramineNortriptylineProtyiptylineTrimipramine 

 Alphabetical list of light-sensitive drugs / medicines by generic name

A

Generic NameTherapeutic useAcetazolamideAnticonvulsantAntiglaucoma DiureticAmiloride + HydrochlorothizideAntiphyertensiveThiazide diureticAmiodaroneAntiarrhythmicAmitriptylineAntidepressant (tricyclic)AmitriptylineAntidepressant (tricyclic)AmoxapineAntidepressant (tricyclic)AstemizoleAntihistamineAtenolol + ChlorthalidoneBeta-adrenergic blockerThiazide diureticAuranofinAntiarthriticGold CompoundAzatadineAntihistamineAzatidine + PseudoephedrineAntihistamineDecongestant

B

BendroflumethiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticBenzthiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticBromodiphenhydramineAntihistamineBrompheniramineAntihistamine

C

CaptoprilAntihypertensiveCaptopril + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticCarbamazepineAnalgesicAnticonvulsantChlorodiazepoxide + AmitriptylineAntidepressant (tricyclic)TranquilizerChlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticChlorpheniramineAntihistamineChlorpheniramine + D-PseudoephedrineAntihistamineDecongestantChlorpheniramine + PhenylpropanolamineAntihistamineDecongestantChlorpromazineAntiemeticTranquilizer

ChlorpropamideAntidiabetic (oral)SulfonylureaChlorprothixeneAntiemeticTranquilizerChlorthalidoneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticChlorthalidoneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticChlorthalidone + ReserpineAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticChlorthalidone + ReserpineAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticCiprofloxacinAnti-infectiveClemastineAntihistamineClofazimeAntibacterialClonidine + ChlorthalidoneAntihypertensiveThiazide DiureticCoal tarAntipsoriaticEczemaCoal tarAntipsoriaticEczemaContraceptive, oralBirth control pillFemale Sex hormoneCromolynAntiasthmaticCyclobenzaprineAntihistamineAntiserotonergic

D

DacarbazineAnti-Hodgkin's diseaseAntimetaboliteDanazolGonadotropin inhibitorDemeclocyclineAntibioticDesipramineAntidepressant (trycyclic)DesipramineAntidepressant (trycyclic)DexchlorpheniramineAntihistamineDiclofenacNSAID, antiarthriticDiflunisalNSAID, antiarthriticDiltiazemAntianginalAntihypertensiveCalcium channel blockerDiphenhydramineAntihistamineDiphenylpyralineAntihistamineDoxepinAntidepressant (trycyclic)DoxycyclineAntibioticDoxycycline HyclateAntibiotic

E

EnalaprilAntihypertensiveEnalapril + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticErythromycin  Ethylsuccinate + SulfisoxazoleAntibioticEstrogensFemale sex hormoneEstrogensFemale sex hormoneEthionamideAnti-infectiveAntituberculosisEtretinateAntipsoriatic

F

FloxuridineAntimetaboliteAntineoplasticFlucytosineAntifungalFluorouracilAntineoplasticFluorouracilAntineoplasticFluorouracilAntineoplasticFluphenzineAntipsychoticTranquilizerFluphenzineAntipsychoticTranquilizerFlurbiprofenNSAID, antiarthriticFlutamideAntimetastic (prostatic carcinoma)FurosemideAntihypertensiveDiuretic

G

GentamicinAntibioticGlipizideAntidiabetic (oral)SulfonylureaGlyburideAntidiabetic (oral)SulfonylureaGlyburideAntidiabetic (oral)SulfonylureaGold Salts (Compounds)AntiarthriticGold CompoundGold Sodium ThiomalateAntiarthriticGold CompoundGriseofulvinAntibioticAntifungalGriseofulvinAntibioticAntifungalGuanethidine + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diuretic

H

HaloperidolAntipsychoticTranquilizerHexachloropheneAntibacterialHydralazine + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydralazine + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydrochlorothiazide + DeserpidineAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydrochlorothiazide + TriamtereneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydrochlorothiazide + TriamtereneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydroflumethiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydroflumethiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticHydroflumethiazide + ReserpineAntihypertensiveThiazide diuretic

I

IbuprofenNSAID, antiarthriticIbuprofenNSAID, antiarthriticImipramineAntidepressant (tricyclic)IndapamideAntihypertensiveDiureticInterferon ALFA-2BAntiviral agentIsocarboxazidAntidepressantMAO inhibitorIsotretinoinAntiacne

K

KetoprofenNSAID, antiarthritic

L

LabetalolAntihypertensiveBeta- and alpha-adrenergic blockerLabetalol + HydrochlorothiazideBeta- and alpha-adrenergic blockerThiazide diureticLabetalol + HydrochlorothiazideBeta- and alpha-adrenergic blockerThiazide diureticLisinopril + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticLisinopril + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticLovastatinAnticholesterol

M

MaprotilineAntidepressantMeperidine + PromethiazineNarcotic analgesicMesoridazineAntipsychoticTranquilizerMethacyclineAntibioticMethazolamideAntiglaucomaMethdilazineAntihistamineAntipruriticMethotrexateAntimetaboliteAntipsoriaticMethotrexateAntimetaboliteAntipsoriaticMethotrexateAntimetaboliteAntipsoriaticMethyclothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMethyclothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMethyclothiazide + DeserpidineAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMethyclothiazide + ReserpineAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMethyldopa + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMethyldopa + ChlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMetolazoneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMetolazoneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMetolazoneAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticMetoprolol + HyrdochlorothiazideBeta-adrenergic blockerThiazide diureticMinocyclineAntibioticMinoxidolHair growth stimulator

N

NabiloneAntiemeticAntinauseaNadolol + BendroflumethiazideAntihypertensiveBeta-adrenergic blockerNalidixic AcidAntimicrobialNaprosynNSAID, AntiarthriticNaprosynNSAID, AntiarthriticNifedipineAntianginalAntihypertensiveCalcium channel blockerNifedipineAntianginalAntihypertensiveCalcium channel blockerNorfloxacinAntibacterialNortriptylineAntidepressant (tricyclic)

O

OxytetracyclineAntibiotic

P

PerphenazineAntipsychoticTranquilizerPerphenazine + AmitriptylineAntidepressant (tricyclic)TranquilizerPerphenazine + AmitriptylineAntidepressant (tricyclic)TranquilizerPhenylbutazoneNSAID, AntiarthriticPhenylpropanolamine + ChlorpheniramineAntihistamineDecongestantPhenylpropanolamine + Pheniramine + PyrilamineAntihistamineDecongestantPhenytoinAnticonvulsantPiroxicamNSAID, AntiarthriticPolythiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticPrazosin + PolythiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide diureticProchlorperazineAntinauseaAnti-vomitingPromethazineAntihistaminePropranolol + HydrochlorothiazideBeta-adrenergic blockerThiazide diureticProtriptylineAntidepressant (Trycyclic)PyrazinamideAnti-infectiveAntituberculosis

Q

QuinethazoneAntihypertensiveDiureticQuinidine GluconateAntiarrhythmicQuinidine SulfateAntiarrhythmicQuinidine SulfateAntiarrhythmicQuinineAntiprotozoal

R

Rauwolfia serpentina + BendroflumethizideAntihypertensiveThiazide DiureticReserpine + ChlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide DiureticReserpine + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide DiureticReserpine + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide DiureticReserpine + Hydralazine + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide Diuretic

S

SelegilineAnti-ParkinsonismMAO inhibitorSpironolactone + HydrochlorothiazideAntihypertensiveThiazide DiureticSulfacytineAntibioticSulfadoxine + PyrimethamineAntimalarialAntiprotozoalSulfamethizole + PhenazopyridineUrinary analgesicAntibioticSulfamethoxazoleAntibioticSulfamethoxazole + PhenazopyridineAntibioticUrinary analgesicSulfapyridineDermatitis herpetiformis suppresantSulfasalazineBowel anti-inflammatorySulfinpyrazoneAntigout agentAntihypertensiveSulfasoxazoleAntibioticSulfasoxazole + PhenazopyridineAntibioticUrinary analgesicSulfoneAntileprosyAntimalarialSulindacNSAID, antiarthritic

T

TerfenadineAntihistamineTetracyclineAntibioticTetracyclineAntibioticThioridazineAntipsychoticTranquilizerThiothixeneAntipsychoticTranquilizerTimolol + HydrochlorothiazideBeta-adrenergic blockerThiazide diureticTolazamideAntidiabetic (oral)SulfonylureaTolbutamideAntidiabetic (oral)SulfonylureaTretinoinAntiacne (topical)TriamtereneAntihypertensiveDiureticTrifluoperazineAntipsychoticTranquilizerTriflupromazineAntiemeticAntipsychoticTrimeprazineAntipsychoticTranquilizerTrimethoprimAntibioticTrimethoprim + SulfamethoxazoleAntibioticTrimethoprim + SulfamethoxazoleAntibioticTrimipramineAntidepressant (trycyclic)TripelennamineAntihistamineTriprolidineAntihistamineTriprolidine + PseudoephedrineAntihistamineDecongestant

V

VinblastineAntieoplastic

Source: Website of Wiscosin Department of Health Services

Source of data: Medications that Increase Sensitivity to Light: A 1990 Listing, prepared by Jerome I. Levine, M.S., R.Ph., 12/90, US Dept of Health and Human Services, FDA 91-8280.

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https://thehealthmaster.com/drugs/light-sensitive-drugs-medicines-list/