Five Medications to Avoid If You Suffer from Photosensitivity

Photosensitivity is a condition when exposure to direct sunlight results in some type of rash (or other symptoms in some patients) on the skin. The rash usually goes away within a few weeks but often itches a great deal. Photosensitivity was one of the very first signs that I had the autoimmune disease lupus, and it'˜s also one of the symptoms that bothers me most. Of course at the time I had no idea that I had lupus and simply believed that I was "allergic to the sun", but once I was diagnosed by my rheumatologist, he explained that photosensitivity is very common in individuals with lupus and advised me to stay out of the sun as much as possible. Whenever I'm forced to go outside in the sun, especially in the summertime, I must cover up with sunscreen and sun protective clothing, including gloves. Because of my complex illness, it seems as if I'm always on some new type of medication, and I've found that some of them make my photosensitivity worse. Here is a list of common prescription medications that can both exacerbate and cause photosensitivity in certain people.

Diamox - I was prescribed this medication to treat intracranial hypertension, a condition in which there is too much pressure inside my skull due to excess spinal fluid. Like most doctors I've seen lately, my neurologist did not inform me that this medication would make my skin more reactive to the sun, but I instead had to find out the hard way. Obviously I need this medication in order to treat this potentially serious condition, but I just have to take extra safety precautions when it comes to the sun.

Plaquenil - now this mediation totally confuses me. Although it's an antimalarial, it's often prescribed for patients with lupus and other autoimmune diseases because it helps to regulate the overactive immune system. I've heard many people say that their sun sensitivity abates once they start taking this drug, but increased photosensitivity is a side-effect. For someone trying to improve their photosensitivity, it can be very frustrating to take a medication that actually worsens it. I am aware that there aren't many proven treatments for lupus, but if at all possible, you might want to ask your doctor for an alternative to this drug if you have lupus and your doctor prescribes this medication, especially if you're as sun sensitive as I am.

Antibiotics - thank goodness most people only have to take antibiotics for a short period of time because they can make a person more sensitive to the sun. If you're taking a course of antibiotics, you might want to take extra precautions whenever out in the sun just to be safe, but not everyone has reactions to the sun as a result of taking antibiotics.

Benadryl - Unfortunately, this antihistamine is one of the absolute few that actually improves my allergies. But in addition to making me so incredibly sleepy that I can barely function, it further increases my sensitivity to the sun, which is totally unacceptable. I try to either take mega doses of vitamin C or look for alternatives rather than suffer through increased sun sensitivity.

Lasix - this is another medication that was prescribed for my intracranial hypertension. It's a powerful diuretic that forces excess fluids out of the body in order to improve certain conditions. I didn't find out until recently that this drug can increase a person's chances of being photosensitive as well. There are alternatives, so you can discuss these with your doctor if necessary.

There are many more drugs that can increase your chances of becoming photosensitive, so whenever you're prescribed a new medication, you'll want to be sure to ask your doctor about possible side-effects and take the necessary precautions if you end up being prescribed a medication that increases photosensitivity.

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutdiagnosis.aspx?articleid=94&zoneid=15

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/diamox.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/sun-