It’s Summertime!
Below shares information on medication classes that increase sun sensitivity. The examples listed are not an all-inclusive list, we have include those most commonly utilized in LTC in each class.
ACE Inhibitors
- Benazepril
- Captopril
- Enalapril
- Lisinopril
- Quinapril
- Ramipril
Antibiotics, Especially Fluoroquinolones
- Ciprofloxacin,
- Doxycycline,
- Levofloxacin
- Moxifloxacin
- Sulfamethoxazole
- Tetracycline
- Trimethoprim
Anticonvulsants
- Carbamazepine
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenobarbital
- Pregabalin
- Primidone
- Topiramate
- Valproic Acid/Divalproex Sodium
Antidepressants
- Amitriptyline
- Bupropion
- Citalopram
- Desipramine
- Doxepin
- Duloxetine
- Escitalopram
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
- Imipramine
- Nortriptyline
- Paroxetine
- Trazodone
- Venlafaxine
Antihistamines
- Cetirizine
- Dimenhydrinate
- Diphenhydramine
Anti-Parkinson’s Agents
- Amantadine
- Pramipexole
Antipsychotics
- Aripiprazole
- Clozapine
- Haloperidol
- Olanzapine
- Quetiapine
- Risperidone
- Ziprasidone
CCB’s
- Diltiazem
- Nifedipine
Diuretics
- Chlorthalidone
- Furosemide
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Metolazone
Hypnotics
- Eszopiclone
- Zaleplon
- Zolpidem
Lipid-Lowering Agents
- Atorvastatin
- Fenofibrate
- Fluvastatin
- Gemfibrozil
- Lovastatin
- Pravastatin
- Rosuvastatin
- Simvastatin
NSAIDs
- Celecoxib
- Ibuprofen
- Meloxicam
- Naproxen
- Piroxicam
Proton Pump Inhibitors
- Esomeprazole
- Omeprazole
- Pantoprazole
Sulfonylureas
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Glyburide
Miscellaneous
- Alendronate
- Losartan
- Amiodarone
- Carvedilol
- Oxycodone
- Prochlorperazine
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Terbinafine
Medication Classes that Impact Heat Response
Some medication classes can impair the body’s ability to respond appropriately to heat, increasing risk of a heat-related illness, including dehydration. Signs of heat illness/stroke include headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and muscle cramping which can progress to weakness, high fever, difficulty breathing, lack of sweating, rapid pulse, confusion, collapse, and seizures. Below shares the impact on the body’s ability to maintain healthy temperature certain medication classes have.
Medications that can Decrease the Body’s Ability to Sweat and Cool Itself
- Vasoconstrictors (pseudoephedrine)
- Antihistamines (diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, promethazine, cyproheptadine)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, fluvoxamine, imipramine, nortriptyline)
- Phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, thioridazine)
- Anticholinergics (benztropine, dicyclomine)
Affect the Part of the Brain that Controls How the Body Maintains a Healthy Temperature
- Antipsychotics (olanzapine, clozapine, risperidone, quetiapine,)
Medication Classes that Can Slow Blood Flow to the Skin, Making it Harder to Rid the Skin of Heat
- Beta blockers (carvedilol, propranolol, metoprolol, nadolol, pindolol, sotalol)
- Calcium Channel Blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, amlodipine, felodipine)
Class that can Cause Dehydration
- Diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, metolazone, torsemide, spironolactone, amiloride, chlorthalidone, triamterene) .
Safety First!
Be aware of the weather and limit time outside in higher temperatures, wear your sunscreen, and hydrate!
