Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by The Health Master
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 an intensity or duration that would normally not affect that individual.
We have provided a list of drugs / medicines that 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
| Astemizole | Azatadine | Brompheniramine |
| Buclizine | Carbinoxamine | Chlorpheniramine |
| Clemastine | Cyclizine | Cyproheptadine |
| Dexchlorpheniramine | Dimenhydrinate | Diphenhydramine |
| Diphenylpyraline | Doxylamine | Hydroxyzine |
| Meclizine | Methapyrilene | Methdilazine |
| Orphenadrine | Pheniramine | Promethazine |
| Pyrilamine | Terfenadine | Trimeprazine |
| Tripelennamine | Tripolidine |
2. Contraceptives, Estrogens & Progestogens
| Estrogens | ||
| Chlorotrianisene | Diethylstilbestrol | Estradiol |
| Estrogens, conjugated | Estrogens, esterified | Estopipate |
| Progestogens | ||
| Ethinyl estradiol | Medroxyprogesterone | Megestrol |
| Norethindrone | Norgestrel | Quinestrol |
3. NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
| Diclofenac | Diflunisal | Fenoprofen |
| Flurbiprofen | Ibuprofen | Ketoprofen |
| Meclofenamate | Naproxen | Phenylbutazone |
| Piroxicam | Sulindac | Suprofen |
| Tolmetin |
4. Phenothiazines (major tranquilizers, anti-emetics)
| Acetophenazine | Butaperazine | Carphenazine |
| Chlorpromazine | Ethoproprazine | Fluphenazine |
| Mesoridazine | Methdilazine | Methotrimeprazine |
| Perphenazine | Piperacetazine | Prochlororperazine |
| Promazine | Promethazine | Propiomazine |
| Thiethylperazine | Thioridazine | Trifluoperazine |
| Triflupromazine | Trimeprazine |
5. Psoralens
| Methozsalen | Triozsalen |
6. Sulfonamides (“sulfa” drugs, antimicrobials, anti-infectives)
| Acetazolamide | Sulfacytine | Sulfadiazine |
| Sulfadoxine | Sulfamethizole | Sulfamethoxazole |
| Sulfasalazine | Sulfapyrazone | Sulfisoxazole |
7. Sulfonylureas (oral anti-diabetics, hypoglycemics)
| Acetohexamide | Chlorpropamide | Glipizide |
| Glyburide | Tolazamide | Tolbutamide |
8. Thiazide Diuretics (“water-pills”)
| Bendroflumethiazide | Benzthiazide | Chlorothiazide |
| Chlorothalidone | Cyclothiazide | Hydrochlorothiazide |
| Hydroflumethiazide | Methyclothiazide | Ploythiazide |
| Trichlormethiazide |
9. Tetracyclines (antibiotics, anti-infectives)
| Chlortetracycline | Demeclocycline | Doxycycline |
| Methacycline | Minocycline | Oxytetracycline |
| Tetracycline |
10. Tricyclic Antidepressants
| Amitriptyline | Amoxapine | Desipramine |
| Doxepin | Imipramine | Nortriptyline |
| Protyiptyline | Trimipramine |
Alphabetical list of light-sensitive drugs / medicines by generic name
A
| Generic Name | Therapeutic use |
| Acetazolamide | Anticonvulsant Antiglaucoma Diuretic |
| Amiloride + Hydrochlorothizide | Antiphyertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Amiodarone | Antiarrhythmic |
| Amitriptyline | Antidepressant (tricyclic) |
| Amitriptyline | Antidepressant (tricyclic) |
| Amoxapine | Antidepressant (tricyclic) |
| Astemizole | Antihistamine |
| Atenolol + Chlorthalidone | Beta-adrenergic blocker Thiazide diuretic |
| Auranofin | Antiarthritic Gold Compound |
| Azatadine | Antihistamine |
| Azatidine + Pseudoephedrine | Antihistamine Decongestant |
B
| Bendroflumethiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Benzthiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Bromodiphenhydramine | Antihistamine |
| Brompheniramine | Antihistamine |
C
| Captopril | Antihypertensive |
| Captopril + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Carbamazepine | Analgesic Anticonvulsant |
| Chlorodiazepoxide + Amitriptyline | Antidepressant (tricyclic) Tranquilizer |
| Chlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Chlorpheniramine | Antihistamine |
| Chlorpheniramine + D-Pseudoephedrine | Antihistamine Decongestant |
| Chlorpheniramine + Phenylpropanolamine | Antihistamine Decongestant |
| Chlorpromazine | Antiemetic Tranquilizer |
| Chlorpropamide | Antidiabetic (oral) Sulfonylurea |
| Chlorprothixene | Antiemetic Tranquilizer |
| Chlorthalidone | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Chlorthalidone | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Chlorthalidone + Reserpine | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Chlorthalidone + Reserpine | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Ciprofloxacin | Anti-infective |
| Clemastine | Antihistamine |
| Clofazime | Antibacterial |
| Clonidine + Chlorthalidone | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
| Coal tar | Antipsoriatic Eczema |
| Coal tar | Antipsoriatic Eczema |
| Contraceptive, oral | Birth control pill Female Sex hormone |
| Cromolyn | Antiasthmatic |
| Cyclobenzaprine | Antihistamine Antiserotonergic |
D
| Dacarbazine | Anti-Hodgkin’s disease Antimetabolite |
| Danazol | Gonadotropin inhibitor |
| Demeclocycline | Antibiotic |
| Desipramine | Antidepressant (trycyclic) |
| Desipramine | Antidepressant (trycyclic) |
| Dexchlorpheniramine | Antihistamine |
| Diclofenac | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Diflunisal | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Diltiazem | Antianginal Antihypertensive Calcium channel blocker |
| Diphenhydramine | Antihistamine |
| Diphenylpyraline | Antihistamine |
| Doxepin | Antidepressant (trycyclic) |
| Doxycycline | Antibiotic |
| Doxycycline Hyclate | Antibiotic |
E
| Enalapril | Antihypertensive |
| Enalapril + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate + Sulfisoxazole | Antibiotic |
| Estrogens | Female sex hormone |
| Estrogens | Female sex hormone |
| Ethionamide | Anti-infective Antituberculosis |
| Etretinate | Antipsoriatic |
F
| Floxuridine | Antimetabolite Antineoplastic |
| Flucytosine | Antifungal |
| Fluorouracil | Antineoplastic |
| Fluorouracil | Antineoplastic |
| Fluorouracil | Antineoplastic |
| Fluphenzine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Fluphenzine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Flurbiprofen | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Flutamide | Antimetastic (prostatic carcinoma) |
| Furosemide | Antihypertensive Diuretic |
G
| Gentamicin | Antibiotic |
| Glipizide | Antidiabetic (oral) Sulfonylurea |
| Glyburide | Antidiabetic (oral) Sulfonylurea |
| Glyburide | Antidiabetic (oral) Sulfonylurea |
| Gold Salts (Compounds) | Antiarthritic Gold Compound |
| Gold Sodium Thiomalate | Antiarthritic Gold Compound |
| Griseofulvin | Antibiotic Antifungal |
| Griseofulvin | Antibiotic Antifungal |
| Guanethidine + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
H
| Haloperidol | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Hexachlorophene | Antibacterial |
| Hydralazine + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydralazine + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydrochlorothiazide + Deserpidine | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydrochlorothiazide + Triamterene | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydrochlorothiazide + Triamterene | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydroflumethiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydroflumethiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Hydroflumethiazide + Reserpine | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
I
| Ibuprofen | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Ibuprofen | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Imipramine | Antidepressant (tricyclic) |
| Indapamide | Antihypertensive Diuretic |
| Interferon ALFA-2B | Antiviral agent |
| Isocarboxazid | Antidepressant MAO inhibitor |
| Isotretinoin | Antiacne |
K
| Ketoprofen | NSAID, antiarthritic |
L
| Labetalol | Antihypertensive Beta- and alpha-adrenergic blocker |
| Labetalol + Hydrochlorothiazide | Beta- and alpha-adrenergic blocker Thiazide diuretic |
| Labetalol + Hydrochlorothiazide | Beta- and alpha-adrenergic blocker Thiazide diuretic |
| Lisinopril + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Lisinopril + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Lovastatin | Anticholesterol |
M
| Maprotiline | Antidepressant |
| Meperidine + Promethiazine | Narcotic analgesic |
| Mesoridazine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Methacycline | Antibiotic |
| Methazolamide | Antiglaucoma |
| Methdilazine | Antihistamine Antipruritic |
| Methotrexate | Antimetabolite Antipsoriatic |
| Methotrexate | Antimetabolite Antipsoriatic |
| Methotrexate | Antimetabolite Antipsoriatic |
| Methyclothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Methyclothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Methyclothiazide + Deserpidine | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Methyclothiazide + Reserpine | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Methyldopa + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Methyldopa + Chlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Metolazone | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Metolazone | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Metolazone | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Metoprolol + Hyrdochlorothiazide | Beta-adrenergic blocker Thiazide diuretic |
| Minocycline | Antibiotic |
| Minoxidol | Hair growth stimulator |
N
| Nabilone | Antiemetic Antinausea |
| Nadolol + Bendroflumethiazide | Antihypertensive Beta-adrenergic blocker |
| Nalidixic Acid | Antimicrobial |
| Naprosyn | NSAID, Antiarthritic |
| Naprosyn | NSAID, Antiarthritic |
| Nifedipine | Antianginal Antihypertensive Calcium channel blocker |
| Nifedipine | Antianginal Antihypertensive Calcium channel blocker |
| Norfloxacin | Antibacterial |
| Nortriptyline | Antidepressant (tricyclic) |
O
| Oxytetracycline | Antibiotic |
P
| Perphenazine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Perphenazine + Amitriptyline | Antidepressant (tricyclic) Tranquilizer |
| Perphenazine + Amitriptyline | Antidepressant (tricyclic) Tranquilizer |
| Phenylbutazone | NSAID, Antiarthritic |
| Phenylpropanolamine + Chlorpheniramine | Antihistamine Decongestant |
| Phenylpropanolamine + Pheniramine + Pyrilamine | Antihistamine Decongestant |
| Phenytoin | Anticonvulsant |
| Piroxicam | NSAID, Antiarthritic |
| Polythiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Prazosin + Polythiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide diuretic |
| Prochlorperazine | Antinausea Anti-vomiting |
| Promethazine | Antihistamine |
| Propranolol + Hydrochlorothiazide | Beta-adrenergic blocker Thiazide diuretic |
| Protriptyline | Antidepressant (Trycyclic) |
| Pyrazinamide | Anti-infective Antituberculosis |
Q
| Quinethazone | Antihypertensive Diuretic |
| Quinidine Gluconate | Antiarrhythmic |
| Quinidine Sulfate | Antiarrhythmic |
| Quinidine Sulfate | Antiarrhythmic |
| Quinine | Antiprotozoal |
R
| Rauwolfia serpentina + Bendroflumethizide | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
| Reserpine + Chlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
| Reserpine + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
| Reserpine + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
| Reserpine + Hydralazine + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
S
| Selegiline | Anti-Parkinsonism MAO inhibitor |
| Spironolactone + Hydrochlorothiazide | Antihypertensive Thiazide Diuretic |
| Sulfacytine | Antibiotic |
| Sulfadoxine + Pyrimethamine | Antimalarial Antiprotozoal |
| Sulfamethizole + Phenazopyridine | Urinary analgesic Antibiotic |
| Sulfamethoxazole | Antibiotic |
| Sulfamethoxazole + Phenazopyridine | Antibiotic Urinary analgesic |
| Sulfapyridine | Dermatitis herpetiformis suppresant |
| Sulfasalazine | Bowel anti-inflammatory |
| Sulfinpyrazone | Antigout agent Antihypertensive |
| Sulfasoxazole | Antibiotic |
| Sulfasoxazole + Phenazopyridine | Antibiotic Urinary analgesic |
| Sulfone | Antileprosy Antimalarial |
| Sulindac | NSAID, antiarthritic |
T
| Terfenadine | Antihistamine |
| Tetracycline | Antibiotic |
| Tetracycline | Antibiotic |
| Thioridazine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Thiothixene | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Timolol + Hydrochlorothiazide | Beta-adrenergic blocker Thiazide diuretic |
| Tolazamide | Antidiabetic (oral) Sulfonylurea |
| Tolbutamide | Antidiabetic (oral) Sulfonylurea |
| Tretinoin | Antiacne (topical) |
| Triamterene | Antihypertensive Diuretic |
| Trifluoperazine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Triflupromazine | Antiemetic Antipsychotic |
| Trimeprazine | Antipsychotic Tranquilizer |
| Trimethoprim | Antibiotic |
| Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole | Antibiotic |
| Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole | Antibiotic |
| Trimipramine | Antidepressant (trycyclic) |
| Tripelennamine | Antihistamine |
| Triprolidine | Antihistamine |
| Triprolidine + Pseudoephedrine | Antihistamine Decongestant |
V
| Vinblastine | Antieoplastic |
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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