Potentially Photosensitizing Medications

Photosensitizing medications can cause adverse reactions when treating the skin with medical grade chemical peels or with laser light energies.  Such adverse results include hyper-pigmentation, IGE mediated responses, and possibly hypo-pigmentation (loss of pigmentation).  This list of potentially photosensitizing medications is a comprehensive listing of medications but may not be all encumbering.  New medications are continually being introduced or current medications are being revised, please use this reference as a quick reference guide for patients taking such types of medications.
Please note that many of these medications may be relative contraindications, refer to the half life of these medications and make an educated judgment as to the type of treatment and whether a short-term elimination of these medications will allow for these aesthetic procedures.  Never allow for an aesthetic procedure for a patient with a medical “at risk” condition that is either uncontrolled or needs monitoring.
Acne Medications
Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Tretinoin (Retin-A)
Anticancer Medications
Chlorambucil
Cyclophosphamide
Dacarbazine
Fluorouacil
Flutamide
Mercaptopurine
Methotrexate
Procarbazine
Thioguanine
Vinblastine
Antidepressants
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Clomipramine
Doxepin
Imipramine
Isocarboxazid
Maprotiline
Phenelzine
Protriptyline
Trazadone
Trimipramine
Antiepileptics, Sedative, Muscle Relaxants
Carbamazepine
Cyclobenzaprine
Diazepam
Meprobamate
Phenobarbitol
Phenytoin
Antihistamines
Azatadine
Clemastine
Diphenhydramine
Terfenadine
Tripelennamine
Antihypertensives
Captopril
Dilitiazem
Methyldopa
Minoxidil
Nifedipine
Antimicrobials
Ciprofloxacin
Clofazimine
Dapsone
Demeclocycline
Doxycycline
Enoxacine
Flucytosine
Griseafulvin
Ketoconazole
Lomefloxacine
Methacycline
Minocycline
Nalidixic acid
Narfloxacin
Ofloxacin
Oxytetracycline
Pyrazinamide
Sulfa drugs
(Bactrim, Septra,Tetracycline)
Antiparasitics
Bithionol
Chloroquine
Pyruvinium pamoate
Quinine
Thiabendazole
Antipsychotics
Chlorpromazine
Chlorprothixene
Fluphenazine
Haloperidol
Perphenazine
Prochlorperazine
Promethazine
Thioridazine
Thiothixane
Trifluoperazine
Thioflupromazine
Trimeprazine
Cardiovascular
Amiodarone
Atenolol
Captopril
Diltiazem
Disopyramide
Nifedipine
Propranolol
Quinidine gluconate
Quinidine sulfate
Verapamil
Diuretics
Acetazolaminde
Amiloride
Bendroflumethiazide
Benzthiazide
Chlorothiazide
Furosemide
Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydro flumethiazide
Methyclothiazide
Metalazone
Polythiazide
Quinethazone
Trichlormethia-zide
Hypoglycemics
Acetohexamide
Chlorpropamide
Glipizide
Tolazamide
Tolbutamide
NSAIDS
Diclofenac
Fenoprofen
Flurbiprofen
Indomethacin
Ketoprofen
Meclofenamate
Naproxen
Phenylbutazone
Piroxicam
Sulindac
Others
Bergamot oil
Oils of citron, lavender, lime, sandalwood
Benzocaine
Clofibrate Oral contraceptive
Etretinate
Gold salts
Hexachlorophene
Lovastatin
St John’s Wort
Gmethylcoumarin (used in perfumes, lotions, etc)

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