Non-Exhaustive List of Photosensitising Substances

 

Side Effects of Photosensitising Chemicals and Light Therapies, including LHR
 

The side effects that can result from LHR and photosensitive substances are depending on the substance and on the individual, it could lead to either a phototoxic, a photoallergic reaction, or both.

A phototoxic reaction to LHR usually resembles an extreme sunburn. This is usually a temporary side effect, but the medication should be discontinued if further LHR are needed. Otherwise there could be increased damage to the skin.

A photoallergic reaction to LHR is more serious and can cause less temporary side effects. When a photoallergic reaction occurs, the laser energy changes the medication present within the client's body, causing the immune system to attack the drug like it would an invader. As a result, the surrounding skin area becomes inflamed, and a long-lasting problem like eczema or dermatitis could be the outcome.

Examples:
Tetracycline: phototoxic
Ibuprofen: phototoxic
Naproxen: phototoxic
Isotretinoin (Accutane): phototoxic
Retin-A: phototoxic
Oral contraceptives: photoallergic
Hydrochlorothiazide: phototoxic and photoallergic

 

 

The list below is not complete, please inform us of your entire medical history including all the medications, herbals, supplements, vitamins and/or cosmetic products (all oral, topical, inhalation & injection) you take in the present & in the last 6 months.

 

Vitamin A derivatives

• Tretinoin (Retin - A)

• Isotretinoin (Accutane)

• Retinol

The above substances must be stopped at least 6 months before any light therapies, such as LHR, can commence.

For an example, isotretinoin temporary decreases the production of sebum and reduces the size of sebaceous glands. Some of the side effects of isotretinoin are dry skin, chapped lips, a weakened ability to heal wounds. Therefore, it is not advisable to do any light-based therapy while on Accutane as this could increase the risk of burn or scarring from laser/IPL treatments.

Anticancer Drugs (antineoplastic)

• Dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome)

• Fluorouracil (Fluoroplex and others)

• Methotrexate (Mexate and others)

• Vinblastine (Velban)

Anticoagulants

• Heparin

 

Antidepressants

• Amitriptyline (Elavil and others)

• bupropion

• clomipramine

• Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)

• Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)

• Imipramine (Tofranil and others)

• maprotiline

• mirtazapine (Remeron)

• Notriptylin (Aventyl, Pamelor)

• Paroxetine (Paxil)

• Protriptyline (Vivactil)

• Sertraline (Zoloft)

• Tricyclics

• Trimipramine (Surmontil)

Antihistamines

• Astemizole

• Brompheniramine

• Cetirizine

• Cyproheptadine (Periactin)

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl and others)

• Claritin

• Promethazine (Phenergan and others)

• Terfenadine

• Trimeprazine (Temaril)

Immunosuppressants

• Azathioprine (Imuran)

Antibiotics

• azithromycin (Zithromax)

• demaclocycline (Declomycin and others)

• doxycycline (Vibramycin and others)

• griseofulvin (Fulvicin-U/F and others)

• hexachlorophene

• lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)

• methacycline (Rondomycin)

• nalidixic acid (NegGram and others)

• oxytetracyclines (Terramycin and others)

• quinolones

• sulphonamides

• sulfacyntine (Renoquid)

• sulfadimidine or sulfamethazine

• sulfamethizole (Thiosulfil Forte and others)

• sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol and others)

• sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim,

• Septra)

• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine and others)

• sulfathiazole

• sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin and others)

• tetracyclines (Achromycin, Minocin)

• trisulfapyrimidines (Neotrizine and others)

Anti-inflammatory

• aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA)

• celecoxib (Celebrex)

• ibuprofen (Motrin)

• naproxen (Naprosyn)

• NSAIDs

Antipsychotics

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine and others)

• Fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin)

• Haloperidol (Haldol)

• Perphenazine (Trilafon)

• Piperacetazine (Guide)

• Prochlorperazine (Compazine and others)

• Promethazine (Phenergan and others)

• Risperidone

• Thioridazine (Mellaril)

• Trifluoperazine (Stelazine and others)

• Triflupromazine (Vesprin)

• Thiothixene

 

Diuretics

• acetazolamide (Diamox)

• amiloride (Midamor)

• Bendroflumethiazide (Naturetin and

• others)

• Benzthiazide (Exna and others)

• Chlorothiazide (Diuril and others)

• Chlorathaldone

• Cyclothiazide (Anhydron)

• Furosemide (Lasix)

• Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL and others)

• Hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin and others)

• losartan

• Methyclothiazide (Aquatensen, Enduron)

• Metolazone (Diulo, Zaroxolyn)

• Polythiazide (Renese)

• Quinethazone (Hydromox)

• Thiazide

• Trichlormethiazide (Metahydrin and others)

Hypoglycemics

• Acetohexamide (Dymelor)

• Chlorpropamide (Diabinese, Insulase)

• glimepiride

• glipizide

• glyburide

• Tolazamide (Tolinase)

• Tolbutamide (Orinase and others)

Cardiac Medication

• ACE inhibitors (Vasotec)

• Amiodarone (Cordarone)

• Diltiazem (Cardizem)

• Disopyramide (Norpace)

• losartan

• lovastatin (Mevacor)

• pravastatin (Pravachol)

• quinidine

• sotalol

• simvastatin (Zocor)

Anti-arthritics

• Gold Salt thiomalate (Solganol)

High doses of these herbal / organic

• Agrimony(Agrimonia eupatoria)

• Angelica root and fruit

• Bergamot peel (Citrus bergamia)

• Bitter orange peel (citrus aurantium)

• Buttercup plant (Ranunculus species)

• Carrot family

• Celery

• Cow parsnip

• Dill

• Fennel

• Fig
  

• Ginkgo biloba

• Goosefoot

• Khella fruit

• Lemon peel (Citrus limonia)

• Lomatium

• Lovage root

• Parsley

• Psoralea seeds

• Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)

• Rue leaves

• St John’s Wort

• Yarrow plant

Supplements

• Iron

Avoid iron supplements at least 3 days before and after treatment.

Hormonal

• estrogen replacement

• oral contraceptives

• Some other hormones

Sunscreens containing PABA (aka 4-Aminobenzoic acid or para-aminobenzoic acid), cinnamates, salicylates or benzophenones

 

 

You must consult your medical doctors before stopping any medications.

 

 

For more info, please visit Medscape