Fun in the Sun? More like Safe in the Summer
Modified from July 2019
5…4…3…2…1…SUMMER! June 20 marked the first day of summer. Warm weather is here. Swimming, beach-combing, cookouts, camping, and medications await us. Wait? Medications? What do medications have to do with our summer fun?
We don’t often think about what medications do besides alleviating symptoms. Many of the people we support are on several different medications. Often, we focus on the larger scale side effects such as Tardive Dyskinesia and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Other times we note that a person we support seems more tired than usual or perhaps sleeps less than usual. However, a common side effect of many medications is sun-sensitivity. People who are on medications that cause sun sensitivity can become sun-burnt within a small time frame of 15-20 minutes.
Common medications that cause sensitivity are as follows:
- Antibiotics: doxycycline, Bactrim, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin
- Antidepressants: Sineguan (doxepin), Elavil, St. John’s wort
- Antihistamines: Benedryl (diphenhydramine), promethazine
- Antihypertensives (blood pressure drugs): Clonidine, hydrochlorothiazide, Cardizem, Atenolol, Lisinopril
- Antiepileptics: Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) Depahote
- Cholesterol drugs: Lipitor (atorvastatin), lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin
- Diuretics: bumetanide, furosemide
- Diabetic medications: glipizide, glyburide
- Neuroleptic drugs: Chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, Mellaril (thioridazine), Navane (thiothizene)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories: celecoxib, ibuprofen, diclofenac naproxen, piroxicam, meloxicam
- Narcotics: Oxycontin
*NOTE: This is not a complete listing of medications known to cause sun sensitivity.
Fresh air and sunshine do a body good. Our bodies can only make Vitamin D with exposure to the sun. Vitamin D helps to keep our bones strong and healthy. Further, it aids against depression and muscle weakness. Too much sunlight will result in sunburn. Too little sunlight will lead to low levels of Vitamin D. Where do we go from here?
Be smart when it comes to yourself and the person you support. Learn what medications that person is prescribed. If he/she takes medications known to cause sun sensitivity, it doesn’t mean that person can never be outside or get some sun, we just need to take precautions.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses. The head is a small part of the body so it will not affect the absorption of Vitamin D as long as other areas are exposed.
- Put on sunscreen.
- Limit time in the sun. Avoid the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. when the sun rays are
strongest.
Take precautions this summer to ensure that your season is fun and safe. Prevention only takes some forethought and a little time. Beat the heat by being sun smart.
