tanning making bipolar meds ineffective Posted: 05-19-08 14:08pm
I work at a tanning salon and tan a couple
of times a week. A woman just told me that
tanning in tanning beds will make my
bipolar medication ineffective and
essentially, I have gone off my meds. I
have looked all over the internet and
can't find anything to substantiate what
she has said. Has anyone else heard of
anything like this? and can you send
links, please. Thanks much.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1963 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 30
Thanked:10
Posted: 05-20-08 02:34am
Which medications you were taking for
bipolar disorder?
Can you quite the tanning instead of meds?
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tootink4u
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 05-20-08 09:46am
My BD has been managed successfully for 5
years now with a light
anti-depressant/sleep aid. I take 50-75 mg
of doxepin at bedtime to regulate my
sleeping. That is where my BD shows up the
worst-in sleeping and spending. If my
sleep cycles get too far off, I start
rapid cycling. My last bad episode was in
Dec. 2002 when I didn't sleep more than 3
hours for 17 days straight and had to be
hospitalized. I was on other meds up until
April 2007, when the doctor took me off
everything but the sleep aid. I have
managed fine for a year now with no major
problems. I keep a sleep journal and my
husband and best friend monitor my
checking account to watch my spending. I
have been absolutely fine, and have had no
adverse side effects from the tanning
(which I stopped the moment the lady told
me it would make my meds ineffective). As
a matter of fact, my husband even said
that our lives had never been so
stable/peaceful/serene since I began
working at the tanning salon. Things were
absolutely great until this random woman
made me worry.
I just want to know if this is an old
wive's tale, or if there is any medical
information out there to substantiate this
rumor. I have used every search engine I
can find and can find nothing that ties
tanning or tanning beds to BD. Has anyone
else heard of anything like this?
Thanks for your time.
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 847 Location: IL
Thanks: 40
Thanked:15
Posted: 05-21-08 10:12am
After researching this question and asking
my husband, a pharmacist, I have found no
evidence that suggests sun exposure or
tanning will render these medications
ineffective. There can be photosensitivity
associated with some of the older
generation tricyclic antidepressants and
antipsychotics. Some patients report
feeling overheated and itchy when exposed
to higher temperatures and sun light when
taking antipsychotics. These are side
effects of the medications. These are not
indications of the medication becoming
ineffective. So, the short answer is no,
tanning will not render your medication
ineffective.
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Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5297 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 62
Thanked:27
Posted: 05-21-08 12:14pm
I've never heard of that, so I wouldn't
believe it given what antigone said and
the lack of support I can find.
However, how are you doing without the
medication? Perhaps you should check in
with your prescribing doc if you're doing
well without them...
I have never been off the medication. I
never stopped taking it. The woman said
that if I was tanning, that it was the
same as me going off my medication. I have
never, ever stopped taking the medicine
and have no intentions of going off. Life
is much better with the meds. I just
didn't know if the tanning would make it
ineffective. There have been no side
effects while tanning. Since there in no
medical research to back up that woman's
claims, I will continue on as usual
without worry.
Thanks so much, Antigone, for the research
and everyone else for your time and
concern!
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Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5297 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
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