Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)PharmacologyMedium
A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's medication list and notices a prescription for an antibiotic that causes photosensitivity. Which of the following instructions should the medical assistant provide to the patient?
- ATake the medication with food to reduce stomach upset.
- BLimit intake of leafy green vegetables.
- CAvoid prolonged sun exposure and use sunscreen.
- DTake the medication on an empty stomach for better absorption.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and use sunscreen.
Photosensitivity is a common side effect of certain antibiotics (e.g., tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides), where the skin becomes highly sensitive to sunlight, leading to severe sunburn or rash. Patients should be advised to avoid direct sun exposure and use protective measures.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While some antibiotics cause stomach upset, this instruction is not specific to photosensitivity.
- B. Limiting leafy green vegetables is relevant for patients on warfarin due to Vitamin K content, not antibiotics.
- D. This instruction relates to absorption, not photosensitivity.
Antibiotic Photosensitivity
Antibiotic photosensitivity is an adverse reaction where certain antibiotics increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leading to exaggerated sunburns, rashes, or other phototoxic/photoallergic reactions upon sun exposure.
- Common culprits: tetracyclines (doxycycline), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin), sulfonamides (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim).
- Advise patients to use broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+), wear protective clothing, and seek shade.
- Reactions can occur even with brief sun exposure.
Memory trick: Photosensitivity: Sun's Out, Be Safe!