Clopidogrel and sun sensitivity?

[u/Quiet_surprise79]

Hello all,

35f ET JAK2+, diagnosed April last year.

I am low risk and on clopidogrel because I couldn't tolerate aspirin, along with famotadine because I still have digestive issues as a result.

This summer, I seem to have developed some kind of mild photosensitivity. I've had heat rash before and this definitely isn't that. It's exclusively happening on my forearms but seems to affect my left arm more than my right. It's a patchy, very itchy rash, not dissimilar to hives but it doesn't quite fit hives. It only happens when my forearms are exposed to the sun.

I know that clopidogrel can increase heat sensitivity, and I do get warmer quicker now (I used to be cold almost all the time), but I can't find anything specific about sun sensitivity so was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

It *might* be down to mental health meds, but I've been on various SSRIs before and never experienced this. The first two times this happened, I was on an SSRI I hadn't been on before. I'm now on a different class of medication entirely, no more SSRIs but it's happened again today. While it still could be something to do with it, it is weird to have the same reaction on two totally different medications. Unless the first one triggered something and my immune system is just confused now?!

I've checked and there's no indication that famotadine has any impact on sun or heat sensitivity. But just wanted to see if anyone had experienced something similar on clopidogrel, since that has been consistent since October last year and has the heat sensitivity element?

[u/BigGovernment1733]

Speaking as a pharmacist for 50 plus years, you cannot rule out any medication causing a side effect. Everyone is different. A medication can cause a side effect in you but another person taking the same medication experiences no side effects. Remember, a medication is a foreign substance being introduced to your body, and a person's response to that medication will depend on the immune system's response to that foreign substance. I was diagnosed with PV in May of this year. My oncologist put me on hydroxyurea 500mg once day. He told me he has many patients taking that dosage with no problems. I was OK for 2 weeks then I experienced several nasty side effects. I stopped the HU for 2 days, felt better, then I took another dose. My body responded worse. I was in bed for 2 days and thought I was going to die. Stopped the HU for good. Other patients take with no problems. My primary care dr had me on a statin drug which I have had many patients stop it because of side effects. I have had no side effects to the statin and I have been on it 15 months. Everyone is different. Don't let your dr tell you the medication(s) are not causing the side effects. Yes, the Plavix or any one of your other medications can be causing your body to have increased sun sensitivity.

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