Many medications contain photosensitive compounds that may react negatively with UV light from laser treatments, so it’s essential that a licensed medical laser technician know about all oral and topical medicines you are currently taking.
Do not fail to disclose any over-the-counter or herbal medications, such as dextromethorphan (found in cough and cold medications) and St John’s Wort, that could be of use during an interview process.
Antidepressants
Many people turn to antidepressant medication in order to enhance their mood and overall well-being, believing it works by correcting chemical imbalances within the brain, as well as helping rewire connections lost due to depression.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work by increasing the body’s level of serotonin by blocking its reabsorption by nerve cells. Serotonin can improve mood and other benefits and is associated with more positive side effects; Zoloft, which belongs to this drug class, falls into this category.
However, medications in this class may have adverse side effects and reduce people’s desire to engage in intimate relationships. If this is happening to you, discuss it with your physician who may adjust or switch your dose or suggest adding a sex enhancer; natural options like St John’s Wort may not provide significant benefits while potentially interfering with some prescription drugs.
Antidepressants carry a black box warning that suggests they may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in children, adolescents and young adults. If you have bipolar disorder history or take other medicines or supplements that could impact them negatively, notify your provider as well.
Anti-allergy medications
Anti-allergy medicines like Benadryl, Claritin and Vivactil often contain photosensitive compounds which could interfere with laser hair removal treatments. Therefore it’s crucial that a licensed medical laser technician knows about any medication being taken–even over-the-counter ones!
On rare occasions, Zoloft may cause serious side effects, including skin rashes or hives, swelling of lips or throat, difficulty breathing and extreme mood changes (such as mania). If this occurs to you, contact your physician immediately; emergency care may also be required if necessary.
Alcohol and illegal substances such as cocaine should be avoided while taking Zoloft to minimize side effects and maximize effectiveness of treatment. In particular, illegal substances like cocaine can interfere with your body’s natural balance of chemicals resulting in more risk for side effects as well as reduced effectiveness of treatment. Furthermore, certain food allergies – shellfish nuts wheat dairy – should be avoided to keep up with optimal performance of treatment. Spring can often bring on its share of allergies!
Anti-coagulants
Anticoagulants help prevent blood clots that could otherwise lead to heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism. People taking anticoagulants must have their blood clotting levels regularly checked either in-office by their physician or using home kits available through pharmacies or online providers. Monitor anticoagulant medications including oral contraceptives, antibiotics, Tylenol(r), Aspirin(r), Ibuprofen(r) and most pain relievers; herbs, vitamins and dietary supplements can also reduce effectiveness of such anticoagulant medicines. As soon as a person begins taking these drugs, it is important that they notify their laser hair removal technician to ensure a safe and successful experience. Certain allergy medicines contain photosensitive compounds which could react adversely with laser hair removal treatments; such as Benadryl and Claritin; these should also be avoided prior to laser sessions.
Some anticoagulants, including apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban and rivaroxaban don’t require regular blood testing but people should still discuss their prescription with their physician prior to attending laser hair removal sessions.
Anti-seizure medications
Zoloft may increase the risk of seizures for individuals taking anti-seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or fosphenytoin (Cerebyx). Therefore, those taking these drugs must exercise extreme caution while using Zoloft. It should also be used with extreme care among angle-closure glaucoma sufferers as it could trigger sudden increases in eye pressure. Furthermore, you should inform your laser hair removal technician beforehand if you’re taking such medications so they can adapt treatments accordingly.
Zoloft can interact with certain medications known as MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine and tranylcypromine – these MAO inhibitors may raise your blood levels of sertraline, increasing any potential side effects you might experience; to minimize risks it is advised not to take MAO inhibitors while taking Zoloft; other herbs and supplements like St John’s Wort and tryptophan may raise risks of serotonin syndrome symptoms – take caution if taking ZLoft with any MAO inhibitors!
Anti-anxiety medications
Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication, designed to enhance mood by slowing the reabsorption of neurotransmitter serotonin.1 Zoloft has proven very successful at relieving anxiety associated with both generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.1
Zoloft has long been used to reduce anxiety; recent studies have also demonstrated its efficacy against obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety-inducing condition marked by unwanted and repetitive thoughts and behaviors. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) should be one of the primary treatment strategies available for OCD.
SSRIs also appear to help treat other anxiety conditions, including phobias and social anxiety disorders. Studies have demonstrated that when used alongside cognitive behavior therapy, Zoloft significantly decreases anxiety symptoms among those suffering from such disorders.
When treating these conditions, your physician may advise prescribing a lower dosage than usual and closely monitoring for the first several weeks or months. This is because antidepressants may trigger or increase suicidal thoughts in young adults and children alike; additionally they can alter physical development, such as slowing growth or weight loss – it is therefore imperative that any unusual side effects from Zoloft be reported immediately to your healthcare provider.
Blood thinners
Blood thinners are medications designed to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming in your arteries or veins, which could potentially lead to heart attacks or stroke. Long-term or short-term use may be required based on certain medical conditions such as cardiovascular or blood vessel disease, irregular heartbeat or Lupus.
Blood thinners’ most frequent side effect is bleeding, as their use prevents your body’s natural ability to clot blood clot, leading to more bleeding from cuts or scrapes and heavier-than-usual periods.
As blood thinners may increase your risk of bleeding complications, you should inform your physician in advance if any procedures or dental work is being planned while on blood thinners. They can then plan accordingly in case any occur. In doing so, it may make it safer for treatment to proceed as planned.
Consult your doctor before beginning to take herbal supplements or over-the-counter medications containing vitamin E, salicylates or omega-3 fatty acids as these might interfere with their effects. In particular, avoid Chinese cassia cinnamon as its coumarin content increases your risk of liver damage; try Ceylon cinnamon or Ginkgo biloba supplements instead – they’re said to possess natural anticoagulant properties.
Other medications
antidepressants and allergy medications (Benadryl, Claritin, Periactin) contain photosensitive compounds that can react adversely with laser treatments. People suffering from pellagra or porphyria (a condition caused by lack of vitamin B3) are highly sensitive to light and should avoid receiving laser hair removal treatments. Other antibiotics and supplements, including Accutane or Retin-A may increase skin sensitivity or increase risks from laser hair removal treatment – it’s essential that all licensed medical laser technicians know all medications taken so they can tailor treatment accordingly.
