Posted by Larry Hoover on October 24, 2004, at 14:21:03 [reposted on October 25, 2004, at 0:17:06 | original URL]
In reply to Methotrexate and light therapy box, posted by greenwillow on October 24, 2004, at 13:51:52
> I am on Methotrexate 15 mg. once weekly long term for RA and recently began using a light therapy box to help delayed sleep syndrome. This morning I noticed my MTX bottle has a warning: "You should avoid prolonged or excessive exposure to direct and/or artificial sunlight while taking this medication." I am hoping someone can tell me what gives with this combination. Does light box therapy constitute artificial sunlight since supposedly the UV waves have been blocked?
A properly designed light box will indeed have UV protection. Interestingly enough, I've seen credible medical references which are quite contradictory. One says methotrexate may be combined with UV light therapy to treat psoriasis. Another says that UV light shoud be avoided while on methotrexate. In any case, it appears that the guilty light form is UV-A, not UV-B. If you can't get a sunburn from the light, it's not a risk issue, as far as I can tell.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:406652
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041024/msgs/406860.html