Can I go out in the sun while taking an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)?

Photosensitivity reactions have been reported as a rare side effect for almost all ARBs.^1,2

Only one study has reviewed the occurrence of ARB-related photosensitivity. The authors reviewed reports of photosensitivity in the World Health Organization Global Individual Case Safety Report database, VigiBase^®.¹ As of December 2014, only 203 reports on photosensitivity were reported with ARBs, submitted by 25 different countries. Among them, 25.1% involved losartan, 23.1% involved irbesartan, and 21.7% involved valsartan. ARB was the only suspected drug in 126 cases.^1,2

^References

1. Viola E, Coggiola Pittoni A, Drahos A, Moretti U, Conforti A. Photosensitivity with angiotensin II receptor blockers: A retrospective study using data from VigiBase®. Drug Saf 2015; 38 (10): 889-894.
2. Frye CB, Pettigrew TJ. Angioedema and photosensitive rash induced by valsartan. Pharmacotherapy 1998; 18 (4): 866-868.