Can I go out in the sun while taking beta blockers?

Manufacturers do not warn against sun or UV exposure while on beta blockers, such as atenolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, and nebivolol.^1-10 They report that photosensitivity reactions are observed in >0.1% to ≤1% of patients taking carvedilol. Photosensitivity was reported very rarely for metoprolol tartrate⁷ and was also reported during post-marketing experience for metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets, regardless of causality.⁶ Studies and reviews observing adverse reactions of beta blockers report no cases of increased photosensitivity.^11-13

A systematic review of beta blocker side effects included 13 randomized controlled trials with 7,836 patients in the beta blocker arm.¹² The study listed 33 side effects, of which photosensitivity was not listed as one. However, photosensitivity may not have been specifically assessed for, and the duration of follow-up in these studies was variable. 

^References

1. APO-Carvedilol [package insert]. Toronto, Canada: Apotex Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc.; 2015.
2. Auro-Carvedilol [package insert]. Ontario, CA: Aurobindo Pharma Inc.; 2013.
3. Coreg [package insert]. Ciales, PR: GK Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Operations; 2008.
4. Coreg CR [package insert]. Ciales, PR: GK Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Operations; 2008.
5. Tenormin [package insert]. Conovanas, PR: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; 2011.
6. Metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets [package insert]. Sodertalje, Sweden: AstraZeneca AB; 2006.
7. Lopressor [package insert]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; 2008.
8. Levatolol [package insert]. Smyrna, GA: Schwarz Pharma; 2010.
9. Bystolic [package insert]. St. Louis, MO: Forest Pharmaceuticals; 2011.
10. Trandate [package insert]. Oakville, ON: Prometheus Laboratories Inc.; 2010.
11. Krum H, Roecker EB, Mohacsi P, et al. Effects of initiating carvedilol in patients with severe chronic heart failure: Results from the copernicus study. JAMA. 2003;289(6):712-718.
12. Barron AJ, Zaman N, Cole GD, Wensel R, Okonko DO, Francis DP. Systematic review of genuine versus spurious side-effects of beta-blockers in heart failure using placebo control: Recommendations for patient information. Int J Cardiol. 2013;168(4):3572-3579.
13. Ko DT, Hebert PR, Coffey CS, et al. Adverse effects of beta-blocker therapy for patients with heart failure: a quantitative overview of randomized trials. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(13):1389-1394.