Drug & supplement interaction

Light Therapy + Propafenone

Propafenone brand names: Rythmol, Arythmol.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Light Therapy and Propafenone in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Light Therapy and Propafenone

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Propafenone and Light Therapy in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — research on Light Therapy alongside specific medications may be limited.

Light Therapy is a treatment rather than something you take. Tell whoever provides it which medicines you use, and ask your prescriber whether it is appropriate for your health and treatment. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Light Therapy safety at a glance

Light Therapy overall Use caution Generally well tolerated, but certain eye, skin, and mood conditions need medical guidance.
Pregnancy Possibly Safe When bright light therapy is used short-term. Other types of light therapies, especially PUVA, have not been extensively evaluated in pregnancy or lactation. On... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Safe When bright light therapy is used short-term. Other types of light therapies, especially PUVA, have not been extensively evaluated in pregnancy or lactation. On... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Propafenone and Light Therapy? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Propafenone

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Propafenone is filed under 5 classifications — including cytochrome p450 2d6 (cyp2d6) inhibitors, cytochrome p450 1a2 (cyp1a2) substrates, cytochrome p450 1a2 (cyp1a2) substrates. Light Therapy has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being photosensitizing drugs (moderate) — and none of Propafenone’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Light Therapy Does Interact With Other Medications

Light Therapy has 335 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Propafenone isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Light Therapy

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Light Therapy. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Light Therapy and Propafenone May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so having Light Therapy while taking the medicine can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Dehydration Worth acting on Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    “Weight loss, dehydration, and changes in body temperature have been reported in adults using light therapy.”

    Light Therapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in obesity.

    2 sources cited
    1. 28903. Kumar, P., Chawla, D., and Deorari, A. Light-emitting diode phototherapy for unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(12):CD007969. PubMed
    2. 106586. Nussbaumer-Streit B, Thaler K, Chapman A, et al. Second-generation antidepressants for treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;3(3):CD008591. PubMed

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A change in sex drive / Tremor or shakiness Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    “Headache, decreased sex drive, tremor, and trouble falling asleep have been reported in patients receiving light therapy. Exposure to light therapy for more than 24 hours as an infant is linked to higher odds of development delays in the domains of communication, gross motor, problem solving, and personal-social skills by 3 years of age.”

    Light Therapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    6 sources cited
    1. 28931. Tuunainen, A., Kripke, D. F., and Endo, T. Light therapy for non-seasonal depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(2):CD004050. DOI
    2. 28936. Chesson, A. L., Jr., Littner, M., Davila, D., Anderson, W. M., Grigg-Damberger, M., Hartse, K., Johnson, S., and Wise, M. Practice parameters for the use of light therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders. Standards of Practice Committee, American Acade DOI
    3. 28979. Terman, M. and Terman, J. S. Bright light therapy: side effects and benefits across the symptom spectrum. J Clin Psychiatry 1999;60(11):799-808. DOI
    4. 106586. Nussbaumer-Streit B, Thaler K, Chapman A, et al. Second-generation antidepressants for treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;3(3):CD008591. PubMed
    5. 109264. Donmez M, Yorguner N, Kora K, Topcuoglu V. Efficacy of bright light therapy in perinatal depression: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Psychiatr Res 2022;149:315-322. PubMed
    6. 109271. Sun W, Yan J, Wu J, Ma H. Efficacy and safety of light therapy as a home treatment for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease: A meta-analysis. Med Sci Monit 2022;28:e935074. PubMed

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dry skin / Flushing / Sweating Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    “UV phototherapy may cause xerosis, pruritus, hyperpigmentation, photoaging, blisters, mild burning, redness, erosion, erythema, moderate heat sensation, skin dryness, thinning of skin (atrophy), sweating, flushing, and phototoxicity. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation may cause actinic damage and premature skin aging.”

    Light Therapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cancer.

    6 sources cited
    1. 28901. Meduri, N. B., Vandergriff, T., Rasmussen, H., and Jacobe, H. Phototherapy in the management of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2007;23(4):106-112. PubMed
    2. 28911. Pathirana, D., Ormerod, A. D., Saiag, P., Smith, C., Spuls, P. I., Nast, A., Barker, J., Bos, J. D., Burmester, G. R., Chimenti, S., Dubertret, L., Eberlein, B., Erdmann, R., Ferguson, J., Girolomoni, G., Gisondi, P., Giunta, A., Griffiths, C., Honigsmann
    3. 28916. Leon, A., Nguyen, A., Letsinger, J., and Koo, J. An attempt to formulate an evidence-based strategy in the management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a review of the efficacy and safety of biologics and prebiologic options. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2007; PubMed
    4. 28918. Kroft, E. B., Berkhof, N. J., van de Kerkhof, P. C., Gerritsen, R. M., and de Jong, E. M. Ultraviolet A phototherapy for sclerotic skin diseases: a systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;59(6):1017-1030. PubMed
    5. 28936. Chesson, A. L., Jr., Littner, M., Davila, D., Anderson, W. M., Grigg-Damberger, M., Hartse, K., Johnson, S., and Wise, M. Practice parameters for the use of light therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders. Standards of Practice Committee, American Acade DOI
    6. 28938. Morgan, M. and Khan, D. A. Therapeutic alternatives for chronic urticaria: an evidence-based review, Part 2. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008;100(6):517-526. PubMed

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Weight loss Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    Recorded for Light Therapy in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Dehydration above.

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Blurred vision Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    “Light therapy may cause eye strain, visual disturbances, or ocular damage. Eye irritation and dry eyes have also been reported.”

    Light Therapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dry eye.

    3 sources cited
    1. 28980. Westrin, A. and Lam, R. W. Seasonal affective disorder: a clinical update. Ann Clin Psychiatry 2007;19(4):239-246. PubMed
    2. 109271. Sun W, Yan J, Wu J, Ma H. Efficacy and safety of light therapy as a home treatment for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease: A meta-analysis. Med Sci Monit 2022;28:e935074. PubMed
    3. 28936. Chesson, A. L., Jr., Littner, M., Davila, D., Anderson, W. M., Grigg-Damberger, M., Hartse, K., Johnson, S., and Wise, M. Practice parameters for the use of light therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders. Standards of Practice Committee, American Acade DOI

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dry mouth Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    “Nausea is a commonly reported side effect of light therapy. Changes in appetite, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain have also been reported.”

    Light Therapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in constipation.

    3 sources cited
    1. 28938. Morgan, M. and Khan, D. A. Therapeutic alternatives for chronic urticaria: an evidence-based review, Part 2. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008;100(6):517-526. PubMed
    2. 28979. Terman, M. and Terman, J. S. Bright light therapy: side effects and benefits across the symptom spectrum. J Clin Psychiatry 1999;60(11):799-808. DOI
    3. 106586. Nussbaumer-Streit B, Thaler K, Chapman A, et al. Second-generation antidepressants for treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;3(3):CD008591. PubMed

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Anxiety or restlessness Additional detail

    Light Therapy

    “Light therapy may cause agitation, and rarely hypomania or mania. Jumpiness, jitteriness, nervousness, irritability, anxiety, delusions, and aggressive behavior has been reported in patients with dementia.”

    Light Therapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    4 sources cited
    1. 28931. Tuunainen, A., Kripke, D. F., and Endo, T. Light therapy for non-seasonal depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(2):CD004050. DOI
    2. 28936. Chesson, A. L., Jr., Littner, M., Davila, D., Anderson, W. M., Grigg-Damberger, M., Hartse, K., Johnson, S., and Wise, M. Practice parameters for the use of light therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders. Standards of Practice Committee, American Acade DOI
    3. 28979. Terman, M. and Terman, J. S. Bright light therapy: side effects and benefits across the symptom spectrum. J Clin Psychiatry 1999;60(11):799-808. DOI
    4. 106586. Nussbaumer-Streit B, Thaler K, Chapman A, et al. Second-generation antidepressants for treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;3(3):CD008591. PubMed

    Propafenone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Propafenone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 18 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Light Therapy but not commonly for Propafenone: eye irritation or redness, mood changes or irritability, mania or an unusually elevated mood and dry eyes.

Effects for Propafenone come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Light Therapy come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Light Therapy in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Safe

When bright light therapy is used short-term. Other types of light therapies, especially PUVA, have not been extensively evaluated in pregnancy or lactation. One preliminary study suggests that PUVA use does not result in teratogenic effects. Until more information is available, avoid use in those who are pregnant and lactating.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Light Therapy or Propafenone

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Light Therapy or Propafenone, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Propafenone

This page covers Light Therapy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Propafenone page lists 138 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate), Acacia Rigidula (moderate), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 99 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Propafenone page

“Propafenone (Rythmol) steadies abnormal heart rhythms, and medicines with that job leave little room for error, so the 138 supplements and herbs on this list deserve genuine attention before any of them get added on top. The single major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up an oral dose in the gut and cut how much medic…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Propafenone interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Light Therapy and Propafenone Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Light Therapy
Steady interest

#864 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Propafenone
Steady interest

#2,096 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Light Therapy reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Light Therapy and Propafenone records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Treatment approach

About Light Therapy

What is Light Therapy?

  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
  • Non-seasonal depression
  • Sleep and circadian rhythm problems
  • Jet lag and shift-work sleep issues
  • Certain skin conditions

Light therapy uses controlled exposure to bright artificial light and is best supported for seasonal affective disorder, where it is a recognized treatment option. It is generally safe for most people when used as directed, but you should talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you have eye conditions, bipolar disorder, or take medicines that increase light sensitivity.

Not applicable (light exposure, not a plant) · Light boxes, dawn-simulating alarm clocks, light visors, wearable light devices, blue/red light panels

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Light Therapy is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Light Therapy record says about it on its own.

Light Therapy: dosing

There is no single dose that fits everyone, and the right approach depends on the device and the reason you are using it. For seasonal affective disorder, a common general approach involves a 10,000-lux light box used for a set time in the morning, sitting a recommended distance from the light with eyes open but not staring at it.Because brightness, distance, and timing all matter, follow the instructions that come with your specific device. They can help you pick the right device and schedule.

From our Light Therapy monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Light Therapy monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Propafenone

What Is Propafenone Used For?

Brand names: Rythmol, Arythmol

Propafenone is used to help control abnormal heart rhythms. It is prescribed to delay the return of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (episodic irregular heartbeats in the upper chambers) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT, sudden fast heartbeats starting above the heart's lower chambers) — but only in people who do not have structural heart disease.

It is also used to treat life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (dangerous fast rhythms starting in the heart's lower chambers). Because of serious safety concerns, it is not recommended for minor or non-life-threatening heart rhythm problems.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Propafenone

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (4,209 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Atrial fibrillation 354 reports
Dizziness 263 reports
Toxicity to various agents 238 reports
Dyspnea 232 reports
Nausea 209 reports
See full Propafenone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Light Therapy

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Light Therapy — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
335Moderate
0Minor
2,494No known interaction
Moderate

335 interactions

Showing 60 of 335 moderate interactions — see all 335 on the Light Therapy page.

No interaction 2,494 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Light Therapy References

The 35 references that drive our Light Therapy monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Meduri, N. B., Vandergriff, T., Rasmussen, H., and Jacobe, H. Phototherapy in the management of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2007;23(4):106-112. PubMed
  2. Kumar, P., Chawla, D., and Deorari, A. Light-emitting diode phototherapy for unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(12):CD007969. PubMed
  3. Pathirana, D., Ormerod, A. D., Saiag, P., Smith, C., Spuls, P. I., Nast, A., Barker, J., Bos, J. D., Burmester, G. R., Chimenti, S., Dubertret, L., Eberlein, B., Erdmann, R., Ferguson, J., Girolomoni, G., Gisondi, P., Giunta, A., Griffiths, C., Honigsmann
  4. Beani, J. C. and Jeanmougin, M. [Narrow-band UVB therapy in psoriasis vulgaris: good practice guideline and recommendations of the French Society of Photodermatology]. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2010;137(1):21-31.
  5. Leon, A., Nguyen, A., Letsinger, J., and Koo, J. An attempt to formulate an evidence-based strategy in the management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a review of the efficacy and safety of biologics and prebiologic options. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2007; PubMed
  6. Kroft, E. B., Berkhof, N. J., van de Kerkhof, P. C., Gerritsen, R. M., and de Jong, E. M. Ultraviolet A phototherapy for sclerotic skin diseases: a systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;59(6):1017-1030. PubMed
  7. Tuunainen, A., Kripke, D. F., and Endo, T. Light therapy for non-seasonal depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(2):CD004050. DOI
  8. Chesson, A. L., Jr., Littner, M., Davila, D., Anderson, W. M., Grigg-Damberger, M., Hartse, K., Johnson, S., and Wise, M. Practice parameters for the use of light therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders. Standards of Practice Committee, American Acade DOI
  9. Morgan, M. and Khan, D. A. Therapeutic alternatives for chronic urticaria: an evidence-based review, Part 2. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008;100(6):517-526. PubMed
  10. Lee, E., Koo, J., and Berger, T. UVB phototherapy and skin cancer risk: a review of the literature. Int J Dermatol 2005;44(5):355-360. PubMed
  11. Murase, J. E., Lee, E. E., and Koo, J. Effect of ethnicity on the risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer following long-term PUVA therapy. Int J Dermatol 2005;44(12):1016-1021. PubMed
  12. Morison, W. L., Baughman, R. D., Day, R. M., Forbes, P. D., Hoenigsmann, H., Krueger, G. G., Lebwohl, M., Lew, R., Naldi, L., Parrish, J. A., Piepkorn, M., Stern, R. S., Weinstein, G. D., and Whitmore, S. E. Consensus workshop on the toxic effects of long
  13. Stern, R. S. The risk of squamous cell and basal cell cancer associated with psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy: a 30-year prospective study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2012;66(4):553-562. PubMed
  14. Stern, R. S. and Lunder, E. J. Risk of squamous cell carcinoma and methoxsalen (psoralen) and UV-A radiation (PUVA). A meta-analysis. Arch Dermatol 1998;134(12):1582-1585. PubMed
  15. Swerdlow, A. J. and Weinstock, M. A. Do tanning lamps cause melanoma? An epidemiologic assessment. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38(1):89-98. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Light Therapy While Taking Propafenone: Common Questions

Is it safe to have Light Therapy while taking Propafenone?
We do not list a known interaction between Light Therapy and Propafenone. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Light Therapy and Propafenone have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Light Therapy and Propafenone combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Propafenone is filed under 5 classifications, and Light Therapy has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Propafenone's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Light Therapy interact with any other medications?
Yes. Light Therapy has 335 documented drug interactions in our database — Propafenone is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Propafenone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Propafenone has documented interactions with 138 supplements in our database — Light Therapy is not one of them. The Propafenone interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Propafenone and Light Therapy?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.