Heat-Related Impact on MedicationsHeat-Related Impact on Medications Extreme heat poses significant risks, not only through direct health concerns but also by exacerbating the side effects of many common medications. Problem Medications Certain medications can amplify heat-related illnesses: * Blood pressure pills that reduce fluid in the blood: Dehydration * Beta blockers for heart conditions: Reduced blood flow to the skin, impairing temperature regulation * Some antidepressants: Impaired cooling ability * Aspirin and other pain relievers: Reduced fluid and sodium levels, worsening heat tolerance * Alcohol: Intensified dehydration and heat sensitivity Storage Issues Hot weather can damage medications that require refrigeration, such as insulin. Inhalers may explode, and epinephrine injectors may malfunction. Mail-order medications can spoil in transit during extreme heat. Solutions * Hydration: Drink ample water, especially when taking medications that increase dehydration. * Avoid Sun Exposure: Medications like antibiotics and acne drugs can increase sun sensitivity. Wear protective clothing and sunscreen. * Storage: Store medications in a cool, dry place. Use a cooler with ice packs during travel. Keep medications in carry-on luggage when flying. * Mail-Order Delivery: Monitor delivery times and protect medications from high temperatures. Contact the pharmacy if damaged by heat. Research Gap While some heat-medication warnings lack scientific evidence, researchers emphasize the importance of understanding which medications pose the greatest danger. Further research is needed to address this knowledge gap.
By CARLA K. JOHNSON
Extreme heat can increase the risk of heat-related illness and threaten health in a more subtle way, namely by amplifying the side effects of many common medications.
Hot weather can also damage medications, such as insulin, that need to be refrigerated. Inhalers can explode. Epinephrine injectors such as EpiPens can malfunction. Medicines delivered through the mail can spoil.
An overview of common problems and solutions related to heat and medicine:
Which medications can cause problems in heat?
Blood pressure pills that reduce fluid in the blood can lead to dehydration. Beta blockers for heart conditions can reduce blood flow to the skin and make you less aware of dangerous heat.
Some antidepressants can hinder your coolness. Aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers lower fluid and sodium levels, making it harder to deal with high temperatures.
In addition, the combination of heat and drug side effects can lead to dizziness and falls. Alcohol increases the danger, says pharmacist Bradley Phillips of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.
For more information about the side effects of your medications and storage instructions, visit the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus website.
Or talk to your doctor or pharmacist, Phillips said. Ask how much water you should drink if you take medications that increase dehydration.
He advises staying hydrated and “not relying on your body’s ability to tell you that you’re thirsty.”
Some medications — antibiotics, antifungals and acne medications — can increase your sensitivity to the sun, causing rashes and sunburns. If you take them, stay under an umbrella or wear protective clothing and sunscreen, says Dr. Mike Ren, a family physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
“You can take antibiotics, not think about it too much, go to the beach and come back with a massive sunburn,” Ren said.
How should I store medication when traveling?
Medication should generally be stored in a cool, dry place unless it needs to be refrigerated, which can be difficult when traveling.
For a summer road trip, check labels for storage requirements for your medications. If you’re traveling by car, pack medications in a cooler, even if they don’t need to be refrigerated. The trunk or glove compartment of your car can get too hot to store at room temperature.
Traveling by plane? It is always best to keep medications in your carry-on luggage in case your checked baggage is delayed or lost and it can get too cold in the hold.
What about prescriptions delivered by mail?
Mail order pharmacies are responsible for keeping your medications at safe temperatures during storage and transportation. The best way is to ship sensitive medications in special packaging with ice packs and temperature monitors.
But that doesn’t always happen. Or a delivery can come at a bad time, said Ren, who recently helped his vacationing mother by bringing her supplement shipment to her Houston home when the region was experiencing blazing heat.
“If you know you’re going to be working all day, or you’re on vacation, and you’re getting prescriptions delivered, you definitely don’t want to leave them out in the 100-degree sun,” Ren said. If you think your mail-order medications have been damaged by the heat, call the pharmacy to report the problem.
Is further research needed?
Yes. Researchers in the US and Australia say some of the common warnings about heat and medicines don’t have much scientific evidence. Ollie Jay of the University of Sydney found support for only four of the 11 drug categories the World Health Organization lists as raising concerns about high heat.
He suggests changing behavior, not drugs, such as staying out of the heat. “Be a little more careful,” he said.
Dr. Renee Salas, an emergency room physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, says that as climate change accelerates, it’s important to know which medications are most dangerous in the heat.
“We don’t have that answer yet, and we need to find out quickly,” Salas said.
___
AP science writer Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
