Extreme heat can significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and subtly threaten health by exacerbating the side effects of many common medications. High temperatures can also damage medications that require refrigeration, such as insulin, and can cause inhalers to explode or epinephrine injectors, like EpiPens, to malfunction.
Additionally, medications delivered by mail can deteriorate under intense heat. Here’s a closer look at how heat interacts with various medications and what you can do to mitigate these risks.
Dehydration and Impaired Heat Regulation
Blood pressure medications that reduce fluid levels can lead to dehydration and beta blockers used for heart conditions may reduce blood flow to the skin, making it harder to detect dangerous heat.
Some antidepressants can impair your ability to stay cool, while aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers lower fluid and sodium levels, which can make it harder to handle high temperatures.
Combined Risks
Moreover, the combination of heat and medication side effects can increase the risk of light-headedness and falls.
Alcohol can exacerbate these dangers, according to pharmacist Bradley Phillips from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.
Stay Hydrated
To manage these risks, Phillips advises checking the side effects and storage requirements of your medications on the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus website or consulting with your doctor or pharmacist.
He emphasizes staying well-hydrated and “not relying on your body’s ability to tell you that you’re thirsty.”
Sun Sensitivity
Certain medications, including antibiotics, antifungals, and acne treatments, can increase sensitivity to the sun, leading to rashes and sunburns.
Dr. Mike Ren, a family physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, recommends staying under an umbrella or using sun-protective clothing and sunscreen while taking these drugs. “You might be on antibiotics, not think too much of it, go down to the beach, and then come back with a whopping sunburn,” Ren said.
Traveling with Medications
Medications should generally be stored in a cool, dry place, except those requiring refrigeration.
This can be challenging when traveling. Before embarking on a summer road trip, review the storage instructions on your medication labels and carry medications in a cooler, even if they don’t require refrigeration, as car trunks and glove boxes can become excessively hot.
Keep Them in Your Carry-On
When flying, it’s best to keep medications in your carry-on to avoid issues with delayed or lost checked luggage.
This also helps prevent exposure to potentially cold temperatures in the cargo hold.
Mail-Order Medications
Mail-order pharmacies are responsible for maintaining safe temperatures for medications during storage and transit, typically using special packaging with ice packs and temperature monitors.
However, this isn’t always foolproof.
Protecting Mail-Order Medications
Dr. Ren recently assisted his mother by bringing her mail-order supplements into her Houston home amidst extreme heat.
“If you know you’re going to be at work all day, or if you’re on vacation, and you get medications delivered, you definitely don’t want that sitting outside in the hot 100-degree sun,” Ren said. If you suspect your mail-order medication has been compromised by heat, contact the pharmacy to report the issue.
Research Challenges Heat-Related Medication Concerns
Research from the U.S. and Australia indicates that some common warnings about heat and medications lack robust scientific evidence.
Ollie Jay from the University of Sydney found support for only four of the 11 medication categories listed by the World Health Organization as problematic in high heat.
Behavior Over Medications
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Jay suggests that altering behavior, such as avoiding excessive heat, may be more effective than changing medications.
“Be a bit more cautious,” Jay advised.
Need for Research
Dr. Renee Salas, an emergency room physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, notes the increasing need to identify which medications pose the greatest risk in extreme heat as climate change progresses.
“We don’t have that answer yet, and it’s one that we need to rapidly figure out,” Salas said.
