ADEL, Iowa (KCCI) – As temperatures rise across Iowa, a local pharmacy owner is warning that certain medications can increase the risk of heat-related illness.- KCCI reports
Leslie Herron, owner of Sumpter Pharmacy in Adel, said people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are more likely to experience side effects when sweating excessively in the heat.
“Because they impact the same part of our brain that temperature regulation comes from, it can lower our ability to cool ourselves,” Herron said.
Other medications also pose risks
SSRIs, commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder, are not the only medications that can make heat harder on the body.
Diuretic medications are commonly prescribed to treat hypertension or edema, and cause increased water loss and lead to dehydration.
ADHD medications also carry a risk of raising internal body temperature.
Herron said many people on these medications do not realize they are at a higher risk of heat-related illness.
“In increased heat, you just think, well, it’s hot out,” she said. “But those of us that take those medications are at a greater risk of those side effects and a greater risk of falling victim to things like heat stroke, heat exhaustion.”
Heat can also affect the medications themselves
Extreme heat can also break down the medications. Herron said storing medications in places like a bathroom, car, or purse where conditions can be hot and humid can cause them to degrade over time. She said medications should be kept in a cool, dry place and should not be refrigerated unless directed by a medical professional.
Don’t skip doses
Herron said the most important advice is not to skip doses. SSRIs, antipsychotics and blood pressure medications are not meant to be stopped suddenly. She said anyone looking to stop a medication should speak with their healthcare provider first.
Copyright 2026 KCCI. All rights reserved.