5<\/p>\n Temperatures are soaring in the UK over the next few daysCredit: Reuters 5<\/p>\n Some medication can affect the body’s ability to cool down or sweatCredit: Alamy<\/p>\n For millions of Brits, there is a darker side to the glorious weather as the heat can interfere with some common medications<\/a> – in some cases, with life-threatening consequences.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the UK recorded its warmest day of the year so far<\/a>, with temperatures reaching 24C in some places. <\/p>\n And forecasters say the current warm spell is far from over – with the Met Office predicting temperatures will reach 29C in parts of the UK today.<\/p>\n But for the 8 million of Brits taking medications like antidepressants<\/a>, these high temperatures can turn their drugs from helpful to harmful.<\/p>\n Around 5 million of those are prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs<\/a>), commonly used to treat conditions like depression<\/a> and anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n These drugs can be lifesaving for many – but they can also make the body more\u00a0vulnerable to heat.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can stop the body from regulating temperature properly,\u201d pharmacist Thorrun Govind tells Sun Health.<\/p>\n SSRIs, like fluoxetine<\/a> and sertraline<\/a> work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain – a natural chemical that regulates mood. <\/p>\n By upping the level of serotonin, these drugs can help make people feel happier. <\/p>\n But because these medications influence the brain’s chemicals, they also affect the hypothalamus<\/a>, the part of the brain that acts as the body’s thermostat. <\/p>\n \u2018Take a stuffed animal on every trip this summer,\u2019 drivers told as it can secretly save kids from backseat heatstroke<\/p>\n The build-up of serotonin can make the hypothalamus less effective at sending the signals needed to control body temperature.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can lead to excessive sweating,\u201d Thorrun adds.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can be counterproductive in hot weather as the body is already struggling to cool down.\u201d<\/p>\n Excess sweating can lead to dehydration<\/a> and, paradoxically, a rise in body temperature.<\/p>\n Worryingly, another type of antidepressant, tricyclic antidepressants<\/a>, can also affect brain function, making it harder to spot the early signs of overheating, like dizziness, confusion, or headaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n You should always consult your doctor before making changes to your mental health medication<\/p>\n Dr Sameer Sanghvi GP at at\u00a0LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor<\/p><\/blockquote>\n They can also make you sweat less as they block a chemical in the body that helps activate sweat glands, making it harder for your body to cool down.<\/p>\n \u201cIn some cases, this disruption can be life-threatening when your body struggles to cope with the soaring temperatures,\u201d the medicine expert says.<\/p>\n One of the most serious risks of extreme heat is heat stroke<\/a> – a medical emergency that occurs when the body overheats and can no longer cool itself down.<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n There is a dark side to the glorious weather when it comes to common health conditionsCredit: Alamy 5<\/p>\n Pharmacist Thorrun Govind warns some drugs make the body more\u00a0sensitive to heatCredit: Supplied 5<\/p>\n Brits need to be mindful of what medicines they are taking during the heatwaveCredit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve actually experienced heat stroke myself, and it\u2019s a real shock to the body – you feel completely out of it,” Thorrun adds.<\/p>\n Your internal body temperature typically stays around 37C, because that’s the range your organs need to function properly. <\/p>\n Heat stroke sets in when it rises to 40C or higher. This is when it can quickly become dangerous – leading to confusion, seizures<\/a>, organ failure, and, in severe cases, death.<\/p>\n How to stay safe<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are taking these kinds of antidepressants, first things first, do not stop taking them,” Dr Sameer Sanghvi, a GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor says.<\/p>\n “You should always consult your doctor before making changes to your mental health medication.”<\/p>\n The best thing people on these medicines can do is to take precautions, he says. <\/p>\n “Try to stay cool by sticking to the shade, drinking plenty of fluids and by avoiding alcohol,” Dr Sameer explains. <\/p>\n How to keep your medicines safe in the heat <\/p>\n By Dr Sameer Sanghvi<\/p>\n You also need to be mindful of where you\u2019re storing your medications, especially in hot weather.<\/p>\n Heat, air, light and moisture can all damage your medicine and stop them working as they should. <\/p>\n Medications are likely to expire more quickly if not stored correctly too.\u00a0<\/p>\n A drawer or cabinet is an ideal place to store medicine. <\/p>\n These tend to stay cool and dark, even in warm weather. <\/p>\n That said, I\u2019d avoid keeping your medicine in bathroom cabinets as these can become very damp thanks to steam from baths and showers.<\/p>\n Unless advised otherwise, you should always keep medication in its original packaging. <\/p>\n Things like the box and blister packet that tablets come in are designed to protect the medicine inside so it can do its job effectively.<\/p>\n Alcohol<\/a> can make you feel hotter because it dehydrates you and increases blood flow to the skin, making it harder for your body to cool down.<\/p>\n “You should also keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, avoid exercising in the hottest parts of the day and wear loose, breathable clothing,” he adds. <\/p>\n The 3 other drugs that can be dangerous in the heat<\/p>\n As temperatures rise, it\u2019s not just antidepressants that can be affected by the heat.<\/p>\n “I\u2019d say people probably aren\u2019t aware of which medications they take are sensitive to warmer weather,” says Thorrun.<\/p>\n “Living in the UK, we\u2019re more used to grabbing our umbrellas than worrying about how our medicines change in the sun,” she adds. <\/p>\n Here are some other common medications you might have at home that can pose similar risk:<\/p>\n 1. Blood pressure drugs <\/strong><\/p>\n Around 8 million people in the UK are on medication for high blood pressure<\/a>, including diuretics and beta-blockers.<\/p>\n These drugs can make it harder for the body to handle heat because they affect fluid levels and heart rate.<\/p>\n “This makes it harder for the body to sweat and cool down,” explains Thorrun. <\/p>\n Diuretics, for example, make people need to pee more, leading to dehydration.<\/p>\n “Without enough fluid, your body can struggle to regulate its temperature, leaving you at greater risk of heat stress,” she adds.<\/p>\n 2. ADHD meds<\/strong><\/p>\n Medicines used to treat ADHD<\/a>, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, can raise core body temperature.<\/p>\n This is particularly true for methylphenidate, which is one of the most commonly prescribed stimulant medications for ADHD.<\/p>\n “It can stop your body\u2019s ability to cool itself,” says Thorrun. <\/p>\n This can make it more difficult to stay cool during hot weather, increasing the risk of overheating and heat stroke. <\/p>\n 3. Antibiotics<\/strong><\/p>\n Doxycycline is one of the UK’s most commonly prescribed antibiotics <\/a>in the UK – typically dished out to treat skin conditions and infections such as acne<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of sunburn and skin reactions – even after short bursts in the sun.<\/p>\n Thorrun says: “This is more about sunlight than heat, but it can still be dangerous in intense sun.”<\/p>\n Frequent\u00a0sunburn\u00a0means you are more likely to get\u00a0skin cancer<\/a>\u00a0– which kills six Brits every day.<\/p>\n What are the symptoms of heatstroke?<\/p>\n IF you sit out in the sunshine for too long, you might experience something called \u201cheat exhaustion\u201d.<\/p>\n This is the body’s natural response to overheating, excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/woman-takes-selfie-st-james-991047484.jpg\")
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