{"id":58112,"date":"2025-07-11T23:34:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T23:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/58112\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T23:34:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T23:34:15","slug":"common-pills-millions-take-can-increase-risk-of-getting-sunburn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/58112\/","title":{"rendered":"Common pills millions take can increase risk of getting sunburn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a warning about how the heat will impact some drugs<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_7af52b\">Neil Shaw<\/strong> Assistant Editor<\/p>\n<p>10:53, 11 Jul 2025Updated 17:23, 11 Jul 2025<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_GettyImages-939158860.jpg\" alt=\"You need to check your medicines in the heat\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>You need to check your medicines in the heat<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">With the UK bracing for another heatwave this week, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reminding people that high temperatures can affect medicines and how well they work. Hot <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/wales-weather\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">weather<\/a> changes how your body responds to medications, which could impact people managing long-term conditions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: \u201cLet\u2019s face it \u2013 when there\u2019s a heatwave, most of us are focused on getting outside and enjoying it while it lasts. But it\u2019s easy to forget that medicines left in the heat \u2013 in cars, bags, or on sunny windowsills \u2013 might not work properly when you need them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cSome medicines can also make you more likely to burn in the sun, feel dizzy, or get dehydrated, especially if you\u2019re taking diuretics or have a condition like asthma, heart disease, or diabetes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cTo stay safe in the heat:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Store medicines somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight \u2013 especially if you\u2019re out and about<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Know the signs of heat-related illness \u2013 stay hydrated and listen to your body<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Take extra care in the sun if your medicine makes your skin more likely to burn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cAnd remember, for all medicines it\u2019s important to read the leaflet and speak to a healthcare professional if you have any questions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Keep medicines out of hot cars and direct sunlight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Most medicines need to be stored at temperatures below 25C. But cars, trains and buses can heat up quickly during the summer, and rooms with direct sunlight can get much hotter than you\u2019d think. Even bags and pockets can get warm enough to cause problems, especially if you\u2019re out all day or at a festival, sports event, or the beach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Heat can break down the active ingredients in medicines, meaning they might not work when you need them. That includes tablets, inhalers, hormone patches, insulin, and EpiPens. Some packaging will give clear storage instructions, but not all medicines come with a visible warning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Medicines that need to be kept in the fridge \u2013 such as insulin or certain liquid antibiotics \u2013 are especially vulnerable to heat. If they\u2019re left out too long or stored incorrectly, they may not work properly when you take them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">If your medicine has changed colour, developed an unusual smell, changed texture, or looks different in any way, this could signal heat damage. Ask your pharmacist for advice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">If you\u2019re at home, check the patient information leaflet for storage instructions and keep medicines in the coolest part of the house, away from direct sunlight. If you\u2019re travelling, avoid leaving them in parked vehicles or warm bags. A cool bag can help if you\u2019re going to be out all day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Heat damage can also affect how much medicine your body absorbs, potentially making your usual dose too strong or too weak. If you notice any changes in how you feel or how well your medicines seem to be working during hot weather, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Don\u2019t forget medical devices:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">It\u2019s not just medicines \u2013 some medical devices can also be affected by heat or humidity. For example, blood glucose monitors may give people managing diabetes less reliable readings if used or stored in hot conditions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Keep devices and any test strips somewhere cool and dry, and check the instructions that came with them for any temperature guidance. If your device isn\u2019t behaving as expected, try running a control check or speak to your pharmacist for advice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">For more information about medicine and medical devices safety, visit the MHRA website or report any concerns through the MHRA <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Yellow Card schemeLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Yellow Card scheme<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Drink more water and stay cool if you\u2019re taking diuretics or blood pressure medication<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">During hot weather, your body loses more water through sweating \u2013 but some medicines can make this worse, or make it harder for your body to cope with heat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">People taking diuretics, or \u2018water tablets\u2019, such as furosemide, are already losing more fluid through urination. This can cause dehydration and mineral imbalances. Blood pressure medicines such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers can also make it harder for your body to regulate temperature, especially during sudden hot spells. ACE inhibitors can even suppress your natural thirst response.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Some diabetes medicines, including insulin and metformin, also increase the risk of dehydration or make early symptoms harder to spot. Antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine or quetiapine, or stimulant medications for attention disorders can increase your body temperature, making you overheat more easily.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, tiredness, confusion, and dark urine. This is particularly dangerous for older adults, young children, and people with heart or kidney conditions. If you start to feel unwell in the heat, move somewhere cooler, sip water slowly, and seek medical advice if you don\u2019t feel better quickly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Check if your medicine increases your risk of sunburn<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Some common medicines can make your skin much more likely to burn, even in mild sunshine. This includes some antibiotics, diuretics, antidepressants, or skin treatments for acne or eczema. Painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen are also known to sometimes cause mild sun sensitivity, but this is less common and usually only a concern with frequent or long-term use.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">One medicine that requires particular care is methotrexate, used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn\u2019s disease and cancer. It can cause extreme skin sensitivity to the sun \u2013 even at low doses. This can lead to painful rashes, blistering, or swelling that looks like severe sunburn. In rare cases, these reactions have led to serious infections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The risk goes up during sunny weather, especially if you\u2019re outside more \u2013 whether you\u2019re walking the dog, gardening, or heading off on holiday. Even a short walk at lunchtime or a train ride in the sun can be enough to trigger a reaction for some people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">If you take any medicines, always read the patient information leaflet or check with your pharmacist to see if sun sensitivity is a side effect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a warning about how the heat will impact some&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":58113,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[210,42377,1060,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-58112","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-heath","10":"tag-medication","11":"tag-united-states","12":"tag-unitedstates","13":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114837223078688975","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58112\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}