Check your medications before the heat wave
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Before you go out in the hot sun and high humidity, check your medicine cabinet, as medications can be affected by such conditions and also have an adverse effect on you.
“There are three ways that medications are affected by heat and sun,” Riverside’s Director of Retail Pharmacy, Cindy Coffey, PharmD said.
First, she said, some medications can interfere with your bodies ability to regulate temperature.
If you’re on diuretics for high blood pressure, or if you take allergy medication, anti-depressants or Beta blockers, you’ll want to take in a lot of extra water on hot humid days. That’s because they dry you out.
“They can cause some electrolyte imbalances or reduce blood pressure, which can increase your risk of fainting and falls,” Coffey said.
If you start to feel sick and experience heart palpitations, dizziness, headache or nausea, get into some air conditioning and cool down quickly.
Second, some commonly used medications for acne can increase the risk of severe sunburn. Retin-A, Accutane and Doxycycline can be dangerous.
“They quickly burn and you’ll notice a blistering type reaction,” she said. “So it is typically a much more intense sunburn and they will typically need to be seen by a health care provider.”
Third, some medications will degrade, so you might not get the right dose. Some commonly used medications in this group include Epi-pens, insulin and inhalers.
That’s why it’s important to store your medications in a cool dry place.
If you have questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, but do not stop taking them.
“They are very important for them to be on them or else they would not be on them,” Coffey said.
The best way to protect yourself is to read your medication labels, wear sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids and take frequent breaks in air conditioning.
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