PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Before you head out into the hot sun or high humidity, check your medicine cabinet: Your medications may be affected by these conditions and have a detrimental effect on you.
“There are three ways that medications are affected by heat and sun,” says Cindy Coffey, PharmD, director of retail pharmacy at Riverside.
First, she said, some medications can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.
If you’re taking diuretics for high blood pressure, or if you’re taking allergy medications, antidepressants, or beta-blockers, you’ll need to drink extra fluids on hot, humid days, as they will dehydrate your body.
“It can cause electrolyte imbalances and a drop in blood pressure, which can increase the risk of fainting and falls,” Coffey said.
If you begin to feel unwell or experience symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, headache or nausea, immediately move into an air-conditioned room and cool your body down.
Second, some medications commonly used to treat acne can increase the risk of severe sunburn. Retin A, Accutane, and Doxycycline are some of the more dangerous drugs.
“You’ll experience an immediate burning and blistering reaction,” she says. “This is usually a pretty severe sunburn and will usually require medical attention.”
Third, some medications may degrade and may not be administered in the correct dose. Common medications used by this group include EpiPens, insulin, and inhalers.
Therefore, it is important to store the medicine in a cool, dry place.
If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist, but do not stop taking it.
“It’s really important that they participate, otherwise they wouldn’t participate,” Coffey said.
The best way to protect yourself is to read medicine labels, wear sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids, and open air-conditioned rooms frequently.
