How does extreme heat affect medicines and those taking them?

Medications can alter body's response to heat, impacting effectiveness and patient safety during extreme temperatures.

The world just experienced the hottest day on record and prolonged heat waves have become more common due to climate change, conditions that can alter medications and their effects on patients taking them.

Medications for common conditions can increase patients’ sensitivity to heat by impairing the body’s response to high temperatures, including the ability to sweat and the rate of blood flow.

When sweat evaporates, it removes heat from the skin. Not being able to sweat can cause the body to rapidly accumulate deadly levels of heat.

Heat waves also increase the risk of deterioration for nearly all medications, whether capsules, sprays, tablets, syrups, or some other form, if they are not kept within a certain temperature range.

The heat-related effects of medications can vary based on individual health status, dosage and environmental conditions.

Patients should consult their physicians about potentially adjusting doses or scheduling in hot weather, and they should keep cool by staying hydrated, carrying fans, and seeking shade or air conditioning, experts say.

Blood pressure and heart failure medications: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors suppress thirst, making it harder to know when to drink more water and increasing the risk of dehydration. Calcium channel blockers can cause mineral imbalances, making it harder for the body to regulate its temperature, while beta blockers can make it harder to sweat and keep the body cool. Diuretics, or water pills, can also cause dehydration and mineral imbalances.