Some medications can make it harder for your body to handle extreme heat, experts say | Health - New Zealand News Beep

The Brief

Certain allergy medications can disrupt your body’s ability to regulate temperature and sweat properly.

Some mood-regulating drugs, including anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, can affect how your body senses temperature changes.

Pharmacists recommend talking with your doctor or pharmacist about higher-risk medications and watching for warning signs like excessive sweating — or no sweating at all.

LA CROSSE (WKBT) — Some common medications can make it significantly harder for your body to cope with extreme heat, medical experts warn.

Certain allergy medications can interfere with your body’s ability to regulate its temperature and sweat properly — two critical functions when temperatures rise. Some mood-regulating drugs, including anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, can also affect how your body senses temperature changes, putting users at greater risk during heat events.

Gretchen Kunze, a pharmacist for Emplify Health by Gundersen, says the first step is simply knowing the risk exists.

“I think certainly being aware that medications do carry this risk and having a conversation with your pharmacist, your provider, to kind of look at those higher risk medications that can lead to these complications is a great first step,” Kunze said.

Pharmacists say people taking these medications should watch for warning signs, including excessive sweating or no sweating at all. Both can signal that the body is struggling to manage heat.

Experts recommend speaking directly with a doctor or pharmacist to review any medications that may increase heat-related health risks.

Some medications can make it harder for your body to handle extreme heat, experts say | Health

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