This is ‘essential advice’ for millions of people.
The UK Government has important guidance for millions of people on certain medications that is especially relevant this week(Image: Getty)
Millions of individuals taking commonly-prescribed medications across the UK have received “essential advice” from the UK government which is particularly relevant this week.
Among the medications highlighted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers. Numerous other medicines are also referenced by the agency, detailed further below.
Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor extensively prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Meanwhile, bisoprolol ranks amongst the most frequently-used beta blockers, prescribed to treat angina, high blood pressure and heart failure, amongst other conditions.
On 26 June, the MHRA issued guidance on safeguarding your medicines during extreme heat and remaining safe as the UK experienced a heatwave of severe temperatures which peaked at a record 37.7C and resulted in school closures, reports the Mirror.. This week, temperatures are once more anticipated to exceed 30C and climb as high as 34C across parts of the UK by Wednesday and Thursday.
Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, stated: “It’s easy to forget that medicines left in the heat – in cars, bags, or on sunny windowsills – might not work properly when you need them. Some medicines can also make you more likely to burn in the sun, feel dizzy, or get dehydrated, especially if you’re taking diuretics or have a condition like asthma, heart disease, or diabetes.”
Why does heat affect medicines?
The MHRA states that most medicines require storage at temperatures below 25C. By the end of June, many people will have encountered rooms in their homes, workplaces or schools reaching and surpassing these temperatures.
Heat “breaks down the active ingredients in medicines”, the MHRA explains, cautioning that medicines requiring refrigeration “are especially vulnerable to heat”. Should medicine be affected by heat, it may no longer function correctly.
Medicine can also affect how your body copes with heat
While it is widely understood that the body loses greater amounts of water through perspiration in warm conditions, the MHRA notes that “some medicines can make this worse, or make it harder for your body to cope with heat”.
It specifically highlights some medicines, saying: “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.”
Frequently prescribed ACE inhibitors in the UK include ramipril, captopril, enalapril and others. Widely used beta-blockers include atenolol, bisoprolol, propranolol and others.
The MHRA also notes that individuals taking the following medications should likewise be mindful of a potentially heightened impact during hot weather:
“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.””People taking diuretics, or ‘water tablets’, such as furosemide, are already losing more fluid through urination.”
It further adds that certain common medicines can increase your susceptibility to sunburn, amongst them some antibiotics, diuretics, antidepressants, or skin treatments for acne or eczema.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration
Dehydration can trigger dizziness, headaches, fatigue, confusion, and dark-coloured urine. This poses a particular risk to elderly people, young children, and those with heart or kidney conditions.
Should you begin feeling unwell in the heat, move to a cooler location, drink water gradually, and seek medical attention if your condition fails to improve promptly.
How to keep medicines safe in the heat
The MHRA advice on keeping medicines safe in the heat includes:
Store medicines somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlightAvoid leaving them in cars or in bags left in sunlightKnow the signs of heat-related illnessStay hydrated and listen to your bodyTake extra care in the sun if your medicine makes your skin more likely to burnRead the leaflet and speak to a healthcare professional if you have any questions.