As urgent health warnings are issued ahead of what looks set to be a record-breaking scorcher of a Bank Holiday weekend, Brits who take common forms of antidepressants have been told to be especially cautious
12:58, 22 May 2026Updated 09:08, 23 May 2026
Widely prescribed drugs such as Sertraline, Citalopram and Fluoxetine, can affect body temperature regulation(Image: Getty)
Urgent health warnings have been issued ahead of what looks set to be a sweltering heatwave, and Brits taking Sertraline, Citalopram and Fluoxetine will need to be especially careful.
As Brits settle in for the Bank Holiday weekend, they can expect highs of 33C, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing yellow heat warnings as of 9 am this morning (May 22). It’s understood that high temperatures pose a “greater risk to life” for vulnerable people in affected areas, including older people, children, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions.
Those taking certain types of common antidepressants will also need to be careful as the potentially record-breaking scorcher takes hold, including those who take Sertraline, Citalopram and Fluoxetine.
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat warnings as of 9 am this morning (May 22)(Image: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock)
According to Mental Health UK, some antidepressants, such as SNRIs, antipsychotic medication, and some SSRIs, can affect body temperature regulation and make you more sensitive to heat.
For antipsychotic medications, this includes amisulpride (brand name Solian), aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex), lurasidone (Latuda), olanzapine (Zypadhera, Zyprexa), paliperidone (Invega, Xeplion), quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XL), risperidone (Risperdal, Risperdal Consta), chlorpromazine, flupentixol, and haloperidol.
This has also been reported in tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, mianserin, and trazodone, and SSRIs such as sertraline, citalopram, and fluoxetine, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Temperatures are expected to top 33C this weekend (Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
On its website, the Mental Health UK charity adds that interfering with temperature regulation is often listed as a potential side effect of the drugs, so it is important to check the leaflet of your medication if you are concerned.
Dr Sameer Sanghvi, a practising GP and Clinical Technology Lead at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, explained: “Common antidepressants can all stop the temperature-regulating area of the brain from functioning as it should. Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.
“However, SNRIs are known to cause excessive sweating and thus dehydration, while SSRIs have been linked to heat intolerance and heat stroke.” Dr Sanghvi said people should not stop taking their medication during hot weather and should always consult their doctor before making changes to their mental health medication.
He added: “The best thing you can do is take precautions to stay cool: stick to the shade; drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol; keep out of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm; avoid exercising in the hottest parts of the day; and wear loose, breathable clothing.”
Heat health alert issued
Those who take Sertraline, Citalopram and Fluoxetine have been urged to be extra careful this weekend (Stock Photo)(Image: PA)
This comes as temperatures are set to soar across the country today, before rising even further as we get into the long weekend ahead. Yellow heat alerts are now in place from 9 am today, May 22, until 5 pm on May 27 in the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and the South East.
The Met Office has warned that mercury could climb to 30C on Saturday, 32 C by Sunday, and 33C on Monday, potentially breaking the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in May.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32C on Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.
“It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8C. As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK. There will however be more cloud and some showers in Northern Ireland and western Scotland through the weekend. With relatively low sea surface temperatures, there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts.”
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