The world just experienced its hottest day on record, and long heat waves are becoming more common due to climate change. These conditions can affect the way drugs work and how they affect those who use them.
Here’s what you need to know about hot weather medications:
How does heat change the effects and quality of medicines?
Medicines used to treat common ailments can make patients more sensitive to heat by reducing their body’s ability to sweat and circulate blood in response to high temperatures.
Heat waves also increase the possibility that almost all medications – whether in pill, syrup, spray, capsule or any other form – will deteriorate if not stored within a certain temperature range.
The side effects of drugs can vary depending on the person’s health, dose and surrounding circumstances.
In hot weather, patients should talk to their doctors about changing their dosage or schedule. Experts also advise patients to stay cool by drinking plenty of water, wearing fans and seeking shade or air conditioning.
What drugs increase sensitivity to heat?
Medicines for heart failure and blood pressure: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease thirst, making it difficult to know when to drink more water and increasing the chance of dehydration. Beta-blockers can hinder sweating and the body’s ability to stay cool, while calcium channel blockers can lead to mineral imbalances that make it harder for the body to control temperature. Water pills, commonly known as diuretics, can lead to mineral imbalances and dehydration.
Allergy medicines:
Several over-the-counter antihistamines can make it harder to regulate body temperature and reduce sweating.
Psychiatric drugs:
Sweating is reduced in people taking some antipsychotics. On the other hand, some antidepressants suppress thirst and increase sweating. Stimulants such as amphetamines and other drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can interact with the central nervous system to increase body temperature.
Thyroid medications:
These hormone replacements can also raise body temperature, disrupt temperature regulation, and lead to excessive sweating.
What is the safe temperature range for storing medication?
Adverse changes in temperature can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
While some medications can tolerate temperatures as high as 86°F (30°C), most medications should be stored between 59 and 77°F (15 and 77°C) in a dry, cool environment away from sunlight. Manufacturers’ websites provide information on how to store medications at different temperatures.
Because every recipe is different, it’s hard to predict how much it would deteriorate in high temperatures, according to Amy Bachyrycz, a member of the pharmacy faculty at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Generally speaking, mail order drugs should not be stored in hot cars or hot mailboxes for extended periods of time.
An official from CVS Health’s Caremark pharmaceutical benefits division said the company’s automated shipping system takes weather information into account when deciding which packaging materials are best for each shipment.
According to an Amazon.com Pharmacy representative, the company uses strict safety protocols for both shipping and storage to protect prescription drugs from extremely hot or cold temperatures during shipping.
