As hot temperatures pummel central Iowa, people on certain medications may be more likely to experience heat-related side effects. Leslie Herron, owner of Sumpter Pharmacy in Adel, says she sees it all the time: people on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are more likely to experience side effects like excessive sweating.

Medications and Heat Risks

SSRIs are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, frequently used to treat depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, they’re not the only medications that could make it harder to take the heat. Diuretic medications, which are often used to treat hypertension or edema, can cause people to lose water more quickly, thus causing dehydration. ADHD medications also have the potential to increase internal body temperature.

Herron emphasizes that many times, people on these medications don’t realize they’re at a higher risk of heat-related illness. Extreme heat also has the ability to impact the medication itself. If stored in a place that’s too hot or too humid, medications could break down and become less effective over time. Herron recommends keeping medications in a cool, dry place.

But the piece of advice Herron emphasized the most: don’t skip medications to try to skip out on side effects. SSRIs, antipsychotics, or blood pressure medications are not intended to be stopped abruptly. If you’re looking to get off a medication, always talk to a healthcare professional first.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.