Certain medication can affect how your body handle heat , so you might want to take redundant precautions this summer .
Now that temperatures are rising and summer is basically here, I’ve been seeing a lot of videos on TikTok and Instagram claiming that antidepressants and other psychiatric medications can increase your risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
As someone who relies on storebought serotonin, I had to find out if these claims are true. To learn more, I reached out toDr. Judith Joseph, M.D., M.B.A.
She ’s a plug-in - certified psychiatrist who was recently named a 2024 Black Health Hero by PopSugar .
Dr. Judith confirmed that SSRI antidepressants can affect the way our bodies respond to heat in multiple ways. First, she explained, “SSRIs (like Zoloft), along with other psychiatric medications, may impact the hypothalamus’s ability to regulate temperature in the body. They do this by modulating serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine — neurotransmitters which are brain chemicals that change the way parts of the brain function.”
Additionally, she explained that these medications may also impact your body’s sweat response. “Certain SSRIs impact acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter, and this may impact the body’s ability to sweat in response to temperature changes, and this may impact the perception of heat and overheating.”
sudation is one of your body ’s go - to ’s when it needs to cool down . If you ’re not capable to sweat when temperatures rise , you ’ll feel hot than someone else at the same temperature who ’s sweat unremarkably .
And there’s another way that antidepressants can change the way we handle the summer heat. Dr. Judith said, “SSRIs also change the way our body’s nerves perceive heat, and this may send signals from our skin nerves back to the brain in terms of thermal or heat regulation.”
I was curious if other psychiatric medications can affect how we deal with the heat, so I asked Dr. Judith about that too. She replied, “Yes, some antipsychotic medications (risperidone, Haldol, quetiapine), some antianxiety medications like benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax), and some SNRI antidepressants (such as Venlafaxine) and TCA antidepressants can also cause this (such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline).”
" Some stimulants for ADHD ( Adderall and Ritalin ) and antihistamines ( Benadryl ) may touch on the body and its ability to determine the body ’s temperature . These medications may interpose with the regulation of learning ability chemicals call neurotransmitter which exchange the way the hypothalamus can regulate heat and temperature in the body . "
So how can you tell if you’re having a tough time in the heat? Dr. Judith says mild overheating can cause intense thirst and sweating, flushing, and turning red. You might also feel dizzy or lightheaded, experience nausea, or develop a headache. In some people, overheating can make their heartbeat race, in which case Dr. Judith recommends wearing a smartwatch that can notify you of changes in your heart rate.
More serious signs of overheating can include body temperatures of 103 and above, confusion and disorientation, vomiting, fainting, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, severe headache, problems seeing or talking, and even seizures. In these cases, Dr. Judith advised, “This requires you to go to the ER or call 911.”
" You may need an IV to rehydrate and aesculapian - grade technology to cool down down . You may require support for nous operate to forestall death by ictus . "
Luckily, there are plenty of steps you can take to make sure the heat doesn’t sicken you this summer. Dr. Judith advised starting by making sure you have everything you need to keep your home cool and comfortable before it gets too hot. “Try to stay cool and hydrated, so check your air conditioning to make sure the filter is clean and that it is working before the weather gets hot so that it can get serviced by a technician.”
Staying hydrated can also help your body handle higher temps, so Dr. Judith suggested, “Keep water and electrolyte drinks in stock and regularly hydrate.” Electrolytes can be found in sports drinks like Gatorade, products like Liquid IV, and beverages like coconut water.
You might also want to regularly check some of your critical signs so that you have a better sense of what ’s normal for you , and so you know if anything change . " seek to keep a first aid kit at home to check temperature regularly , see to it blood pressure , and check your pulse . "
She also shared some tips for enjoying the great outdoors in the hot summer weather. “Stay in the shade and avoid activities where you will be in the sun for hours without access to cooling fans or a respite from harsh and extreme temperatures. Keep ice packs in stock and take them with you.”
If you’re concerned about how your medications might effect your ability to handle the heat, Dr. Judith recommended consulting with your doctor to better understand your personal risk. “Talk to your doctor about overheating as a symptom of your medications, especially when doctors prescribe multiple or new medications, so that you are aware of drug-drug interactions that may make overheating more likely.”
" If you have other medical weather condition like gaining control , low roue pressure , or spirit arrhythmia , discuss this with your medico as you may have drug - drug interactions between your psychiatric medications and your aesculapian medications . Also , your pre - existing health conditions may make you more prostrate to overheating . "
Finally, she shared that heat can affect your mental health more than you might realize. “Heat impacts mental health and mental health symptoms. These psychiatric medications we discussed above are necessary for one in six Americans to have improved mental health conditions and improved quality of life. However, when overheating happens, this may also worsen anxiety, depression, mood, and thinking.”
As someone who has benefitted tremendously from these types of medications, I’m a little bit shocked that nobody ever told me they could change how my body handles heat. But now that I know, I’m glad I have some more tips and tricks for getting through the summer without melting into a hot little puddle like the Wicked Witch of the West.
