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Translated by: Vita Abrashi-Kajtazi
- July 16, 2024 09:53
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Which medications are more dangerous to use during hot days?
Extreme heat can cause various diseases and threaten health in some subtle ways - adding to the side effects of many common medicines.
Warm weather can damage medicines such as insulin, which is preferably kept in the refrigerator. Inhalers can explode. Epinephrine injections such as EpiPens may not work properly. Medicines can be damaged during their transport.
The Associated Press has written about common heat and medication problems and how to manage them.
What medications can cause a problem during warm weather?
Blood pressure medications, which reduce fluid levels in the blood, can cause dehydration during extreme heat.
Medicines for heart disease can decrease blood flow to the skin while making a person less sensitive to dangerous heat.
Some antidepressants can interfere with a person's ability to stay cool.
Aspirin and some other pain relievers decrease fluid and sodium (salt) levels, making it harder for the body to cope with heat.
In addition, the combination of extreme heat and side effects of medications can lead to dizziness and collapse.
"Alcohol increases the risk," said pharmacist Breadley Phillips from the University of Pharmacy in Florida. He has recommended people to stay hydrated and not always rely on "the body's ability to understand that they are thirsty".
Some medications, such as antibiotics, antifungals, and acne medications, can increase sun sensitivity, causing skin rashes and burns.
"If someone is receiving therapy with these types of drugs, they should stay under an umbrella, wear clothing that protects from the sun and use creams with protective factors. You can be taking antibiotics and not even think about them, while when you come back from the beach you are more severely burned," said Dr. Mike Ren, a physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
How should medicines be stored during travel?
Medicines generally need to be kept in a cool, dry place, while some need to be refrigerated, which can be challenging when traveling.
Before traveling, the instructions that the medicines have on the packages should be checked. Medicines should be put in small refrigerators for travel or in bags that keep the temperature low, even though the instructions may say to keep the medicine at room temperature, the temperature in the car can be very high.
If the trip is by plane, it is advisable to keep the medicine in the carry-on bag, not in the luggage.
Medicines that are transported through the mail
Pharmacies or pharmacies that send medicines via express mail are responsible for keeping the medicines at an adequate temperature while they are being transported. The best practice is to send the medicine in special packaging that protects the temperature.
"But this thing may not always happen, or the delivery may not arrive on time", said Ren, who helped his mother on vacation, after bringing her some medicines and packing them to protect them from the extreme heat.
"If you know you're going to be at work all day or if you're on vacation and someone needs to bring you some medicine, you definitely don't want it exposed to extreme heat. If you think that the packaging of the lozenges you requested has been damaged by the heat, call the pharmacy to report the problem," said Ren.
Should other studies be done?
Yes. Researchers in the US and Australia have stated that some heat warnings and medicines have not been scientifically tested. Ollie Jay, from the University of Sydney, has found explanations for only 4 of the 11 categories of medicines that the WHO has listed as problematic during extreme heat.
He suggests that the change should be made in care and not in medicine when it comes to heat, he said that people should be more attentive.
Dr. Renee Salas, a physician in the emergency department at Massachusetts General Hospital, said that while climate change is accelerating, it is important to know which types of drugs pose a risk during extreme heat.
"We don't have this answer and we need to find it quickly", said Salas.
