As Brits brace themselves for the fourth heatwave of the summer, experts have issued a health warning for anyone taking a common prescription medication
An important health warning has been issued for Brits as weather maps are predicting the UK could experience scorching temperatures hotter than Ibiza next week.
Sizzling hot weather is due across the country, with the Met Office saying a fine day on Sunday will be followed by “strong August sunshine” for England and Wales in the new week, with even the chance of isolated thunderstorms developing.
Maps from Ventusky predict highs of 33C in Huntingdonshire, with Ibiza set to reach around 31C. The map suggests temperatures could hit their peak in the UK at around 4pm on Tuesday. It comes after an exciting heatwave forecast with maps revealing the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK.
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As Brits brace for the fourth heatwave of the summer, it’s important to note that some prescription medications can exacerbate heat-related symptoms.
Millions of Brits could be at a further increased health risk due to a common prescription medications, experts have warned. One of those includes diabetes medicines, including insulin and metformin.
The government warns that diabetes drugs can increase the risk of dehydration or make early symptoms harder to spot. Dehydration can be dangerous in hot weather, as it cause a further increase in body temperature.
“Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, tiredness, confusion, and dark urine. This is particularly dangerous for older adults, young children, and people with heart or kidney conditions,” the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warns.
Offering advice to anyone affected, the agency states: “If you start to feel unwell in the heat, move somewhere cooler, sip water slowly, and seek medical advice if you don’t feel better quickly.”
Anyone taking antidepressants should also be cautious during hot weather. There are many types of antidepressants, but one of the most common are SSRIs. They work by increasing the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, which can improve your sleep and mood.
However, one of the common side effects of SSRIs is sweating more than normal – and in a heatwave this can present a danger, experts have claimed.
This kind of antidepressant impacts the part of the brain that regulates temperature – the hypothalamus – as they influence the different chemical levels in the brain. With more serotonin, it is harder for this internal thermostat to send effective signals that regulate the overall temperature of the body.
“This can lead to excessive sweating,” pharmacist Thorrun Govind told The Sun. “This can be counterproductive in hot weather as the body is already struggling to cool down.” Sweating too much can make people dehydrated, and then correspondingly cause a further increase in body temperature.
This does not mean you should stop taking antidepressants if you have been prescribed them – because a sudden withdrawal from these medications can be incredibly dangerous.
Instead, you should take your prescription as your GP has directed and continue that normal – but take extra precautions surrounding the heat.
This should include avoiding going outside or doing exercise during the hottest hours of the day – between 11am and 3pm – and sticking to the shade as much as possible.
You should also avoid drinking any alcohol, because this is dehydrating, and make sure you are drinking plenty of water, as well as opting to wear loose breathable fabrics like cotton and linen during a heatwave.