Mental health meds and heat: Know your risk
July 22, 2024—Extreme heat can affect your mood. But if you have a mental health condition, you should know hot weather can be especially hard on you.
Rising temperatures and heat waves affect conditions like anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia and substance use disorders. Emergency department visits for mental health concerns are higher in hot weather, reports the American Psychological Association (APA).
According to the APA, heat can trigger increased irritability, impulsive behavior and trouble concentrating. And hot nights may make it harder to get a good night's sleep, which can make stress, depression and anxiety worse.
Medications and heat sensitivity
The risk of physical heat illness, such as heatstroke, is also higher for people with mental health conditions, warns the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
One-sixth of all Americans take some kind of medication for a mental health issue. And many of those medicines can affect the way the body monitors and controls its temperature. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some meds reduce sweating, making it harder for the body to cool itself. Others reduce thirst, which can lead to dehydration. Certain medications, such as lithium, can also lead to electrolyte imbalances or even drug toxicity.
According to CDC, meds that raise the risk of heat illness include:
- Antidepressants, including SSRIs, SNRIs and tricyclic medications.
- Antipsychotic medications.
- Mood stabilizers.
- Stimulants, such as those used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
How to stay safe in hot weather
If you take any of these medications, ask your doctor about your risk for heat illness. They might suggest that you take some extra steps to stay safe during hot weather. These simple heat-safety strategies from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and other experts are a good place to start:
Drink water. Keep your body hydrated by sipping water throughout the day. If your urine is darker than normal, you may be dehydrated.
Stay inside when it's hot. Avoid walks, outdoor workouts and other activities during the hottest time of the day.
Dress for comfort. Choose loose, light-colored clothing to help keep the body cool and comfortable.
Soak up the A/C. Spend time in air-conditioned areas. If you don't have A/C at home, spending time in places that do, like libraries, malls and cooling centers, can help.
Manage your meds
Learn more about medication safety in our Medications health topic center.
Sources
- AARP. "8 Prescription Medications That Don't Mix With Heat." https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2023/medications-heat-intolerance.html.
- American Psychological Association. "How Heat Affects the Mind." https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/06/heat-affects-mental-health.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America. "Heat and Mental Health." https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer-professional/heat-and-mental-health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Heat and Medications – Guidance for Clinicians." https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/hcp/clinical-guidance/heat-and-medications-guidance-for-clinicians.html.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "Heat Health Awareness: Why It's Important for Persons With Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Conditions, Caregivers and Health Care Providers." https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/heat-health-awareness-why-its-important-persons-substance-use-disorders-mental-health.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "Tips for People Who Take Medication: Coping With Hot Weather." https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep23-01-01-001.pdf.