Use Caution with Medications During Periods of Extreme Heat

HOLYOKE — As temperatures continue to rise across the region, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center is reminding community residents who may be taking medications to support their mental health to be extra cautious in summer heat.

According to Medical Director Dr. Kenneth Richmond, “increased temperatures can affect the impact of medications. It is important for anyone on medications, including those which may be prescribed for a mental health condition, to talk with their healthcare provider about how extreme temperatures and exposure to sun may change how they feel and cause certain side effects, and what they can do during periods of increasingly hot weather to be safe.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,200 people in the U.S. die from extreme heat every year, with individuals who take medications that affect thermoregulation among those at higher risk.

“Many people don’t realize that the medications they take to support their mental health may also impact how their body manages heat,” Richmond said. “Be informed, take precautions, and know the warning signs of heat-related stress such as dizziness, confusion, excessive sweating, blurry vision, or skin rashes.”

The CDC has made an extreme heat guide available to visitors on its website with tips on staying cool, staying hydrated, identifying individual risk factors, and knowing the symptoms associated with overheating and when to seek medical care.