Yes. See the full list in the chart below. Some medications can make you less thirsty or cause you to urinate more, increasing the risk of dehydration. Other drugs interfere with your body’s ability to regulate temperature—for example, by reducing your ability to sweat. All of those things increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, including muscle cramps, heat exhaustion, and most seriously, heat stroke, which can quickly escalate to a medical emergency.
In addition, some drugs make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Drug side effects related to heat and sun are too often overlooked. It’s important to discuss this issue with your personal physician in detail, including what vitamins or supplements you take, says Jessica Krant, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center in New York City, and a member of Consumer Report’s medical advisory board.
If you take one of medications listed below, it’s especially important to take the following steps to avoid heatstroke:
- Drink up. Consume extra nonalcoholic drinks even if you’re not thirsty. If you take a diuretic for high blood pressure, for example, or have a medical reason to limit fluid intake, ask your doctor how much you should drink.
- Plan around the heat. Do yard work and exercise in the cool of the morning and seek refuge in the air conditioning when it’s sweltering. Plan indoor activities during the heat of the day.
- Watch for signs of overheating. If you develop a headache, light-headedness, nausea, weakness, rapid breathing or pulse, lie down and elevate your feet. Apply wet cloths to your skin and use a fan. Every 15 minutes drink a half of cup of water, a sports drink, or a solution of 1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in a quart of water. If you’re with someone who faints, becomes confused or feverish, or feels worse despite treatment, call 911.
Drugs that can make you vulnerable to heat
Use |
Drug name* |
Allergies |
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy) and promethazine |
Depression |
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and imipramine (Tofranil) |
High blood pressure |
- Thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril) and hydrochlorothiazide
- ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), and enalapril (Vasotec)
- Angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan)
|
Irritable bowel syndrome |
Dicyclomine (Bentyl) |
Nausea and vomiting |
Prochlorperazine (Compro) |
Overactive bladder |
Anticholinergics such as oxybutynin (Ditropan), solifenacin (Vesicare), and trospium (Sanctura) |
Psychiatric disorders |
- Atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal)
- Conventional antipsychotics such as thioridazine and trifluoperazine
|
Stomach ulcer |
Glycopyrrolate (Robinul) |
*Many of the drugs listed are also available as generics.
This article and related materials are made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by the multistate settlement of consumer-fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin).
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.
