UK heatwave warning raises alarm bells over two types of commonly used medication
Topics: Health, Mental Health, UK News, Weather, Advice
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Health, Mental Health, UK News, Weather, Advice
A vital warning has been issued to users of two common medications as temperatures in the UK break June records.
The Met Office warned Brits last week about an incoming historic heatwave with temperatures forecast to reach a record-breaking 40°C, driven by a high-pressure 'heat dome' trapping hot air from Europe.
A rare Red Extreme Heat Warning was subsequently put into place for much of England and Wales, with extreme temperatures peaking on Wednesday and Thursday (24-25 June), creating danger-to-life conditions and tropical nights with temperatures not dropping below 22°C.
Amid the chaos - which is expected to drag on until Friday - schools are closing, trains are being cancelled, hosepipes have been banned, and hospital staff are dealing with an unfathomable demand.
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As we say, however, unlike prior weather warnings, this week's Red Alert won't just affect physically vulnerable people, but users of two very specific medications - and interestingly, they're both proposed to minimise the effects of dangerous mental health disorders.
As such, doctors are advising patients to prioritise their brain's wellbeing in other ways during this period by staying cool and staying hydrated.
For low mood conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, doctors often prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.
The most commonly prescribed examples are Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Paroxetine.
These pills work by increasing the availability of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, emotion, and sleep, in the brain's synaptic gaps.
Generally, side effects of these medications are uncommon, and if they do occur, they usually involve nausea, insomnia or drowsiness, headaches, dry mouth, and sexual dysfunction.
In most cases, these peak in the first few weeks of starting treatment before subsiding.
Another major issue with SSRIs, however, is that they've also been proven to trigger excessive sweating by affecting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
As such, a person could develop heat intolerance, meaning they could be suffering from sunstroke, but not even know it.
This could also make them more vulnerable to dehydration and hyponatraemia, which refers to having low levels of salt in the body.
It's worth noting, however, that while SSRIs increase serotonin levels almost immediately, it typically takes 2 to 4 weeks (and sometimes up to 8 weeks) for patients to feel the full benefits.
This delay occurs because the brain requires time to undergo secondary neuro-chemical adaptations, such as the desensitisation of certain receptors, which ultimately leads to improved mood regulation.
So, if you've only recently received your SSRI prescription, you mightn't feel the extra burden of a heatwave.
These types of drugs are often prescribed to treat mental health disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
They do so by balancing neurotransmitters, primarily dopamine and serotonin, that allow brain cells to communicate.
By blocking specific receptors, antipsychotics reduce the intensity of chemical signals associated with psychosis, helping to manage symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and extreme mood swings.
The most common side effects of antipsychotic medications are weight gain, dry mouth, and sedation.
Another problem, especially in light of this week's extreme temperatures, is that these medications can affect the ability of the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that controls body temperature and sweat glands - to respond to rising temperatures, posing a similar risk to that of antidepressants.
This could interfere with the body's natural cooling system, reduce a person's awareness of thirst levels, and increase the risk of overheating.