Heat Waves and Medicine: How Rising Temperatures Impact Drug Efficacy

The world recently experienced the hottest day on record, highlighting the need to understand how climate change impacts medication efficacy. Heat can alter drug effects and quality. Patients should consult doctors for dosage adjustments and store medicines properly. Specific groups of medications, such as blood pressure and psychiatric drugs, are particularly affected.

The world recently experienced the hottest day on record, and prolonged heat waves have become more common due to climate change. This change in weather conditions can significantly alter the efficacy and quality of medications, affecting patients who rely on them.

Medications for common conditions can heighten sensitivity to heat by impairing the body's natural responses such as sweating and regulating blood flow. Exposure to high temperatures also raises the risk of drug deterioration if they are not stored within the recommended temperature range. Patients should consult their physicians about adjusting medication dosages or schedules during hot weather. Experts advise patients to stay hydrated, carry fans, and seek shade or air conditioning.

Certain medications, including those for blood pressure, heart failure, allergies, psychiatric disorders, and thyroid issues, increase sensitivity to heat. These medications can impair the body's temperature regulation or alter sweating and thirst mechanisms, leading to dehydration and other heat-related issues.

Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can degrade medications. In general, medications should be stored at 59-77 F (15-77 C) in cool, dry places. Drug manufacturers provide specific storage guidelines on their websites. To prevent drug deterioration, medications should not be left in hot cars or exposed to high temperatures for extended periods. Major pharmaceutical companies are implementing sophisticated measures to ensure that medications are shipped and stored under proper conditions.

(With inputs from agencies.)