While France is currently experiencing an “unprecedented” episode of intense heat during the month of September, according to Météo-France, it is necessary to be vigilant about people taking certain medications.
For the general population, when temperatures are very high, it is strongly recommended not to take aspirin or paracetamol to treat fever or headaches. The Medical Insurance explains that paracetamol is ineffective in the event of sunstroke and that aspirin can alter the body’s thermoregulation.
Medications that can increase the effects of heat.
Other treatments “may increase the effects of heat,” especially associated with other factors (age, chronic diseases, etc.), Health Insurance warns on its site. This does not mean that you should suspend or reduce these treatments, but rather that you should consult your treating doctor, who will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis.
These are medications that “can cause or aggravate dehydration by increasing water loss from the kidney”, such as diuretics, or those that act more generally on the functioning of the kidneys, such as aspirin or antidiabetics.
Health insurance also mentions treatments that can aggravate thermoregulation (heat removal from the body) problems. This is, for example, the case of certain neuroleptics, antiparkinsonian drugs, antidepressants, vasoconstrictors or thyroid hormones.
Health authorities also highlight the risks, in the case of extreme heat, of medications that “limit the increase in cardiac output: diuretics, beta blockers” and antimigraines, “which sometimes prevent the dilation of the vessels or reduce sweating.” ”.
Heat can interfere with the action of certain medications.
Products that reduce alertness, such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety medications, should be taken with caution because they may impair the ability to adapt behavior to cope with the heat.
The Health Insurance also explains that the action of certain medications may be modified in case of intense heat, because their elimination depends on the level of hydration (antiepileptics, oral antidiabetics for example) or because their effectiveness is hindered by perspiration, such as patches. based devices
In a document on “the appropriate use of medicines in the event of a heat wave”, the National Agency for Medicines Safety (ANSM) indicates which medicines can be subject to treatment adaptation in a detailed list to read here. If in doubt, it is recommended to consult the product instructions and, above all, talk about it. to a health professional.
Source: BFM TV
