Heatwave Medicines Warning: Furosemide, Ramipril, Losartan, Amlodipine, Bisoprolol, Oxybutynin, Amitriptyline, Sertraline, Empagliflozin And Insulin Explained If you take regular medicines, a heatwave can affect you more than you realise. This is not panic. This is not a reason to stop your tablets. This is a reason to plan ahead. Some medicines can make heat more risky by affecting fluid balance, sweating, blood pressure, heart rate, kidneys, blood sugar or how your body cools itself. Here are 10 medicines to be more heat-aware with. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 1. Furosemide This is a water tablet. It helps remove extra fluid, but in hot weather it can increase dehydration risk. 2. Ramipril This is an ACE inhibitor used for blood pressure and heart protection. Dehydration can make dizziness, low blood pressure or kidney strain more likely. 3. Losartan This is an ARB used for blood pressure and heart or kidney protection. Heat, sweating and dehydration can increase light-headedness or kidney stress. 4. Amlodipine This is a calcium channel blocker. It can cause ankle swelling, flushing, dizziness or headaches, which may feel worse in heat. 5. Bisoprolol This is a beta blocker. It slows the heart rate, which can affect how your body responds to heat and exercise. 6. Oxybutynin This is used for bladder symptoms. It can reduce sweating, making it harder for your body to cool down. 7. Amitriptyline This can be used for nerve pain, migraine or sleep. It can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and may affect heat tolerance. 8. Sertraline This is an SSRI antidepressant. Some people sweat more, feel dizzy or have changes in temperature tolerance. 9. Empagliflozin This is an SGLT2 inhibitor used in type 2 diabetes and some heart or kidney conditions. It makes you pass more sugar and fluid in urine, so dehydration risk matters. 10. Insulin Heat, extra walking, missed meals, alcohol and dehydration can affect blood sugar. Insulin also needs safe storage in hot weather. THE ANSWER YOU NEED Should you stop these medicines in a heatwave? No. Do not stop prescribed medicines suddenly unless a healthcare professional tells you to. What should you do instead? Plan ahead, hydrate, stay cool, store medicines properly and ask your pharmacist what applies to you. RED FLAGS Get urgent help if you feel faint, confused, very weak, very drowsy, short of breath, have chest pain, severe headache, repeated vomiting, dark urine, stop passing urine, feel very hot and unwell, or have low or high blood sugar symptoms. WHAT YOU CAN DO Drink water regularly. Avoid sitting in direct sun for hours. Take shade breaks. Be careful with alcohol. Eat properly, especially with diabetes medicines. Keep medicines out of hot cars and direct sunlight. Check blood sugar more often if advised. Stand up slowly if dizzy. Ask before using ibuprofen or naproxen if dehydrated. QUESTION TO ASK “I take regular medicines. Which of mine need extra care in hot weather?” RAJ’S PHARMACIST PERSPECTIVE After 35 years in pharmacy, I can tell you this clearly. The medicine is not always the problem. The problem is the combination. Heat. Sweating. Dehydration. Alcohol. Missed meals. Long days outside. And regular tablets. This is not about fear. It is about being prepared. SEARCH QUESTIONS What medicines are risky in a heatwave? Can blood pressure tablets make heat worse? Can water tablets cause dehydration? Can diabetes medicines be affected by heat? heatwave medicines medicines and hot weather blood pressure tablets heat water tablets dehydration diabetes medicines heat antidepressants heat insulin hot weather If you take furosemide, ramipril, losartan, amlodipine, bisoprolol, oxybutynin, amitriptyline, sertraline, empagliflozin or insulin, ask your pharmacist how to stay safe during a heatwave. CTA Save this before the next heatwave and follow for practical medicine safety advice. #heatwave #medication #bloodpressure #diabetes #askyourpharmacist - @therajrpatel