Heat Stroke is a Side Effect of Several Medications: Here's What You Need to Know

Living in or near Palm Desert, the heat can be dangerous. You may love the sun and the sand, but excessive heat can destabilize your body’s ability to maintain a steady core temperature. 

Typically, your body responds to heat by sweating, which cools you down. Blood vessels widen, directing heat away from your core. However, some medications can place you at increased risk for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even sunburn. 

Board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Manzoor Kasi with Palm Desert Urgent Care understands the risks of heat-related illnesses, which require urgent care. Dr. Kasi helps you manage your medications, including evaluating them for side effects like heat stroke. 

Heat stroke 101 

Palm Desert experiences hot, dry summers with little rainfall. Perhaps you’re a native of the area or came here because you love a warm, dry climate. Many retirees like this type of climate because it eases arthritis pain. Most of the time, a sunny climate helps boost your mood as well.  

However, average high temperatures in the summer can reach 107°F. Unless you’re in a swimming pool, your body heats up. 

Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency care. Your body’s ability to regulate your temperature shuts down. Your temperature can spike to 106° F in a few minutes. 

Symptoms of heat stroke include feeling dizzy, slurred speech, mental confusion, a seizure, or loss of consciousness. It can be fatal if you don’t get immediate medical attention. 

Excessive heat also causes other heat-related health conditions:

• Heat exhaustion: a result of heat and dehydration
• Rhabdomyolysis: a life-threatening condition resulting from working in excessive heat
• Heat syncope: fainting from the heat
• Heat cramps: heat and dehydration can lead to muscle cramps
• Heat rash: red bumps on the skin

If you feel any symptoms after being out in the heat, call us right away. We can assess your condition and restore your body temperature to prevent complications.

Medications can lead to heat stroke

Some over-the-counter and prescription medications can precipitate heat-related symptoms. Dr. Kasi can advise you whether any of your medications have this type of side effect. Here are some of the heat-related symptoms that can arise from medications:  

Becoming dehydrated

Do your medications list lowering your blood pressure, diarrhea, or vomiting as possible side effects? These can all lead to dehydration and heat stroke. Even caffeine and alcohol can compromise your ability to stay cool.

Less ability to sweat

Although sweating is uncomfortable and sticky, it’s your body’s way of cooling off. If your medication hinders your ability to sweat, you’re more at risk of heat stroke. Anti-depressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and Parkinson’s disease medications fall into this category.

Lower blood flow

Do you take a beta-blocker or a blood pressure drug? They can constrict your blood vessels, making it harder for your body to cool down. 

Increased drug concentration if you’re dehydrated

Don’t take a medication that requires a precise dose if you’ve been out in the heat. Let your body cool down and drink fluids first. If you’re dehydrated, the medication you take is at a higher level of concentration in your blood than it should be, possibly leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and heat stroke. 

Blood pressure medications in patch form and anti-seizure, bipolar, and heart disease medications can become too concentrated if you’re dehydrated. 

High level of body heat

Some drugs for ADHD, as well as illegal drugs like ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine, raise the level of your body heat. 

Don’t stop taking your medication because of the risk of heat stroke. Your doctor explains how you can manage your medications and stay safe. 

Because you’re living in a climate where heat stroke is a risk, keep your regularly scheduled check-up appointments and call Palm Desert Urgent Care if you feel any heat stroke-related symptoms, or book an appointment online for non-urgent care.