Health experts warn some medications could cause heat illness

As part of the country faces extreme heat, health professionals are warning that some medications can impact how your body handles high temperatures.

“Any of those can increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heat injury,” Dr. Megan Edwards, Knox County Public Health Officer told CBS affiliate WVLT.

Medications can affect your body’s ability to reduce heat through evaporation like sweating, which can lead to heat stroke or extreme symptoms.

Some drugs include heart and blood pressure medications, antihistamines like your over-the-counter allergy medicines, or stimulants like the medications kids take for ADHD.

>> Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke: Signs, symptoms of each

“Keep aware of everyone in your group because some people may not know that they are starting to experience these heat-related illnesses,” Edwards told WVLT.

Edwards added that any medication that impacts your alertness can keep you from realizing you’ve had too much sun.

Pharmacists said you shouldn’t stop taking your medications but rather be more prepared when you know you will be in the heat.

“It’s important to make sure that you don’t get outside, get hot and you don’t drink and make sure that you’re hydrated well before. If you’re taking routine medications, they could respond differently under those circumstances,” Hank Peck, a pharmacist said.

Health experts said it is also just as important to make sure you keep your medications at cool or room temperatures.

Extreme heating of them, like from keeping them in a hot car, could reduce their effectiveness.

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