Heat Wave/Doctor’s Advice: Medications Can Be Dangerous During Extreme Heat

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Taking certain medications can be dangerous during periods of intense heat, reveals a health professional who is a member of the Association of Doctors for the Environment.

Dr. Stéphanie Burelle, who works as an emergency physician at the CISSS de Laval, says that certain illnesses require treatments that dehydrate the body.

“There are some patients who have liver, kidney or heart problems, and these problems cause them to accumulate more water than you and me,” she illustrates.

They must therefore take diuretics to eliminate excess water in their urine.

“In their daily lives, it will prevent them from having water in their lungs or having swollen legs,” says Dr. Burelle.

This treatment causes a patient to lose much more water than normal, making them very vulnerable to dehydration during hot weather.

“If you and I are sweaty, hot and dehydrated, our bodies will do everything they can to conserve water. However, patients who take this medication cannot retain this water. They are therefore much more vulnerable to episodes of dehydration,” she maintains.

Some medications used to treat epilepsy and mental health conditions can also cause adverse effects if you become dehydrated.

“(Medication) levels can become toxic in the blood if you are very dehydrated,” she said.

It is therefore important to discuss with a health professional to see if a treatment can be modified during a heatwave.