Mental health medication and hot weather

Frequently asked questions

• Can mental health medication affect you in hot weather?

  Yes. Some medications can affect how your body controls its temperature. People taking some antipsychotics, antidepressants, and lithium may be more affected during hot weather or heatwaves.

  This can increase the risk of:  

  • Overheating
  • Dehydration
  • Heat exhaustion
  • Heat stroke

  Get advice from your GP, pharmacist, or mental health team before you do the following things with your medication:

  • Stop taking it,
  • Reduce the dose, or
  • Change the dose 

  For more advice and information, please see the following webpages:

  • Antidepressants
  • Antipsychotics
  • Medication - Choice and managing problems
  • Mood stabilisers

• How do antidepressants affect body temperature?

  SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs are types of antidepressants. 

  Examples include: 

  • Sertraline
  • Citalopram
  • Escitalopram
  • Fluoxetine
  • Paroxetine
  • Duloxetine
  • Venlafaxine

  For some people, these medicines can sometimes cause excessive sweating and dehydration.

  This can make it harder to stay comfortable in hot weather. 

  For more advice and information, please see the following webpage:

  • Antidepressants

• How do antipsychotics affect body temperature?

  Antipsychotics are often used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

  They can:  

  • Make it harder for your body to cool down
  • Affect the way your body responds to heat
  • Increase the risk of overheating

  This means you may find it harder to stay cool during very hot weather.

  For more advice and information, please see the following webpage:

  • Antipsychotics

• How can hot weather affect lithium?

  Lithium is a mood stabiliser often used to treat bipolar disorder.

  When you sweat, your body loses water and salt. If you become dehydrated, the amount of lithium in your body can rise.  This can increase the risk of lithium toxicity, which can be serious. 

  Signs of lithium toxicity: 

  • Blurred vision
  • Muscle weakness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Shaking or tremors
  • Slurred speech
  • Unsteady gait, problems with balance, falling over
  • Confusion
  • Convulsions

  If you think you may have lithium toxicity, seek urgent medical help. You can call NHS 111 for help and advice.

  If you take lithium:

  • Drink fluids regularly during hot weather
  • Avoid becoming dehydrated
  • Seek advice if you have severe diarrhoea or vomiting, ahigh temperature or sweating, or a urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Contact your GP or mental health team if you are worried

  For more advice and information, please see the following webpage:

  • Mood stabilisers

• What are the signs of heat exhaustion?

  Heat exhaustion can happen when your body gets too hot.

  Symptoms include: 

  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Feeling or being sick
  • Excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy
  • Cramps in the arms, legs, and stomach
  • A high temperature
  • Being very thirsty
  • Feeling irritable

  If you have heat exhaustion, to help you can:  

  • Move to a cool place.
  • Take off extra clothes, such as a coat, jumper, or socks.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Have an isotonic sports drink or oral rehydration powder that helps replace water and salt lost through sweating.
  • Cool down by putting cool water on their skin and gently fanning yourself.
  • Put a cold pack wrapped in a towel under your arms or on the back of your neck.

  You should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

  If you carry on feeling unwell, you can call NHS 111 for help and advice.

• When should I get urgent help?

  Call 999 now if you have signs of heatstroke, including: 

  • You feel very poorly after sitting somewhere cool, cooling down, and drinking water for 30 minutes.
  • You feel very, very hot.
  • You have hot, red skin and you are not sweating.
  • Your heart is beating very fast.
  • You are breathing very quickly or finding it hard to breathe.
  • You are confused or wobbly.
  • You have a fit.
  • You pass out or are unusually sleepy.

• How can I stay safe in hot weather?

  You can reduce your risk by:

  • Drinking water regularly
  • Staying in the shade when possible
  • Wearing loose, light clothing
  • Keeping your home cool by closing curtains or blinds during the day
  • Avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day
  • Open windows when it is cooler outside, such as early in the morning or at night
  • Wear a hat and sunscreen when you are outdoors
  • Take cool showers or baths to lower your body temperature
  • Use a fan if you have one
  • Eat regular meals and choose foods with a high water content, such as fruit and salad
  • Avoid drinking too much alcohol, as it can make dehydration worse
  • Watching for signs of dehydration and overheating

  If you are worried about how your medication affects you in hot weather, speak to your GP, pharmacist, or mental health team. 

  For more advice and information see our following webpage:

  • Mental health in extreme weather: Practical help for heatwaves, winter, and flooding