With record-breaking temperatures baking Britain, dehydration isn't the only summer danger to watch out for. Health experts are urging anyone who is currently taking regular medication to be cautious, as extreme heat can render certain drugs ineffective, or even dangerous.
When left in hot cars, direct sunlight or humid rooms, the active ingredients in medication degrade and become chemically unstable. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warns that high temperatures can impact common everyday drugs. For example, paracetamol and ibuprofen can lose their potency and become useless, while aspirin can also break down into acids that severely irritate the stomach.
Which Medications Are Affected?
Most medication - including tablets, inhalers, EpiPens and hormone patches - must be stored below 25°C as active ingredients can break down in heat. Refrigerated medication such as insulin and liquid antibiotics are even more vulnerable to heat. Certain prescriptions can also change how you handle the sun. Those who take Sertraline, an antidepressant that increases serotonin levels, should be especially cautious as it can impair the body's ability to regulate its own temperature. Medication to treat asthma, heart disease or diabetes can make you more susceptible to dehydration, dizziness, and severe sunburn.
Dr Asimah Hanif, a GP with Staysure, said heat can affect both the safety and effectiveness of a wide array of treatments. The expert told the Daily Mirror: "Some medicines most affected by heat include common ones such as antibiotics, asthma inhalers, antihistamines, antidepressants and blood pressure tablets. Alongside other medications such as insulin, hormone treatments, injectable medicines, and weight-loss jabs such as GLP-1 medications."
How to Store Medications Safely
Dr Hanif urged that medications should always be stored according to the instructions on the packaging, usually in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. She added: "For travellers, particularly older adults or those managing long-term conditions, it is important to plan ahead and use insulated medication bags where needed. For temperature-sensitive medications, insulated travel pouches or cool packs can also help during heatwaves and travel. If medication changes colour, texture, or smell after exposure to heat, speak to a pharmacist before using it."
Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: "Let's face it – when there's a heatwave, most of us are focused on getting outside and enjoying it while it lasts. But it's easy to forget that medicines left in the heat – in cars, bags, or on sunny windowsills – might not work properly when you need them."
Key Tips to Stay Safe
- Store medicines somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight – especially if you're out and about
- Know the signs of heat-related illness – stay hydrated and listen to your body
- Take extra care in the sun if your medicine makes your skin more likely to burn
The UK is set for another very hot week with soaring temperatures likely to remain after the huge 'historic' heat dome descended on Britain, making it the hottest Bank Holiday ever. After the UK recorded its hottest ever May Day with temperatures climbing to 34.8°C in Kew Gardens, the record for the highest daily minimum for the month was set overnight as the temperature did not fall below 21.3°C at Kenley Airfield, south London.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat-health alerts for five regions of England, warning of increased pressure on health and social care services. It said the high temperatures could lead to a rise in deaths, particularly among people aged 65 and over or those with underlying health conditions. Things will get a little cooler soon, but the heat is going nowhere fast. Temperatures will start to gradually decline from the middle of the week but it will still be largely dry with sunny spells. However, many will still experience temperatures in the high 20s Celsius.
