Tips for People Who Take Medication: COPING WITH HOT WEATHER

Some psychotropic medications can interfere with a person’s ability to regulate heat and their awareness that their body temperature is rising, which is associated with injury and death. Following are signs and symptoms of heat-related distress to watch for in yourself and loved ones who take psychotropic medication:

– High body temperature (103°F or higher)

– Hot, red, dry, or damp skin

– Heavy sweating

– Cold, pale, clammy skin

– Painful, red, or warm skin due to sunburn

– Skin with blisters as a result of sunburn

– Fast, strong, or weak pulse

– Headache

– Red clusters of small, pimple-like blisters on skin

-Tiredness or weakness

-Dizziness

– Nausea or vomiting

– Muscle cramps, pain, or spasms

– Confusion

– Losing consciousness/fainting (passing out)

SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR MEDICATIONS TO LEARN IF YOU ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR HEAT-RELATED DISTRESS. SEEK MEDICAL HELP RIGHT AWAY (CALL 911) IF YOU ARE THROWING UP, YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE WORSENING, OR IF YOUR SYMPTOMS LAST LONGER THAN 1 HOUR. MOVE TO A COOLER PLACE, LOWER YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE WITH COOL CLOTHS OR A COOL BATH, LOOSEN YOUR CLOTHES, AND SIP WATER.