Some Antidepressants, Antipsychotics May Make Heatwaves Challenging

. . . Dr. Laurence Wainwright, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s psychiatry department, told the BBC there is ‘evidence to suggest a link between tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics and heat-related illnesses’ . . . [He] says the way the medications work, by impacting the hypothalamus – the part of the brain that controls body temperature, can cause a number of side effects.

‘In some cases, the body is not able to regulate temperature effectively,’ he says. ‘The problems that can stem from that include muscle cramps, fainting, heatstroke, heat rash and heat exhaustion… Also [typically] the body has a good way of telling us when we are thirsty, but these medications can diminish that – and they can also lower blood pressure slightly, which can lead to a chance of fainting in the heat.’

. . . Dr. Wainwright says there is also some early evidence to suggest that SSRIs ‘may present implications for the body’s ability to thermo-regulate and in turn have other implications for heat-related illnesses.’ He adds ‘it’s hard to make clear statements here – but there is a complex interplay between serotonin and thermo-regulation.’