Did You Know? Depression & Heat Stroke

This is a summertime PSA for anyone who takes antidepressant medication.

Did you know that antidepressant medication can put you at higher risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Many medications prescribed for mental health can disrupt the hypothalamus: the gland responsible for regulating your body temperature and sweat. As a result, many people who take antidepressants notice that they overheat quickly, and their bodies do not do regulate well when the temperature rises.

If you take medication for mental health, and you have noticed that you don’t handle heat as well as you used to, it’s not all in your head! You are likely experiencing a common side effect of your medication.

It’s important to take care of yourself when you start feeling the heat. Go indoors, rest, drink plenty of water, eat hydrating foods, or take a cool shower to get your temperature down.

Common Names of Medications

There are three types of medication known to contribute to overheating: Tricyclic Antidepressants, SNRIs, and SSRIs.

Common Names of Tricyclic Antidepressants: Norpramin, Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Imipramine, & Trimipramine

Common Names of SNRIs: Cymbalta, Effexor

Common Names of SSRIs: Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft, Sertraline

If you see your medication on this list, or take any medication for mental health, it is a good idea to be mindful of your body temperature during the hottest months of the year to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Signs of Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke

Early signs of heat exhaustion include sweating, hot moist skin, headache, and exhaustion. If you are experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to get out of the heat and hydrate. Consider seeking medical attention if you do not improve.

Late signs of heat exhaustion include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, and sudden/unusual/increased anxiety. If you are experiencing any of these signs, you should get out of the heat and seek medical attention.

Heat exhaustion is considered an early warning for heat stroke. If you experience any symptoms of heat stroke, seek medical attention immediately.

Signs of heat stroke are hot dry skin (because you can no longer sweat), severe headache, altered behavior (such as irritability or aggression), seizures, unresponsiveness, rapid shallow breathing, and rapid or weak pulse. If you see anyone experiencing heat stroke, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that can lead to heart attacks.

Further Reading:

An article about antidepressants and heat intolerance: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-balance/antidepressants-make-you-overheat-heat-intolerance-qa

An article from the Canadian Red Cross about heat exhaustion and heat stroke: https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/first-aid-tips-and-resources/first-aid-tips/summer-safety/heat-stroke-heat-exhaustion

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