As summer temperatures climb, pharmacists say the heat can do more than make people uncomfortable – it can also reduce the effectiveness of medications and increase the risk of dehydration and other heat-related health problems.

Lisa Heiken, PharmD, a pharmacist, medications exposed to extreme temperatures can lose their effectiveness, particularly those that require refrigeration, such as insulin.

Any medication, if it's left in extreme temperatures, can degrade the effectiveness. Heiken says that includes over-the-counter meds such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, or supplements such as vitamin C or magnesium.

She adds that heat and cold can damage refrigerated medications, making them potentially less effective when patients need them most.

Many people also unknowingly store medications in one of the worst possible places – the bathroom. Although medicine cabinets are common, the humidity created by showers can break down tablets and capsules over time.

Don’t use a medicine cabinet

“A lot of bathrooms unfortunately do have medicine cabinets, and we don’t recommend you leave medication in the medicine cabinet as those rooms tend to have high humidity and the humidity is what breaks down medication.”

Instead, she recommends storing medications in a cool, dry location elsewhere in the home, such as a hallway closet.

Summer errands can also put medications at risk.

“Like leaving your child in the car, same with your medications. Your medications can be affected, even by short times in extreme temperatures so we do recommend that if you’re stopping by the pharmacy that you make your next stop at home, especially if you have refrigerated medications.”

Heiken advises anyone who accidentally leaves medication in a hot car not to throw it away immediately. Instead, patients should contact their pharmacist, who can assess factors such as how long the medication was exposed to heat and whether it may still be safe and effective to use.

Meds can make you vulnerable to heat/sun

Beyond proper storage, some medications can make people more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

“A lot of heart and blood pressure medication can cause people to become dehydrated faster or dizziness as a side effect in general and so when you add heat and dehydration on top of that, that obviously will compound that problem,” Heiken explains.

Heiken encourages anyone taking antibiotics and certain other medications, to make sure to use sunscreen, wear protective clothing or stay out of the sun because the drugs can make you more sensitive to sunlight.

Bottom line, Heiken says, don’t blow off a discussion with the pharmacist when you begin taking a new medication.

“Opting into the counseling will allow you to better understand your medication and prevent future issues like dehydration and dizziness.”

As temperatures remain high throughout the summer, Heiken said a few simple precautions — proper storage, staying hydrated and understanding medication side effects — can help keep medications effective and people safe.

Lisa Heiken is the manager of OSF Eastland Pharmacy in Bloomington, Illinois.

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B-roll-Medication and weather

A veteran urologist, Uwais Zaid, MD, has heard the comparisons.

Pain from a kidney stone is like giving birth.

“It’s true,” says the man who provides care at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois.

“It’s horrible. They just can’t get comfortable. They’re writhing around in pain,” Dr. Zaid says of people suffering from a calcification-turned-blockage in the urinary tract.

“When the kidney gets obstructed, everything gets swollen upstream. That causes everything to get stretched out,” Dr. Zaid explains. “And it hurts a lot. Your body responds with severe pain in the flank area. It’s a sharp, stabbing pain.”

Other signs: you suddenly start feeling an urgency to urinate or your urine is anything but clear or yellow.

All those unpleasant symptoms are why prevention of kidney stones is key. It starts with what you put in your body.

Drink plenty of water, Dr. Zaid says. Doctors even recognize a “kidney stone belt” in the southern United States where people deal with sweltering weather and dehydration.

Avoid excess salt and sugar in your diet. That means cut back on soda and sweet tea. Too much meat, nuts and leafy vegetables can also cause problems.

“Other risk factors include a family history of kidney stones. Chronic diarrhea can cause dehydration and a loss of electrolytes,” Dr. Zaid says.

For small kidney stones – less than five millimeters across, or about the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil – a provider may see if the stones can pass out of your body through the urethra on their own. Medication can help with that.

But for trickier stones, there are several ways doctors can intervene. Dr. Zaid says providers can blast sound waves at the kidney stone from outside the body to break the stone apart. A doctor can send a camera through the urinary system, find the stone, use a laser to fragment it and remove the pieces. For larger stones – two to four centimeters – surgery involves an incision through your back to reach the stone, break it apart and remove it.

If you have symptoms of a kidney stone, don’t try to tough it out. Your symptoms may subside, but there may still be issues that could turn serious. Instead, see a doctor right away. They will perform a CT scan or ultrasound to find the cause of the pain, then develop a treatment plan.

“If the kidney remains obstructed for several weeks, that can lead to kidney damage,” Dr. Zaid warns. “If the kidney stone causes urine to get infected upstream, that can lead to sepsis, which is a life-threatening infection.”

Learn more about kidney stones on the OSF HealthCare health library and the OSF HealthCare blog.

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