Texas summers are hot — and hotter if you’re on antidepressants
Temperatures will be in the low to mid-90s this weekend in Fort Worth, with a heat index reaching the triple digits, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth. We haven’t hit 100 degrees yet, but the heat can affect people who are on certain medications.
Heat intolerance is a common side effect of medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), hypertension medication, antipsychotics, some antibiotics and other drugs.
SSRIs interfere with the body’s thermal regulation because these medications affect the hypothalamus, a gland in the brain that triggers the release of hormones.
How do SSRIs work?
Emergency room psychiatrist and certified lifestyle physician Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, based in New York City, said that SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which triggers a downstream response in the body. Increased serotonin relieves the symptoms of depression.
Smalls-Mantey said people should be aware of the signs of heat intolerance, including excessive sweating, so they can quickly take action to cool down and get help.
“Primarily with SSRIs, when we talk about heat intolerance, we talk about how it might make you even sweat more and the danger in that is that people can get dehydrated– and you also just feel even hotter because the body is heating and trying to cool itself down,“ she said.
How many Americans use antidepressants?
Studies show that between 2015-2018, 3.2 percent of American adults 18 and over used antidepressant medications. That number increased during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Another study said that the monthly antidepressant dispensing rate for adolescents and young adults increased to 66.3 percent between 2016 and 2022 — a number that jumped by 17 percent per month in 2020 alone.
Heat intolerance can result in heat stress and heat stroke, which decreases stroke volume, cardiac output and muscle blood flow, according to medical research.
Smalls-Mantey said people can reach out to their doctors and pharmacista to discuss medication side effects, and use resources such as WebMD, GoodRx and Medscape for a breakdown of medications and other health information.
What steps can people take to stay safe?
- Hydrate, especially during hot summer days
- Avoid being out in the sun for prolonged periods, especially during the hottest times of the day.
- Wear loose clothing
- Avoid access to caffeine and alcohol
- Be aware of the signs of heat intolerance
What are the signs of heat intolerance, heat stroke and heat exhaustion?
Texas Department of State Health data from 2023 showed that a least 334 people had died due to heat that year — a record for heat deaths, according to The Texas Tribune.
Young children and the elderly are at the greatest risk of heat stress. The elderly are often on several medications, including SSRIs, hypertension medication, and others, which increases their risk even more.
Smalls-Mantey said that the most common initial symptoms people notice are headaches, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, and fatigue.
“When you feel a little bit of discomfort, when you feel off, try to stop and assess what [your body] is trying to tell [you] right now, and not trying to push through that discomfort unnecessarily, so you don’t have any more serious health consequence,” she said.
She stated that the first thing people should do is get to a cool space out of the sun. Those without air conditioning should contact their local public health departments and cities to determine if resources are available due to the extreme heat.
The city of Fort Worth Community Action Partners and Reliant Energy have launched a ‘Beat the Heat’ Program that residents can use to stay cool.
Where are the cooling centers in Fort Worth?
The following locations are “Beat the Heat” cooling centers around Fort Worth:
Como Community Center
4660 Horne St.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
817-392-5300
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
5565 Truman Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76112
817-392-5966
Northside Community Center
1100 N.W. 18th St.
Fort Worth, TX 76164
817-392-5992
Worth Heights Community Center
3551 New York Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76110
817-392-8724