Some medications don’t always mix well with heat: here’s how to stay safe

(CNN) – As summer temperatures continue to rise, so does the danger of heat-related illnesses, and some commonly prescribed medications can make your body even more susceptible to the sun.

A recent Health Minute explores how some medications pose an added danger with high temperatures, heat and humidity.

Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, family physician with the Mayo Clinic says, “People are doing the errands, they’re overheated, they don’t feel well, and they can get really heat exhausted pretty quickly. Meds can have a significant impact.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says some medications interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, making it harder to cool down. They can also increase sun sensitivity to the skin.

The doctor also says to limit exposure to direct sunlight and wear protective clothing if your skin has been made more sensitive to the sun.

Some medicine can make a person more vulnerable to heat by affecting the body’s hydration, Bracamonte says.

Bracamonte says in these cases, it’s very important to stay hydrated.

The CDC says medications that don’t mix well with the heat include anticholinergics, some antidepressants and antipsychotics, antihistamines, beta blockers, diuretics, antibiotics and antifungals.

The heat can also degrade or damage some medications, including insulin, inhalers and EpiPens.

Bracamonte says to make sure they’re being stored properly.