Mental health medications and extreme weather
Some mental health medications increase sensitivity to hot weather, which is increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change, impacting wellbeing.
Applies to England
CCHS navigation menu:
CCHS homepage
Topic: health impacts
Part of: Climate change and mental health
Key resources on mental health medications and extreme weather:
-
Mental health medications and extreme weather
Additional resources:
Hot weather and mental health medication
Heat can increase health risks for some people using medication for their mental health (1).
Medications that affect how the brain works, known as psychotropic medications (including hypnotics, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics) can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature, making it harder for it to respond appropriately to heat stress. This is of concern particularly for individuals with schizophrenia or dementia.
People using these medications can be more vulnerable to heat-related health effects such as:
- heatstroke
- dehydration
- nervous system changes
- altered neurological function (such as confusion, agitation or disorientation)
The evidence shows that people taking psychotropic medications may be at increased risk of death and other physical health impacts during heatwaves compared to those with other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular conditions.
The focus here is on evidence obtained as part of the climate change and mental health report and is limited to medicines for mental health conditions. Not all medications that may require consideration during hot weather are considered here.
Information and guidance on how to support vulnerable people during hot weather events is available in the ‘Heat’ collection.
References
- Hospers, L and others. ‘The effect of prescription and over-the-counter medications on core temperature in adults during heat stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ eClinicalMedicine 2024: Volume 77