Ramipril and bisoprolol users issued 'essential advice' for this week by UK government

Ramipril and bisoprolol users issued 'essential advice' for this week by UK government Millions of people take the medications. Millions of people who take commonly-prescribed medications in the UK have been issued "essential advice" by the UK government which is very relevant this week. Among the medications flagged by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers. There are also many more medicines mentioned by the agency, which are noted below. Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor widely used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. And bisoprolol is among the most commonly-used beta blockers, which are used to treat angina, high blood pressure and heart failure, among other things. On June 26, the MHRA issued advice on protecting your medicines during extreme heat and staying safe as the UK endured a heatwave of extreme temperatures which peaked at a record 37.7C and led to school closures. This week, the temperatures are again expected to top 30C and reach as high as 34C in parts of the UK by Wednesday and Thursday. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: "It’s easy to forget that medicines left in the heat – in cars, bags, or on sunny windowsills – might not work properly when you need them. Some medicines can also make you more likely to burn in the sun, feel dizzy, or get dehydrated, especially if you’re taking diuretics or have a condition like asthma, heart disease, or diabetes." Why does heat affect medicines? The MHRA says most medicines need to be stored at temperatures below 25C. At the end of June, many of us will have experienced rooms at home, workplaces or schools reaching and exceeding these temperatures. Heat "breaks down the active ingredients in medicines", the MHRA explains, and warns that medicines that need to be kept in the fridge "are especially vulnerable to heat". If medicine is affected by heat, it may not work properly. Medicine can also affect how your body copes with heat While we all know that your body loses more water through sweating when we're hot, the MHRA explains that "some medicines can make this worse, or make it harder for your body to cope with heat". It specifically highlights some medicines, saying: "Blood pressure medicines such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers can also make it harder for your body to regulate temperature, especially during sudden hot spells. ACE inhibitors can even suppress your natural thirst response." Commonly used ACE inhibitors in the UK include ramipril, captopril, enalapril and others. Commonly used beta-blockers include atenolol, bisoprolol, propranolol and others. But the MHRA also adds that people taking the following medications should also be aware of a potentially intensified impact in hot weather: - "Some diabetes medicines, including insulin and metformin, also increase the risk of dehydration or make early symptoms harder to spot." - "Antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine or quetiapine, or stimulant medications for attention disorders can increase your body temperature, making you overheat more easily." - "People taking diuretics, or ‘water tablets’, such as furosemide, are already losing more fluid through urination." And it adds that some common medicines can even make you more susceptible to sun burn, including some antibiotics, diuretics, antidepressants, or skin treatments for acne or eczema. Signs and symptoms of dehydration Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, tiredness, confusion, and dark urine. This is particularly dangerous for older adults, young children, and people with heart or kidney conditions. If you start to feel unwell in the heat, move somewhere cooler, sip water slowly, and seek medical advice if you don’t feel better quickly. How to keep medicines safe in the heat The MHRA advice on keeping medicines safe in the heat includes: - Store medicines somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight - Avoid leaving them in cars or in bags left in sunlight - Know the signs of heat-related illness - Stay hydrated and listen to your body - Take extra care in the sun if your medicine makes your skin more likely to burn - Read the leaflet and speak to a healthcare professional if you have any questions.