UKHSA shares new July heatwave alert for people using insulin and EpiPens

UKHSA shares new July heatwave alert for people using insulin and EpiPens New information has been shared by UK health officials over medications including hormone patches and asthma inhalers People in the UK have been cautioned that the scorching heat this July could be silently damaging their medications - rendering life-saving drugs useless. As the Met Office says Britain is now battling through its third heatwave of the year, health officials have highlighted the hidden risks of storing medicines in hot vehicles, on sunny windowsills and in holiday luggage. The UKHSA - UK Health Security Agency - has today, Wednesday, July 8, shared guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). That message warns that everything from asthma inhalers and insulin to hormone patches and EpiPens could lose their effectiveness. Most medications are formulated to be stored below 25°C. However, regulators caution that cars, buses and trains can effectively transform into furnaces within minutes during heatwaves, while even a warm handbag or trouser pocket exposed to sunlight could be sufficient to compromise essential treatments. Insulin and certain liquid antibiotics, which require refrigeration, are reportedly particularly vulnerable, with authorities warning they may simply cease functioning if exposed to heat for extended periods. Alison Cave, the MHRA's chief safety officer, said many people are so preoccupied with enjoying the sunshine that they overlook the danger. She acknowledged that medicines left baking in the heat "might not work properly when you need them" - and warned that some drugs can also make patients more susceptible to sunburn, dizziness or dangerous dehydration. She encouraged the public to store medicines somewhere cool and shaded, remain vigilant for signs of heat-related illness, and exercise extra caution in the sun if their medication is known to heighten the risk of burning. Alarmingly, health officials warn that heat-damaged medication may not always appear any different - yet patients are urged to look out for tell-tale changes in colour, smell or texture, which can be a warning sign that a drug has been compromised. It is not only pills that are at risk. Blood glucose monitors used by diabetics can also be affected by heat and humidity, potentially giving unreliable readings at a crucial moment. Dehydration danger for those on blood pressure The alert comes with a caution for the millions taking diuretics, or "water tablets", such as furosemide, who are already losing extra fluid through sweat and urination, raising the risk of dehydration and dangerous mineral imbalances in extreme heat. Widely used blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, can also make it harder for the body to regulate its own temperature, officials warned, while ACE inhibitors in particular may suppress the body's natural thirst response, leaving patients unaware that they need to increase their fluid intake. Those taking insulin or metformin for diabetes face a heightened dehydration risk too, while patients on antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine and quetiapine, or stimulant medication for attention disorders, may find their bodies struggle to cool down altogether. Officials have warned that dizziness, headaches, fatigue, confusion and dark urine are amongst the telltale signs of dehydration - symptoms considered particularly hazardous for the elderly, young children and those with heart or kidney conditions. Sunburn risk from common tablets Patients have also been told that a range of everyday medications could leave their skin significantly more susceptible to sunburn, even on a mildly sunny day. Certain antibiotics, diuretics, antidepressants and acne or eczema treatments are amongst those highlighted, along with painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen, though officials stressed this risk was more commonly associated with frequent or long-term use. Particular concern surrounds methotrexate, a drug widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease and cancer, which can trigger extreme sun sensitivity even at low doses. Officials warn this can result in painful blistering rashes resembling severe sunburn - and in rare cases has led to serious infections. Even a brief dog walk, a spot of gardening or a sunny commute could be sufficient to provoke a reaction in vulnerable patients, the regulator cautioned. Anyone worried about their medication has been advised to check the patient information leaflet or consult their pharmacist, and to report any suspected issues through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme.