Expert's warning for anyone taking antidepressants as heatwave hits

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A health expert has issued a warning to anyone on antidepressants as a heatwave sweeps Greater Manchester this weekend. Temperatures will reach 28C in parts of the region on Saturday, while maximum temperatures won't dip below 25C until at least Friday.

Too much sun can be dangerous for anyone, and can cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke. But for some of the 8.3 million people on antidepressants in the UK, the extreme hot weather could make them even more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

Dr Lynne Marrow, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Salford, explained why those on some antidepressant and antipsychotic medication are more at risk - but warned people not to stop taking their medication during the heatwave. Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link Firstly, some antidepressants and antipsychotic medications can alter the brain's ability to regulate body temperature.

Dr Marrow said: "It has been suggested that this may go unnoticed during the winter months, but can be problematic during the hotter summer months when the body doesn't respond as it should to rising temperatures." The change in the ability to thermoregulate properly means that when we get hot, our bodies may find it more difficult to keep us cool, which could be an issue when the weather is hot.