I didn't know my meds made me more sensitive to the sun
But after seven beautiful days of sun, sand and sea on the idyllic Greek island of Rhodes, I found myself battling dizziness and nausea for 48 hours.
After a quick Google search, I discovered my symptoms matched those for heat exhaustion, something I had never experienced before.
It was only then that I found out my medication, which I take for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), makes me more sensitive to heat.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said medicine can "alter how your body responds to heat or sunlight".
I had never before considered that my prescription could influence the way my body copes in high temperatures.
But, according to Dr Cave, "there are many medicines that can increase your sensitivity to heat and sunlight".
Some antidepressants may make heatwave challenging
What to do if you think someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke
What does hot weather do to the body?
Prescriptions range from diuretics and blood pressure medications to antidepressants and antipsychotics.
Certain drugs can increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun, suppress thirst and reduce your ability to sweat.
Some, like the stimulants I take, raise your body temperature, making you more vulnerable to overheating.
"We also see a number of commonly prescribed medications - including some antibiotics, antidepressants, acne treatments, and painkillers like ibuprofen - that can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun," Dr Cave added.
For me, the warning of this possibility had been there all along, in the informational leaflet that comes along with my prescription.
But I didn't properly read that advice until I returned home from the holiday, wondering whether my meds were the reason I had been so sick.
Dr Cave recommended that you should "always read the patient information leaflet, and don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for guidance", if taking medication when the weather is warmer.
Emergency departments across the UK have recently reported a surge in people seeking urgent care during the August heatwave.
The signs of heat exhaustion can include dizziness, headaches, excessive sweating, fatigue, nausea and muscle cramps.
Left unchecked it can progress to heatstroke, a medical emergency that can be life-threatening.
Looking back, my symptoms make perfect sense. The sun was unrelenting in Rhodes, reaching temperatures up to the mid-30s.
Not knowing that I was at a heightened risk, I was drinking far less water than I should have, and sitting in direct sunlight at the hottest time of day, hoping to get a tan.
If someone is experiencing the symptoms of heat stroke, the NHS recommends moving them to a cool place, removing unnecessary layers, getting them to drink something hydrating, and cooling their skin.
If they do not feel better after 30 minutes or have any other symptoms of heatstroke, you should call 999.
Dr Cave said if you are taking medication and the weather turns warmer, the MHRA's advice is clear: "Stay hydrated, stay informed, and take sensible precautions."
This includes ensuring medication is stored in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight.
She also stressed the importance of reporting any side effects related to heat or sunlight while taking medication via the Yellow Card scheme, and not stopping medication without speaking to a doctor first.
Overall, I returned from my holiday with more than just a sun tan.
I came home with a new-found understanding of the impact my medication can have on my body, and a reminder to thoroughly read through the leaflets that come along with any medication I take.
What should you look for when choosing sunscreen?
Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat
How do heat health alerts work?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
7 Sleep Behaviors That May Actually Be Sneaky Signs Of ADHD
Late-night scrolling, restless tossing and groggy mornings aren't always the result of too much caffeine or poor sleep hygiene, but could also be signs of something deeper. As ADHD diagnoses rise among adults, experts shed light on how the condition can impact sleep behaviors in ways that often go unrecognized. And if you're experiencing any of these challenges, here are expert-backed strategies to help improve your sleep. 1. Sleeping And Waking At Atypical Times Though often seen as simply being a night owl, there's actually a strong neurological overlap between ADHD and circadian rhythm disruptions like delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS). 'People with ADHD often experience a delayed release of melatonin, making it harder to feel sleepy at conventional times,' said Dr. Chelsea Sarai, clinical psychologist and founder of the Brentwood Therapy Collective. 'Combined with difficulty transitioning between tasks and regulating internal cues, their sleep-wake cycles naturally shift later and later, often without them realizing it.' The brain of someone with DSPS is wired to come alive at night, which makes it challenging to match typical daily routines. A way to gradually shift one's sleep schedule earlier is by getting exposure to natural light in the morning to help reset the body's internal clock. 'In the evening, reducing blue light exposure and maintaining a consistent wind-down routine can reinforce those shifts,' Sarai said. Related: 2. Difficulty 'Shutting Off' The Brain At Night Feeling physically tired but mentally alert can lead to long nights awake, and growing sleep debt. 'A hallmark of ADHD is difficulty regulating attention, not just focusing when needed, but also knowing how to mentally disengage,' Sarai said. 'At night, when external distractions fade, the brain suddenly has space to process everything that's been pushed aside during the day. This often leads to a surge of racing thoughts or mental 'noise' that makes it hard to wind down and fall asleep.' These thoughts can resemble anxiety, but Sarai notes they're not always anxious — they might be creative ideas or hyperfixations. Be realistic about how long it takes to fall asleep and create a wind-down routine to support it. 'It could look like writing down all the thoughts in one's head before bed as a way to honor those creative thoughts and trust that you will get back to them at a more appropriate time,' Sarai said. 3. Trouble Waking Up Despite Adequate Sleep Trouble waking up despite getting enough sleep is often brushed off as laziness, poor self-discipline or even a sign of depression. But in many cases, it can be attributed to having a delayed circadian rhythm and the ADHD brain struggling to shift from sleep to wakefulness, said Dr. Zishan Khan, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and regional medical director at Mindpath Health. 'Low dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the morning can also lead to grogginess, poor motivation and difficulty activating for the day,' he added. He suggests regulating the sleep-wake cycle by implementing consistent bedtimes and wake times, even on weekends, and using visual cues or alarms that gradually increase in volume or light. Related: 4. Using Screens To Fall Asleep Those with ADHD often turn to screens to calm a restless mind. 'The sensory stimulation — visual, auditory or narrative — can help distract from intrusive thoughts or anxiety, making it easier to drift off,' Khan said. For some, screens even mirror the level of internal alertness they're used to, which paradoxically helps them settle. But because screens suppress melatonin and delay sleep onset, even if someone falls asleep while using one, their sleep quality may still suffer from continued stimulation or disrupted sleep cycles. To support better sleep, try gradually replacing screen time with low-stimulation options like audiobooks, white noise or guided meditations. 'Establishing a 30- to 60-minute wind-down period before bed is crucial, ideally involving non-screen activities that still provide sensory regulation, such as dim lighting, gentle music or tactile tools like weighted blankets,' Khan said. 5. Bedtime Procrastination Delaying bedtime despite knowing it's time to sleep is often tied to poor time perception and difficulty shifting away from preferred activities. 'People with ADHD may hyperfocus on an enjoyable task late into the evening or delay sleep because it represents the end of their 'free time' after a demanding day,' Khan said. Related: In kids and teens, this can be mistaken for defiance. A consistent, rewarding bedtime routine with built-in cues and transitions can help. 'Visual timers, reminders and positive reinforcement can help signal the winding-down process,' Khan said. 'For those with ADHD, it's key to build in extra time for this process, as it often takes longer than expected to shift gears.' 6. Frequent Middle-Of-The-Night Wakeups People with ADHD often experience fragmented sleep due to arousal dysregulation and heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli like noise or light. 'When they wake, which is normal even for good sleepers, they may struggle to fall back asleep due to intrusive thoughts or urges to engage in stimulating activities,' said Dr. Nicole Moshfegh, a licensed clinical psychologist and director of We Rise Psychology, Inc. These disruptions can prevent the brain from cycling through all the important stages of sleep, especially deep and REM sleep, leading to grogginess, reduced focus and memory, and less impulse control the next day. If you wake up at night, avoid checking the clock or using screens, which can increase alertness. Instead, Moshfegh suggests practicing stimulus control: if you're awake for 15 to 20 minutes, get out of bed and do a quiet, dim-light activity like reading or stretching until you feel sleepy. 'This helps recondition the brain to associate the bed with sleep, not wakefulness.' Related: 7. Oversleeping On Days Off Sleeping in on days off often reflects an attempt to make up for late or inconsistent bedtimes during the week. 'Without external structure, they revert to their intrinsic rhythm of going to bed and sleeping in later,' Moshfegh said of those with ADHD. 'Oversleeping on weekends leads to social jet lag, a mismatch between biological and social clocks.' This can make it harder to fall asleep Sunday night and leave you tired at the start of the week. To keep your sleep on track, stick to consistent wake-up times and get morning light, either by going outside or using a light therapy box, within 30 to 60 minutes of waking. 'This light acts as a strong cue to anchor your internal clock and reduce daytime sleepiness,' Moshfegh said. Here's When To Consider An ADHD Assessment If you consistently struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or wake up feeling unrefreshed despite practicing good sleep hygiene, and these issues coexist with difficulties in focus, organization, time management or emotional regulation, it may be worth seeking an evaluation for ADHD. 'This is especially true if sleep difficulties have been lifelong or began in childhood, and if they interfere with daytime functioning at school, work or in relationships,' Khan said. 'It's important to view sleep problems not in isolation, but in the context of other symptoms that may point toward a broader neurodevelopmental condition.' Related... Is This ADHD Symptom Messing With Your Sex Life? 7 Relationship Habits That Secretly May Be Signs Of ADHD 7 Relationship Habits That Secretly May Be Signs Of ADHD
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Drug that slows onset of type 1 diabetes licensed for use in UK-first
A groundbreaking drug that slows down the development of type 1 diabetes has been licensed for use in the UK. Teplizumab can allow patients to live 'normal lives' without the need for insulin injections. Experts hailed the decision by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a 'breakthrough moment' that represents a 'turning point' in how the condition is treated. About 400,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes, a lifelong condition which causes the immune system to attack insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin helps the body use sugar for energy, and without this hormone, blood sugar levels can become dangerously high. Type 1 diabetes needs constant management to keep blood sugar within range, with patients required to take insulin through injections or pumps. Teplizumab trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells. It is taken by an IV drip for a minimum of 30 minutes over 14 consecutive days. The drug, which is already approved in the US, has been authorised for use by the MHRA to delay the onset of stage three type 1 diabetes in adults and children aged eight or over by an average of three years. Ahmed Moussa, general manager of general medicines UK and Ireland at Sanofi, which makes teplizumab, said: 'One hundred years ago the discovery of insulin revolutionised diabetes care. Today's news marks a big step forward.' The UK is the first country in Europe to be granted a licence. Type 1 diabetes develops gradually in three stages over months or years. Stage three is usually when people start to experience blood sugar problems and are diagnosed with the condition. According to the MHRA, teplizumab is used in people with stage two type 1 diabetes, which is an earlier stage of the disease during which patients are at a high risk of progressing to stage three. Parth Narendran, a professor of diabetes medicine at the University of Birmingham and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, said: 'Teplizumab essentially trains the immune system to stop attacking the beta cells in the pancreas, allowing the pancreas to produce insulin without interference. 'This can allow eligible patients to live normal lives, delaying the need for insulin injections and the full weight of the disease's daily management by up to three years. It allows people to prepare for disease progression rather than facing an abrupt emergency presentation.' Following the decision by the MHRA, the cost-effectiveness of teplizumab will be assessed by NHS spending watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to determine if it can be rolled out on the health service. Karen Addington, chief executive of the charity Breakthrough T1D, said: 'I am personally delighted and welcome the MHRA's approval of teplizumab. 'After years of research, clinical trials and drug development, we have an incredible breakthrough.' Reacting to the announcement, Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research and clinical at Diabetes UK, said: 'Today's landmark licensing of teplizumab in the UK marks a turning point in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. 'For the first time, we have a medicine that targets the root cause of the condition, offering three precious extra years free from the relentless demands of managing type 1 diabetes.' Dr Robertson added that the 'next steps are critical'. 'To ensure teplizumab reaches everyone who could benefit, we need it to be made available on the NHS, and the rollout of a screening programme to identify those with early-stage type 1 diabetes,' she said.
CNBC
2 hours ago
- CNBC
Eli Lilly hikes price of diabetes drug Mounjaro in UK as Trump pressures pharma to align drug costs
Eli Lilly on Thursday said it is raising the list price of its blockbuster diabetes drug Mounjaro in the U.K. starting in September, as President Donald Trump pressures drugmakers to lower U.S. drug prices and hike them abroad. In a statement, Eli Lilly said it reached an agreement with the U.K. government to increase the list price of the weekly injection, while "maintaining access" for patients covered under the publicly funded health-care system, the National Health Service, or NHS. Eli Lilly told CNBC that the price hike will not affect the drug's availability under NHS, and it wants to work with the government to boost access. The company added that it does not determine prices that private health-care providers set, but is working with them to ensure access to Mounjaro. In a statement on Thursday, NHS said Mounjaro's list price increase "will not affect NHS commissioning of tirzepatide in England for eligible people living with obesity, based on clinical priority, or as a treatment for type 2 diabetes." Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and its counterpart for weight loss, Zepbound. Mounjaro's current list price in the UK ranges from £92 (about $124.89) to £122 a month, depending on the dose size, according to Eli Lilly. The drug's new list price will increase to between £133 and £330 starting on Sept. 1. The company added that it is working with certain governments and expects to make pricing adjustments in those countries by that date. In the U.S., the list price for a month's supply of Mounjaro is $1,079.77 before insurance and other rebates. Eli Lilly said it supports the Trump administration's goal of keeping the U.S. the "world's leading destination for biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing, and the objective of more fairly sharing the costs of breakthrough medical research across developed countries." "This rebalancing may be difficult, but it means the prices for medicines paid by governments and health systems need to increase in other developed markets like Europe in order to make them lower in the US," the company said in the statement. The announcement comes after Trump in July sent separate letters to 17 drugmakers, including Eli Lilly, calling on them to take steps to lower drug prices by Sept. 29. The move built on the president's executive order in May reviving a controversial plan – the "most favored nation" policy – that aims to slash drug costs by tying the prices of some medicines in the U.S. to the significantly lower ones abroad. U.S. prescription drug prices are two-to-three times higher on average than those in other developed nations – and up to 10 times more than in certain countries, according to the Rand Corp., a public policy think tank. Trump has said he wants to narrow that gap to stop Americans from being "ripped off." Eli Lilly's announcement on Thursday comes as the industry braces for Trump's planned tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S. In its statement, the company said it opposes those tariffs, arguing they will "raise costs, limit patient access, and undermine American leadership, especially for companies already investing heavily in domestic manufacturing." In recent months, Eli Lilly was among several drugmakers to announce new plans to invest in U.S. manufacturing sites.
