The health expert explained that people may need to be cautious during the hot weather if they take certain medications11:20, 28 May 2026A pharmacist has issued a health warning to people taking medications that could affect their temperature regulation. The hot weather the UK has been experiencing could spell trouble for some people, the health expert explained, due to the risk of overheating.‌The warning was issued this week amid record-breaking temperatures, with figures reaching up to 35.1°C at Kew Gardens in Greater London. While rain is predicted in some areas over the weekend, the Met Office is forecasting more "sunny and very warm" weather in the coming days.‌Ashley Ó Dubháin, a pharmacist, healthcare commentator, and digital creator from Ireland, has warned everyone taking antidepressants to "stay safe" in the summer heat. Posting on TikTok as @Ashthepharmacist, he said: "This is a public service announcement for anybody who's taking antidepressants, any sort of antidepressants in this heat.‌"Even here in Ireland, not just if you're going away on holidays, you may run the risk of overheating because of how the medication works." Ashley explained: "So look, if you're taking an SSRI and an SNRI, you're taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, if you're taking a tricyclic like amitriptyline, all of these things can impair how your body perceives heat, but also how it manages being hot because it can impair your hypothalamus, which is basically your body's thermostat."And also some medications, like the older ones, the tricyclic antidepressants, for example, like amitriptyline, have anticholinergic side effects, is what we call it. So it can impair your ability to sweat, which is obviously, as humans, how we lose heat, how we regulate our body temperatures."Content cannot be displayed without consent‌While Ashley says his videos are shared for educational purposes, and anybody needing medical help should contact their GP, he did share some general tips. "So what I would tell people to do is just to take the generic advice, particularly in the hot days, is to avoid being out at the hottest times during the day. So that's between like 11 to 3 or 4pm," he explained.Ashley continued: "Make sure you're staying really, really well hydrated. Because getting dehydrated, particularly if you're taking an SSRI or an SNRI is a risk factor for developing serotonin syndrome, which is a very rare but I will say a very serious side effect of taking this classification of medications."So staying really well hydrated, avoiding the heat in the middle of the day, wearing long, loose- fitting clothing, and taking cold showers whenever you need it." His caption added: "Stay safe out there guys."‌The UK Health Security Agency says: "Medications commonly taken for chronic conditions, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, or drugs used to treat mental health issues (like antipsychotics and common antidepressants like SSRIs), can also alter the body’s ability to cool itself or keep fluids, making people even more susceptible to complications."It is important to understand how your medication affects your body’s response to heat and reread any instructions or speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns."Article continues belowThe NHS says: "Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes. If it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency." Call 999 if you or someone else shows signs of heatstroke.