One common side effect of SSRIs is a sensitivity to heat, accompanied by an increase in sweating. Research suggests up to 20 percent of SSRI users might experience excessive sweating. (Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock)
Texas is famous for a lot of things: its sheer size, Tex-Mex, and a deep love of country music.
But for those who live here, one of the first things that spring to mind is the incredibly high summer heat. Average temperatures can range from the 90s all the way up to the 100s.
Bottom line: Texas summers are super, super hot.
And while this can make anyone feel uncomfortable, those who take Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, more commonly known as SSRIs, can be more easily affected by high temperatures than others.
SSRIs are a type of antidepressant used to treat a number of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder, explained Dr. Asim Shah, Chief of Psychiatry at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital and Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Commonly prescribed SSRIs include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, and Lexapro. While many people experience few or no side effects, some people do find themselves dealing with related symptoms.
“In some cases, the dosage can affect how severe or mild the side effects can be,” said Dr. Gregory Scott Brown, psychiatry clerkship director at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston. “As a psychiatrist, one of the first things that I would do is if a patient is complaining of a side effect, I would look at the dosage and see if that’s something that might be able to be adjusted.”
One common side effect of SSRIs is a sensitivity to heat, accompanied by an increase in sweating. Research suggests up to 20 percent of SSRI users might experience excessive sweating.
When the body sweats more than usual, that can interfere with its ability to regulate temperature.
This can lead to severe effects, including:
- Sunburn
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Heat intolerance
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke
In even more severe cases, losing too much sodium from sweating can even cause seizures.
“I n hot weather, it is difficult for a person to stay hydrated,” Dr. Shah said. “When you are around the sun, you’re sweating and you’re not hydrating yourself, that can itself cause your hypothalamus to respond to temperature changes. This will cause SSRIs to kind of regulate your temperature in a different way, and it can sometimes cause people to have reactions.”
So what can people living in Texas and taking SSRIs do to protect themselves?
Besides staying inside, Dr. Brown encourages patients who are experiencing these side effects to talk to their doctor about potentially switching over to a different medication that might not have the same effects.
Other tips are to wear loose, light clothing, keep a wet towel nearby to put on the back of the forehead, and to make sure electrolytes, not just water, are being consumed to counteract the loss through sweating.
“A lot of this stuff sounds like it’s common sense, but it really works here,” Dr. Brown said. “We want to make sure that when it’s very hot outside and you’re on an SSRI, that you’re staying hydrated, and that you’re listening to your body. If you feel yourself getting lightheaded or dizzy, don’t just brush it off.”
