Heat Related Illness in Psychotropic Medication Users
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Common psychotropic medications which Prevention of Heat can impair your response to heat Related Illness Trade Name Generic Name Abilify aripiprazole During periods of high temperature (85º Asendin amoxapine and above) and humidity, there are things Artane trihexyphenidyl everyone, particularly people at high risk, Aventil, Pamelor nortriptyline should do to lessen the chances of heat Clozaril clozapine illness. Cogentin benztropine Compazine prochlorperazine ¾ Try to stay cool. Desyrel trazodone • Stay in air conditioned areas if Elavil, Limbitrol, possible. If you do not have air Triavil amitriptyline conditioning at home, go to a Eskalith, Lithobid, shopping mall or public library. Lithonate lithium • Keep windows shut and draperies, Geodon ziprasidone shades, or blinds drawn during the Haldol haloperidol heat of the day. Loxitane loxapine • Open windows in the evening or Ludiomil maprotiline night hours when the air outside is Mellaril thioridazine Heat Related Illness cooler. Moban molindone • Move to cooler rooms during the Navane thiothixene in heat of the day. Norpramin desipramine Psychotropic ¾ Avoid overexertion and outdoor Phenergan promethazine activity, particularly during warmer Prolixin fluphenazine Medication Users periods of the day. Risperdal risperidone ¾ Apply sunscreen and lotion as needed. Serentil mesoridazine Seroquel quetiapine ¾ Drink plenty of fluids (avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol). Sinequan doxepin ¾ Dress in loose fitting, light colored Stelazine trifluoperazine clothing. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and Thorazine chlorpromazine other protective clothing. Tofranil imipramine ¾ Take a cool shower or bath. Trilafon perphenazine ¾ Lose weight if you are overweight. Wellbutrin buproprion ¾ Eat regular meals to ensure that you Zyprexa olanzapine Ohio Department of Mental Health have adequate salt and fluids. *Note: This is not an all inclusive list. Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist about your medications. Psychotropic Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke Medications Affect Body Heat This can occur in both active and sedentary This occurs mostly during heat waves. individuals. It happens suddenly, and may be Persons with chronic illnesses are most Psychotropic medications may quite brief. A doctor should be called. vulnerable. Heat stroke, the most Recovery may be spontaneous, or common serious heat illness, can lead to impair the body’s ability to regulate intravenous fluids may be needed to prevent death if left untreated. its own temperature. During hot and unconsciousness. humid weather, individuals taking 5 Warning Signs of Heat Stroke: antipsychotic medications are at risk 5 Warning Signs of Heat Exhaustion: • Confusion, dizziness, nausea, of developing excessive body • Heavy sweating unconsciousness temperature, or hyperthermia, which • Paleness • High body temperature (103º can be fatal. Individuals with • Muscle cramps Fahrenheit or above) Tiredness • Rapid, strong pulse chronic medical conditions (i.e., • • Weakness, Dizziness, Headache • Throbbing headache heart and pulmonary disease, • Nausea, vomiting • Red, hot, and dry skin diabetes, alcoholism, etc.) are • Fainting especially vulnerable. 5 Treatment: 5 Treatment: As soon as you recognize the signs of Heat exhaustion is a milder form of If a person displays symptoms of heat heat stroke, take immediate action: heat-related illness that can develop exhaustion, he or she should be: • Call 911 immediately after several days of exposure to • Moved to a cooler place as soon as • Loosen or remove clothing high temperatures and inadequate or possible • Move to a cooler place as soon as unbalanced replacement of fluids. • Give water or other liquids (avoid possible coffee, tea, and alcohol) • Cool the victim using cool water Heat stroke is the most serious heat- immediately; there is no need for salt • Do not give the victim alcohol to related illness. It occurs when the • Encouraged to rest for a short time drink body becomes unable to control its • Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge • If emergency medical personnel temperature: the body’s temperature bath are delayed, call the emergency • Loosen or remove clothing room for further direction. rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. .