Medicines That Increase the Chance for a Heat-Related Illness

Many medicines change how well your body can stay cool. They include:

• Some antidepressants.
• Antihistamines.
• Some blood pressure medicines.
• Some sedative medicines.
• Thyroid medicine.

Alcohol and illegal drugs such as methamphetamines, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, PCP (phencyclidine hydrochloride), and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) can also cause problems. They affect how well you can sense dehydration or heat-related symptoms. They also make you less able to judge whether you need treatment for a heat-related illness.