Updated

Updated · KY3 · Jun 19

Doctors Warn 160-Degree Cars Can Damage Medications as Summer Heat Raises Health Risks

Updated

Updated · KY3 · Jun 19

Doctors Warn 160-Degree Cars Can Damage Medications as Summer Heat Raises Health Risks

Q: How can a hot car make your vital medications useless or even dangerous to take this summer?

A hot car can make medications ineffective and, in some cases, unsafe because extreme heat and humidity speed up chemical breakdown and damage the product itself. Doctors in Springfield warned that a parked car can reach roughly 120 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, far above the room-temperature range most medicines are designed for. That heat can reduce a drug’s potency, meaning it may no longer control the condition it is meant to treat. This is especially serious for time-sensitive or life-sustaining medicines such as insulin, inhalers, EpiPens, hormone patches, and some liquid antibiotics. Heat can also alter how reliably a dose works, which is dangerous if a patient assumes the medicine is still fully effective. The damage is not always visible, but it can show up as leaking seals, clumped powders, color or texture changes, or compromised patches. Inhaler canisters may even rupture in extreme heat. Refrigerated medicines are particularly vulnerable, and some medical devices, such as glucose monitors, can also become less reliable after heat exposure. The practical advice from pharmacists and physicians is simple: never leave medicine in a parked car, glove box, or trunk. Store it in its original container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and use an insulated travel bag if needed. If a medication has been exposed to high heat or looks different, patients should ask a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

3 articles · Updated · KY3 · Jun 19

Hot cars can reach 120 to 160 degrees, and doctors say that heat and humidity can break down medications, cause leaks or clumping, and even make inhaler canisters rupture.
Beta blockers, Diuretics, stimulants and some mental health drugs also can reduce heat tolerance by affecting blood flow, electrolytes and the body's ability to sweat.
Dizziness, confusion, dehydration, excessive sweating and trouble thinking are key warning signs that a patient's body is struggling in the heat.
Doctors say medications should be kept at room temperature and never left in direct sun or a car, while any dosage changes should be discussed with a physician.
With summer starting Sunday and hotter weather expected into July, patients are being urged to focus on hydration and seek shade or air-conditioned spaces if prescriptions stay unchanged.