As the UK enters the heart of summer – with temperatures rising
and families holidaying – the Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reinforcing essential safety advice
for anyone using medicines or medical devices. The aim is to help
everyone enjoy the summer safely, while ensuring their healthcare
routine stays effective.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA,
commented:
“When the sun comes out and the thermometer rises, it's easy to
forget that heat can affect medicines and medical devices, and
that some treatments can change how you respond to sun and heat.
These refreshed summer tips are vital to help people stay safe
and well throughout the summer.”
1. Store medicines below 25oC
-
Avoid leaving medicines in direct sun, hot cars, travel bags,
or on sunny windowsills – temperatures can easily exceed safe
storage limits and degrade tablets, inhalers, insulin,
EpiPens and more.
-
If you spot changes in smell, colour, texture, or performance
of your medicines, consult a pharmacist.
-
While travelling, keep your medicines in a cool bag or stay
in temperature-controlled environments.
2. Check your medicines and devices in the
heat
-
Even well-sealed medical devices – like blood glucose
monitors – can misread if exposed to excessive heat or
humidity.
-
Stay cool, keep devices dry, and run periodic control
checks.
-
Be alert during heatwaves: some medicines can worsen
dehydration or impair temperature regulation, including
diuretics, blood pressure drugs, diabetes treatments,
antipsychotics, and stimulants.
3. Prioritise hydration and heat awareness
-
Heatstroke and dehydration can happen fast. Watch for
dizziness, confusion, headaches or dark urine, especially if
you're on medication that affects fluid balance, such as a
diuretic.
-
Drink water regularly, find shade or cool spaces, and avoid
peak sun.
4. Be sun-smart with sun-sensitising
medicines
-
Several medicines – such as methotrexate, certain
antibiotics, diuretics, antidepressants, acne or eczema
treatments, and even painkillers like ibuprofen –can increase
sun sensitivity, leading to severe sunburn and
blistering.
-
Use a high-SPF sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and avoid
midday sun (11 am – 3 pm).
5. Hay fever alert – stay informed
- Avoid unlicensed treatments like Kenalog hay fever
injections, which are licensed as a medicine for other
conditions, but not for the treatment of hay fever. The benefits
of using it to treat people with hay fever have not been shown to
outweigh the risks.
6. Be aware of implanted medical devices when
travelling
- For those with implants (e.g. pacemakers), carry your implant
ID card at airport security. Most body scanners are safe, but be
aware of hand-held wands and device-specific device
advice.
7. Report safety issues via the Yellow Card
scheme
-
If exposure to heat, sun, or medications seems to have
affected your medicine, report it via the MHRA's Yellow Card
scheme – the UK system for flagging medicine/device safety
concerns.
-
Prompt reporting helps the MHRA identify adverse reactions
early and act to protect public health.
