Should You Keep Taking Your Medication in a Heatwave?

If you take regular medicine and the weather turns hot, the most important thing to know is simple: keep taking it. Official guidance is that you should continue taking all of your prescribed medicines unless a medical professional advises you not to¹. The same advice is repeated by first aid organisations and NHS sources across the UK². Heat is not a reason to stop a medicine on your own.

What does change in hot weather is how you store your medicines and how you plan ahead. Most medicines should be kept below 25°C, somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight⁴. Some need to be kept in the fridge, including insulin and some liquid medicines, and these can be damaged if they get too warm⁶. A little preparation before a hot spell, and a phone call to your pharmacist if anything seems different, is all most households need.

This page sets out what to do now, how to store medicines safely in the heat, when to ask for advice, and what to do if you are running low. It is for anyone who takes regular medicine, and for anyone looking after a relative or neighbour who does.

Keep taking your medicines unless a healthcare professional tells you otherwise

The single most useful instruction for a heatwave is to carry on as normal with your prescriptions. The UK government's heatwave guidance says you should continue taking all of your prescribed medicines unless advised not to by a medical professional¹. The British Red Cross gives the same advice: continue taking your medication as prescribed, unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional². NHS Inform in Scotland repeats it for higher-risk groups and adds that you should call NHS 111 with any health concerns³.

This matters because it is easy, in the middle of a hot spell, to wonder whether a medicine is making you feel worse and to skip a dose. The guidance is that this is not a decision to take alone. Your GP or pharmacist knows your medicines and your conditions, and can advise on whether anything needs to change. If you have concerns, the right step is to ask, not to stop.

Some medicines can affect how your body manages heat. Official guidance is to read the leaflet that comes with your medication to check, or to speak to your healthcare practitioner⁸. That does not mean you should stop; it means you should be aware, keep cool and hydrated, and raise any worries with a professional.

If you are looking after someone else, the same rule applies to them. Help them keep taking their medicines as prescribed, and if you are worried about their health, contact a pharmacist, GP or NHS 111⁹. For more on supporting relatives who need extra help, see People at Higher Risk in an Outbreak: Protecting Vulnerable Relatives.

Make sure you have enough medication before hot weather

The second thing to do is to check your supply before a hot spell, not during it. Guidance for people with long-term health conditions is to make sure you have enough medication at home, so you do not need to travel during the hottest hours⁷. Public Health Wales advises making sure you have enough medication and keeping any repeat prescriptions safe¹⁰. The government's hot weather campaign suggests offering practical help to anyone at greater risk, such as helping them stock up on water or medication⁹.

A little planning goes a long way:

• Check what you have before hot weather is forecast, and count how long your supply will last.
• Order repeat prescriptions in good time so you are not chasing them in the heat.
• Keep repeat prescriptions safe and somewhere you can find them¹⁰.
• If you are travelling, take any medication you might need with you, along with plenty of drinks and food¹¹.
• Help others stock up if you know someone who finds it hard to get out⁹.

If you are going away, take enough medicine for the trip and keep it with you rather than in a hot car or bag⁶. The same principle applies at home: a few days' buffer means you are not making an unnecessary journey in the hottest part of the day.

For more detail on keeping a buffer of regular medicine, see Keeping Enough Prescription Medicine at Home and the Prescription Medicine Supply Checklist. If you are worried about shortages, Medicine Shortages: Why They Happen and What to Do explains what to do.

Storing medicines safely when it is hot

Most medicines should be kept below 25°C, so they should be stored somewhere cool, dry, out of direct sunlight, and away from windowsills⁴. The same figure appears in NHS guidance from Guy's and St Thomas', which adds that some medicines need to be stored below 25°C or in the fridge, following the storage instructions on the packaging¹². The British Heart Foundation puts it plainly: most medicines need to be stored in temperatures under 25C¹³.

Some medicines are different. Insulin and some liquid medicines need to be kept in the fridge, and they can be damaged if they get too warm⁶. Refrigerated medicines generally need a temperature range of between 2°C and 8°C, and should be checked⁵. Only put a medicine in the fridge if the instructions say so; the fridge is not a safe default for everything.

A few practical points help. Keep medicines out of conservatories and cars, which swing from very hot to cool⁵. Read the leaflet that comes with your medicine and the storage instructions on the packaging, and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear⁸. If your medicines seem to work differently during hot weather, speak to your pharmacist or doctor⁶.

When to ask a pharmacist or GP about your medicines in the heat

You do not need to contact anyone just because it is hot. But there are clear moments when a conversation is worthwhile. If your medicines seem to work differently during hot weather, speak to your pharmacist or doctor⁶. If you have a chronic medical condition or take multiple medications, seek medical advice¹⁴. If you have any concerns at all, contact your GP for further advice¹⁵.

The people to ask are the same in every nation:

• Your pharmacist for questions about storage, side effects or how a medicine might behave in the heat².
• Your GP for concerns about your condition or your medicines generally¹⁵.
• NHS 111 if you are worried about someone else's health, or need urgent advice when your GP is closed⁹.

If you have heart failure and have been told to restrict your fluid intake, speak to your GP about other ways to keep cool during summer. Let your doctor know if you take water tablets (diuretics) and feel dizzy or lightheaded¹³. These are specific situations where a professional can help you balance the risks.

For help choosing the right service, see NHS 111: What It Can Help With and How to Use It and When to Call 111 and When to Call 999. If your GP is closed, What to Do When Your GP Is Closed explains your options.

Medicines and travel: cars, bags and days out

Hot weather often means days out, and medicines need to travel safely. The guidance is not to leave medicines in a parked car or a hot bag, and to use a cool bag if needed⁶. If you are planning a long trip, take any medication you need to take regularly with you¹⁶. Keep it with you rather than in the boot or on the back seat.

A simple travel checklist:

• Take enough for the trip, plus a little extra in case of delays¹¹.
• Use a cool bag for medicines that need a stable temperature⁶.
• Keep medicines with you, not in a hot car or bag⁶.
• Take water with you when travelling¹⁷.

The last point is not about medicines, but it belongs in any hot weather plan. A parked car heats up quickly, and the same heat that damages medicines is dangerous to people and pets¹⁸.

Looking after someone else in the heat

If you care for a relative, neighbour or friend, your role is to help them keep taking their medicines and to notice when something is wrong. Guidance for social care managers is that most medicines should be kept below 25°C, somewhere cool, dry, out of direct sunlight and away from windowsills¹⁹. The same practical steps apply at home.

What you can do:

• Check they have enough medicine before hot weather, and help them order more if not⁹.
• Help them store it correctly, away from windows and conservatories¹⁹.
• Remind them to keep taking it as prescribed¹.
• Watch for changes in how they seem, and encourage them to speak to a pharmacist or GP if anything is different⁶.
• Know who to call: a pharmacist, GP or NHS 111 if you are worried⁹.

For a fuller picture of supporting someone who needs extra help, see Extra Help in an Emergency: Older, Disabled and Medically Dependent Households and Caring for Someone Ill at Home: Checklist.

Where to get help and more information

The main sources of help are your pharmacist, your GP and NHS 111⁹. In Scotland, NHS Inform provides advice on staying safe in hot weather³. In Wales, Public Health Wales has guidance on weather and health¹⁰. In Northern Ireland, nidirect has hot weather advice²⁰. The arrangements are broadly the same across the UK, and the core message does not change: keep taking your medicines, store them correctly, and ask for advice if you are unsure.

For the wider picture on heat, see Heatwaves and Drought: A Household Guide. For storing medicines safely at home, including temperature and expiry dates, see Storing Medicines Safely: Children, Temperature and Expiry Dates. If you are running out, Running Out of Prescribed Medicine: Emergency Supplies From a Pharmacy explains what to do. And for the household medicine cabinet, see Medicine Cabinet Checklist: Over-the-Counter Medicines to Keep at Home.