Is it Risky to Take GLP-1 Drugs in a Heat Wave?
With the heat of summer in full swing, doctors are warning about increased health risks for Americans taking diabetes and obesity GLP-1 medications.
“The biggest concern is dehydration,” Dr. Alexandra Sowa, a dual board-certified physician in internal medicine and obesity medicine, told ABC News. “GLP-1 medications naturally reduce appetite, and for some people they also reduce thirst, so it’s easier to fall behind on fluids during hot weather.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking two to four glasses of fluids each hour for prevention of heat-related illness, a goal that might be harder to achieve for patients on a GLP-1. Additionally, nausea and vomiting are known side effects of GLP-1s, which further dehydrate the body. Heat, decreased water intake and GLP-1s combined create a dangerous combination that can worsen symptoms.
Excerpted from Good Morning America
