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sun/heat exposure risks from Psych meds

Discussion in 'Physical & Sexual Health' started by ECMember, Jul 13, 2018.

  1. ECMember

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    Is there a risk for a heat stroke from taking Psych Meds? I take Gabapentin 300mg(2x/day) and Celexa 20mg(1x/day). A few times during this summer, I go out with a friend. His car doesn't have good tint and sometimes I get lightheaded sensentation going to our destination. Granted we live in Texas, but his car is a few degrees more hotter than the actual temperature outside. There are times when it doesn't bother me as much, when I bring water or gatoraide in his car and drink.

    Last night, I felt like shit somewhat. We are at our college's pool and chilling a bit. I was feeling great and had drank Gatoraide going to our college and when I was at the guys' locker room changing to my swimsuit and before I got in the pool. We had aquajoged to one end of the pool and I felt some palpitation/tachycardia sensation a bit, then we later finished and went to take showers and change to our regular clothes. I felt some mild lightheadeness in the locker room and I splashed my face with cold water in the shower. It went away somewhat then when we went to get dinner, I was feeling tachycardia(strong ones) and palpitations going to the pizza place and some lightheadeness. I thought I was having a stroke at first. I had water to drink at the pizza place and had splash water on my face in the men's room.

    I don't know if you guys or ladies take psych meds and dealt with this problem during summer months before.

    I did let my doc know about this and waiting for a reply from him, I sent him a secure message online about this this morning.
     
  2. Chip

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    I'm not aware of any specific sun/heat contraindications from either of those meds. However, if you are relatively new on them (less than a month), your body may be still adjusting, and the combination of the elevated temperature, which is in a way like heavy exercise, with the new meds could be amplifying what would otherwise be mild and normal side-effects.

    The best advice will be from your doctor. It would be helpful to the community if you'd share what you hear back.
     
  3. ECMember

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    Chip.

    Ive been taking them since December 2016 when I was in an inpatient psych hospital. I wasnt drinking alcohol or doing illegal drugs when I was hanging out with my friend last night

    I do feel “hungovr” feeling still. Palpitations and some heayness and mild headachr
     
  4. Chip

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    If the 'hangover' feeling is something you've had since you started taking the meds, I'd talk to your doctor. Gabapentin does have a tendency to cause drowsiness/hazyness at higher doses, and it seems you're on a relatively high dose. Very often, meds need to be adjusted after a while to maintain optimal effects.
     
  5. ECMember

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    I think anything over 1000mg is a high dose for Gabapentin
     
  6. ECMember

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    @Chip. I feel some improvement from yesterday. But I feel some mild palpitations in my chest. It doesn't feel like a tachy. And also I feel some increased thirst.

    I'm unsure from being in the sun while at my college's pool had caused some mild heat exhaustion/ or heat stroke. I didn't pass out or throw up or collapse at the pool, if I did, I would've been in an ER bed typing this rather than my house. I can rule out anything life threatening.

    My urine isn't dark colored, it was clear when I went to piss on Thursday. The symptoms I had after showering and eating dinner Thursday night where strong palpiations, mild lightheadness/confusion, but no nausea/vomitting.

    I'm not going to exercise until a few days or wait to hear back from my MD to see if my medications plus the sunlight exposure caused this.
     
  7. ECMember

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    @Chip

    I feel a mild tachycardia palpitation that comes and go.

    I feel some improvement

    But I feel some dull heaviness in my head that comes and goes

    I feel no sense of hunger when I eat, like Im forcing myself to eat.

    Some mild forgetfulness/pauses.

    And some mild increased thirst
     
  8. ECMember

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    Do I have kidney problems???

    Can someone see my posts
     
  9. ECMember

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    At the moment this what I feel:

    Some mild forgetfulness/pause/confusion
    Some heaviness in my head
    Warmness feeling
    Palpitations/mild tachycardia
    Some random headaches somewhat caused by light or looking at screens(tv or smart phone).
    Some sensitivty to sunlight/head

    I do hydrate with water and gatoarde

    I havent exercised yet

    I havent passed out or vommited or had a sezuire.

    I have urinated and it clear or a light yellow color. So thats good

    Does anyone think I had a case of mild heat exhaustion or a borderline heat stroke?

    Could my meds been a cause?

    @Chip
     
  10. ECMember

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    I can update you guys:

    I saw my dr yesterday.

    He did agree that I did have heat exhaustion last Thursday when I was at the pool with my friend. He did say that my medications don't interact with the sunlight/or sun itself. He believes I didn't hydrate enough that afternoon. Which I do agree. He say that my lips looked okay, my pulse looked fine. My bp was 147/91 when the Medical Assistant lady checked it but my pulse was in the 70s. Though, just as a precaution I did tell him to do some labs just to be on the safe side that there was no hidden damage from the heat exposure/exhaustion from last week. So he wrote some lab orders for a CBC and CMP for next Monday. Going back to the doc's office on Monday morning. Going to fast on Sunday night, and go when the office opens.