GLP-1 medications may increase dehydration risk during summer heat

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - GLP-1 medications have become a widely used weight loss tool, but a Sherman doctor says the drug’s effect on thirst signals can put users at heightened risk of dehydration during hot summer months.

James Frame, chief medical officer at Sherman Medical Center, said he has seen an increase in GLP-1 prescriptions. While results can be significant, with some patients reporting weight loss of 30 pounds in a month, Frame said the drug carries risks when users spend time outdoors in the heat.

“Until you go outside in this Texas heat. And this is where we’re running into problems, is that GLP-1 will suppress your appetite, but it also suppresses those signals that turn on the thirst,” Frame said.

How the drug affects the body

Frame said GLP-1 medications induce hormones that signal the body to feel full. He said users may not realize they are thirsty until it is too late.

“They become lightheaded, dizzy, sweating profusely, and then pass out,” Frame said.

Frame said he has seen two heat exhaustion cases this summer, and both patients were on GLP-1 medications. He described the combination of constant sweating and dehydration as “a dangerous combination.”

What GLP-1 users can do

To reduce dehydration risk, Frame recommended users consume eight ounces of water every hour, along with additional electrolytes. He also said users should take 15- to 20-minute indoor breaks for every hour spent in the heat.

Frame said elderly patients taking blood pressure medications, particularly diuretic medications that pull water from the body, face an elevated risk.