Urgent health warning for all Brits taking Fluoxetine and Sertraline this weekend

A GP has issued a warning for people in the UK on certain kinds of medication as the country braces for a heatwave over the bank holiday weekend.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat warnings across the country from 9am on May 22, indicating that the heat may pose a 'greater risk to life'.

This is particularly important for certain groups of people, including those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, children, elderly, or have an underlying health condition.

However, a GP issued a warning for another group of people as well who may be at an increased risk during periods of particularly hot weather.

Temperatures in the UK have been predicted to rise to 32C on May 23, before peaking at 33C on May 24.

People on some medications may be more sensitive to high temperatures (Sanja Baljkas/Getty)

Dr Sameer Sanghvi is a practising GP, as well as Clinical Technology Lead at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, and warned that people on certain medications are also at risk during very hot weather.

This is antidepressants such as Sertraline, Fluoxetine, and Citalopram, all of which are widely used to treat depression.

Dr Sanghvi previously told The Express: "Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.

"However, SNRIs are known to cause excessive sweating and thus dehydration, while SSRIs have been linked to heat intolerance and heat stroke."

So if you are on this kind of medication it may be a good idea to take extra care out in the heat.

These are also not the only mental health medications lined to increased heat sensitivity, with others including antipsychotic medications, as well as tricyclic antidepressants.

It's important to reapply suncream throughout the day (Oscar Wong/Getty)

NHS statistics estimate that approximately 8.7 million people take antidepressants in England alone.

While it's lovely to enjoy the sunshine, it's also important to take proper precautions to guard against the potential health risks that come with hot weather.

This includes drinking lots of water, regularly applying suncream, and wearing protective clothing.

It is of course tempting to break out the shorts and strappy tops, and who could blame anyone, but if you are particularly sensitive to the sun or plan to spend extended periods in it then airy, breathable, and loose fitting clothes may help to protect against sunburn, while not being too hot.

Understanding how to apply suncream is also important, as many people can make a common mistake when using a suncream with a higher SPF on hot days.