Nearly half of all adults in the US have taken one or more prescription medications in the past 30 days according to the CDC. While these medications help address serious health concerns (like depression, cardiovascular health, and diabetes), they can also pose dehydration risks. This is a risk too often not recognized and left unaddressed.
Dehydration and Its Effects1
Dehydration happens when the amount of fluids taken into the body doesn’t replace the amount of fluids going out; most often fluids are pushed out through sweat and elimination. A deficit results and electrolytes in the body go out of balance.
At its worst dehydration can cause seizures and shock. More commonly dehydration causes fatigue, dizziness, and confusion. It can disrupt a person’s physical ability as well cognitive function and judgement.
Maintaining healthy hydration levels is an everyday concern, especially to those participating in physically strenuous activities and/or those that are exposed to extreme temperatures.
Prevalence of Prescription Medicine Use in the US2
The CDC reports that nearly half (45.8%) of people in the US have used one or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days.
Overall, 46.7% of adults in the prime age group (20-59 years old) use some form of prescription medicine. Antidepressants (11.4%) are identified as the most commonly used medications in this age group, followed by analgesics for pain relief (8.3%), and then lipid-lowering drugs for high cholesterol (7.5%).
Older adults (60+ years old) are even more likely to be using prescription medicines. Overall, 85% of people 60+ years old take one or more prescription medicines regularly. Lipid-lowering drugs (46.3%) are the most common, followed by beta-blockers for high blood pressure and heart disease (24.8%), and then antidiabetic drugs (22.6%).
The Hidden Risk of Dehydration
Dehydration is not always called out as a specific side effect of prescription medicines. For this reason, it often goes unrecognized as a risk.
Often prescription medicines have side effects that can lead to or indicate dehydration. These include:
- Diarrhea
- Increased urination
- Increased sweat production
- Decreased thirst sensation
- Decreased appetite
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
Antidepressants and Self-medicating with Alcohol for Mental Health
Depression is among the most common mental health conditions in the U.S. Because of this, antidepressants are the most commonly used prescription medicines among people 20-59 years old.
Commonly prescribed medicines for depression 3,4,5,6
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are two categories of medications commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety.
SSRIs increase the neurotransmitter serotonin levels in the brain in order to lift the person’s mood and help sleep.
SNRIs affect both serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitter levels in the brain to improve mood and reduce anxiety and panic attacks.
While dehydration may not be listed among the possible side effects of SSRIs and SNRIs, these medicines do have recognized side effects that can lead to dehydration, including:
- Diarrhea
- Elevated or excessive sweating
- Loss of thirst
- Loss of appetite
Self-medicating with alcohol7,8
Some people find that alcohol relieves feelings of depression and anxiety. These people can find themselves “self-medicating” by taking a drink of alcohol in an attempt to lift their mood and/or relieve anxious feelings. While a drink or two of alcohol may bring temporary relief at the beginning, it’s a poor substitute for medically-sound mental health treatments in the long run.
Alcohol, itself, is a diuretic triggering urination and leading to dehydration. Beyond this alcohol use in the workplace presents its own set of problems. It can cause physical and mental impairment and, in the long run, lead to alcohol addiction. When taken with some prescription medicines alcohol can result in harmful interactions that put the person and their health at greater risk.
Statins: Lipid-reducing Medications for Heart Health 9,10
Statins are the most commonly prescribed type of medication for lowering cholesterol and improving heart health.
They work in the liver to block cholesterol from forming and thereby reducing the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood. Statins are effective at lowering LDL (sometimes referred to as “bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats). They also raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
Statins can cause nausea, which when accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, can lead to dehydration. Headaches, another side effect of statins, can look like or mask dehydration.
Metformin: Glucose-reducing Medications for Type 2 Diabetes11,12
Metformin is a class of medicines commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose levels through a combination of the following mechanisms:
- Reducing the amount of glucose made by the liver
- Making the body more sensitive to the glucose present in the body, and
- Increasing the effect of insulin produced by the body
Metformin is known to cause stomach discomfort as a side effect. This includes:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Both of which can lead to dehydration.
Encouraging Hydration Health
Maintaining proper hydration levels during physical activity has always been important for health and safety. With more and more people taking prescription medicines as part of their daily routine, there’s a danger that everyone’s hydration levels are being undermined in ways that will go unrecognized.
Establishing and encouraging good hydration habits will go a long way toward keeping you healthy and productive.
Ways you can establish good hydration habits include:
- Making sure that hydrating beverages are available
- Taking regular hydration breaks
Developing good hydration habits for yourself and your family leads to better overall health.
“While there are many electrolyte replenishment options on the market, do not assume one or any electrolyte beverage fits all! Sqwincher® provides a line of electrolyte products in various formulas to suit the needs of different hydration solutions, including low-sodium, sugar free and low calorie, no preservative, and dye-free options.”
Sources
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dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086
2. Martin, MPH MA, C. B., Hales, MD MPH, C. M., Gu, MD PhD, Q., & Ogden, PhD MRP, C. L. (2019, May). Prescription Drug Use in
the United States, 2015–2016. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.
cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db334.htm
3. National Health Service. (2018, August 16). Side effects - Antidepressants. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/
antidepressants/side-effects/
4. Lindberg, S. (2019, January 29). These 7 Medications and Workouts Do Not Mix. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/
health/medications-workouts-do-not-mix#1
5. Cherney, K. (2019, March 29). What Medications Help Treat Depression? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/
depression/medication-list
6. Mayo Clinic. (2019b, October 5). Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Mayo Clinic. https://www.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20044970
7. Faris, S., & Watson, K. (2018, August 20). Recognizing Forms of Self-Medication. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/
depression/forms-self-medication#alcohol
8. Jewell, T. (2019, May 23). Does Alcohol Dehydrate You? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/does-alcohol-dehydrateyou
9. American Heart Association. (2018, November 10). Cholesterol Medications. Www.Heart.Org; American Heart Association.
10. Mayo Clinic. (2020, March 14). Statins: Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you? Mayo Clinic. https://www.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statins/art-20045772#:~:text=Statins%20are%20drugs%20
that%20can
11. University of Illinois. (2018, December 20). Metformin: Side effects, dosage, uses, and more. Www.Medicalnewstoday.Com;
Healthline Media UK. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/metformin-oral-tablet#about
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drugs-supplements/metformin-oral-route/description/drg-20067074
