SOP 508.24-att-4: Medication Information for Hot Weather

Division:
Mental Health Services
Effective Date:
August 15, 2022
Topic Area:
508 Policy - Mental Health Evaluations/Screenings/Treatment
PowerDMS:
View on PowerDMS
Length:
380 words

Summary

This form educates incarcerated individuals about how hot weather and high temperatures affect psychiatric medications commonly used in correctional facilities. It explains the drying effects of antipsychotics and antidepressants, the importance of increased fluid intake to prevent dehydration and medication toxicity, specific warnings about lithium levels during hot months, increased sunburn risk with certain medications, and side effects of adjunctive medications like Benadryl and Cogentin. Staff must review this information with each affected individual and obtain their acknowledgment signature.

Key Topics

  • medication and heat
  • antipsychotic medications
  • antidepressant medications
  • dehydration
  • lithium toxicity
  • fluid intake
  • sunburn risk
  • hot weather
  • drying effects
  • medication side effects
  • Thorazine
  • psychotropic medications
  • mental health medications
  • correctional medicine
  • patient education

Full Text

SOP 508.24
Attachment 4

8/15/22

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INSTITUTION: ____________________________
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NAME: __________________________________
“MEDICATION INFORMATION ID#: _____________________________________
FOR HOT WEATHER” DOB: ____________________________________
RACE: _______________ SEX: _______________

DRYING EFFECTS
Most antipsychotic and some antidepressant medications cause drying in the body. It is important to drink lots of fluids.
If you take medicines such as the ones listed below. Drinking fluids will help prevent dry mouth, constipation, dry skin,
sinus problems and urinary problems.
ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS
1. Haldol (haloperidol) 8. Trilafon (perphenazine)
2. Loxitane (loxapine) 9. Zyprexa (olanzapine)
3. Navane (thiothixene) 10. Geodon (ziprasidone)
4. Stelazine (trifluoperazine) 11. Abilify (aripiprazole)
5. Prolixin (fluphenazine) 12. Seroquel (quetiapine)
6. Risperdal (risperidone) 13. Other: _______________________
7. Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS
1. Desyrel (trazodone) 8. Effexor (venlafaxine)
2. Elavil (amitriptyline) 9. Lexapro (escitalopram)
3. Norpramin (desipramine) 10. Paxil (paroxetine)
4. Pamelor (nortriptyline) 11. Prozac (fluoxetine)
5. Sinequan (doxepin) 12. Remeron (mirtazapine)
6. Tofranil (imipramine) 13. Zoloft (sertraline)
7. Celexa (citalopram) 14. Other: _______________________

All medications build up in the body if you get dehydrated. During the hot months, it is very important to drink more
water than usual especially if you sweat a lot.
FLUID INTAKE AND LITHIUM
Drink lots of fluids and avoid changes in the amount of salt you use. Lithium levels can quickly get too high in your body
if you get dehydrated. Dizziness or trouble walking are symptoms you might first notice if the level gets too high in your
body. Notify a staff person to call medical immediately if this occurs.
MEDICATION AND SUNBURN
Some antipsychotic medications can contribute to sunburn. Watch your skin carefully when you are outside. If you find
that your skin burns easily, talk to the nurse or doctor. Thorazine is the medication most often thought to cause severe
sunburns in some people.
BENADRYL, VISTARIL and COGENTIN
Benadryl, Vistaril and Cogentin can cause dry mouth and dehydration. It is important to drink lots of fluids. Drinking
fluids will help prevent dry mouth and dehydration.

_The nurse has talked with me about medication and hot weather. I understand what I need to do and what I need to_
_watch for._

_____________________________________________________ _______________________________
Offender Signature Date

Form no. M60-01-04

Retention Schedule: Completed form shall be placed in the offenders ’medical file (section 5) and a copy placed in the mental health file (section 5). At the end of the
offender’s need for mental health services and/or sentence, the mental health file shall be placed within the offender’s health record and retained for 10 years.

Attachments (8)

  1. Anxiolytic Informed Consent Form (M60-01-01H) (87 words)
  2. Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) Assessment Form (637 words)
  3. Lockdown SLU_ACU_CSU Temperature Log (136 words)
  4. Medication Information for Hot Weather (380 words)
  5. Psychology_Psychiatry Transfer Evaluation (187 words)
  6. Initial Psychiatric/Psychological Evaluation (Form M60-01-06) (451 words)
  7. Antipsychotic Monitoring Log (M60-01-07) - Weight & Waist Circumference Record (190 words)
  8. Instructions for Completing Antipsychotic Weight & Waist Record (M60-01-08) (616 words)
Machine-readable: JSON Plain Text