Official guidance released on summer medication use in France

Tips include what to do when travelling and when to consult a doctor

You can check any concerns with a doctor or pharmacist
Published

The French government has published official guidance on taking medication during the summer months via its Service-Public.fr website. 

Here is key information for summer 2025. 

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke 

It notes that certain medications can make heat exhaustion and heat stroke worse.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, tiredness, a headache, feeling nauseous, a high temperature and thirst. 

Symptoms of heat stroke can include a very high temperature, hot skin that is not sweating and might look red, confusion and a loss of consciousness. 

Certain medicines can make both worse, says the official guidance, published on July 22, 2025. 

It recommends people take the following steps: 

  • asking their doctor or pharmacist for advice when taking a new medication

  • not stopping current medication without speaking to a medical professional

  • not taking medication to treat a minor ailment such as coughs and colds without seeking advice

  • avoiding taking medication to treat a heat-induced headache as paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can worsen the symptoms of heatstroke. 

Skin reactions 

Certain medicines, including creams and tablets, can cause the skin to be more sensitive to the sun. This can result in itching, blisters and sunburn. 

Always ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice and read the information leaflet that comes with the medicine to check if it makes skin more sensitive to sunlight. 

If you still need to take the medicine or use cream try to avoid exposure to sunlight. Use a high-factor sun cream, and wear protective clothing such as a hat and long-sleeved top. 

How to store medication in hot weather 

Check the information leaflet of medicine to see what temperature it should be kept at. 

The effectiveness of some medicines may be affected if they are stored in temperatures that are too high. 

Store medicines that can be kept at below 25-30C in a dark place out of the sunlight. 

Some medicines need to be stored at colder temperatures (2C-8C). These should be kept in the fridge.

The advice warns people to be careful not to leave medication in a car for too long, as temperatures can soar during hot weather in a glove compartment or boot. 

Travelling abroad 

The advice recommends that people carry enough treatment for the duration of the trip if they are travelling abroad. 

Keep all medicines in their original packaging, and take the instructions and prescription. 

If flying, keep your medication with you in your hand luggage, rather than packing it in the hold. 

It suggests asking your doctor to provide you with a prescription “en DCI” (dénomination commune internationale) which will let you present it to a doctor or pharmacist abroad, if needed. 

Check if there are any regulations covering your medicine in the country you are travelling to. For example, will you need to show your prescription, or even declare it at customs?

The advice also states that France’s Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament recommends that people do not buy medicines abroad without consulting a doctor or pharmacist

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