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what drugs cause night sweats san antonio recovery center

You wake up in the middle of the night and feel your partner next to you. They’re drenched in sweat – it’s pouring down their face, and soaking through their clothes. You feel their forehead, but they don’t have a fever. What is going on?

This is a condition known as “night sweats”. While this may be disorienting, know that you aren’t alone – research suggests that more than one in ten people may experience night sweats. Not only does it prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep, it’s hard to understand why it’s happening. While there are many potential underlying causes, these intense bouts of sweating can be a symptom of substance use.

At San Antonio Recovery Center, one of our goals is to educate and inform the community. So today, we’re going to talk about what drugs cause night sweats and everything else you need to know about this condition.

What Causes Night Sweats?

Night sweats aren’t just a result of feeling uncomfortably hot at night. These are bouts of uncontrollable and excessive sweating, usually to the point of soaking through clothes and bedsheets.

While this can happen for a variety of reasons, its core cause is fluctuations in hormones in the body. The body when sleeping goes through a complex balance of chemicals, designed to cool it down and rest. One of the main ways the body regulates temperature and stays cool is by sweating. When these hormone levels are out of balance or rapidly fluctuating, it can lead to excessive and uncontrollable sweating.

These hormonal shifts can be the result of conditions like menopause, mood disorders, or obesity. Yet they can also occur as a result of substance use.

what causes night sweats

Which Drugs Cause Night Sweats?

Night sweats can occur as a side effect of a variety of substances, including many legal prescriptions. Medications designed to help with blood sugar management, especially popular treatments like Ozempic or other semaglutides, can result in this condition, as can many others.

However, recreational substances can lead to night sweats as well.

Alcohol

Alcohol is often associated with night sweats. This is due to the effect alcohol has on the body’s ability to regulate temperature, as well as its impact on the levels of different hormones in your system. On top of that, it impacts blood pressure and circulation, worsening the sweating.

Opioids

The research remains unclear on exactly why opioids lead to night sweating, with the specific hormone interactions not fully understood. However, it remains a common side effect. For example, being prescribed methadone to help with opioid withdrawal leads to night sweats in up to 45% of patients.

Prescription Medications

While not all prescriptions list night sweats as a side effect, some common medications are worth noting. Prednisone, a popular steroid used in a wide range of treatments, can lead to excessive or uncontrollable sweating. Antidepressants frequently impact the body’s hormone levels, and can lead to night sweats. Even over-the-counter pain relief medication can result in this condition, especially if taken over time.

When Is Sweating a Symptom of Addiction?

Most commonly, night sweats are a symptom of withdrawal. This happens when the body has developed a dependence on a substance, where the brain adapts to certain chemical levels in order to function normally.

When the brain no longer receives these chemicals, it can disrupt key processes in the body. Internally, temperature can be difficult to regulate. While this can cause sweating at any time during the day, this is especially common at night when the body needs to cool itself down to stay asleep. The body can fail to recognize when temperature levels are getting too high or be unable to stop sweating once it starts.

These symptoms don’t have to take days or weeks to appear. Sometimes, night sweats can occur even a few hours after the last dose. Your partner may have had a drink in the morning, and still wake up drenched in sweat that evening. Keep in mind, the body can develop a dependence on a substance without an accompanying addiction. The two are related, but distinct, conditions.

which drugs cause night sweats

Finding Substance Use Treatment in San Antonio, Texas

If you or a loved one have been experiencing night sweats, you know how disruptive and frustrating it can be. If these sweats are the result of substance use, it’s important to plan a full recovery journey, to make sure you can get the sleep and life you need. Looking into local treatment for substance use disorder is the first part of this process.

At San Antonio Recovery Center, we don’t just serve the community – we’re a part of it. Our expert therapists and clinicians focus on treating substance use disorders, while our alumni community ensures you and your loved ones have the support needed to fully recover. We believe that the journey doesn’t just end with treatment, and are here for you every step of the way. Connect with us today by phone at 866-957-7885, or through our website.

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