I am trying to figure out why I break out into intense sweats with minimal activity, like taking a walk. I wake up soaking wet many nights. I work in retail and simply standing for long periods of time behind the cash register I'll break into sweats like I've been lifting weights or something. I don't know if anxiety can cause that. I find my heart rate is sometimes over 100 when I haven't been exerting myself in any way. I have seen my primary doc and had my thyroid and my sugars checked and all normal. I have endometriosis and PCOS and am only 28 so I don't think its menopause which is what most people think of first when I say I'm burning up and sweat uncontrollably. I've ruled out other medicines I take because this has been happening since before I started them. I think it may have been going on since I started Cymbalta 2 years ago. Anyone else experience this or have any opinions about what might be going on? After taking a shower I usually can't stop sweating long enough to put my clothes on or makeup without have to continually towel off. Worries me...
Has anyone experienced intense sweating while taking Cymbalta?
Question posted by PurpleButterfies on 23 Dec 2011
Last updated on 14 June 2024 by Babaheaven365
Thank you everyone for your responses... please continue to respond if you have anything else to say! I appreciate it. :)
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44 Answers Page 2
I have been taking Duloxetine for a couple years now and the sweating has been intolerable. I haven’t checked any hormonal levels or taken it further than mentioning to my PCP. I actually associated it with level of pain. My Dr recently increased my dosage to 120 mg pr day. After couple days I didn’t even get out of bed. Just stayed with ceiling fan above. I stopped Taking it completely which I know is dangerous but almost immediately the sweating stopped. I am fair skin and my face would become beet red. I used a sweatband to try to keep the sweat out of my eyes are used a cooling towel everything imaginable and just last night I spoke to my husband and said I’ve not been sweating. I’m going to Google and see what others say about this drug and look at the side effects. Sweating is listed but not emphasized.
In my particular situation profuse sweating was definitely a side effect that literally lead to embarrassment and as a result caused me to withdraw socially. I am going back to my Dr and seek an alternative. Good luck to all and thank you for sharing
This has been my life for the past 15 years it's only gotten worse. My doctor said it was other medications , excessive caffeine etc. Go to a sweat clinic for advice and treatment . They can't give me enough botox to fix this. I'm not hot. My temperature gets so low, my teeth want to chatter. I shiver. And still sweat is running off my scalp and face, dripping off my chin. My clothes are soaked. The only thing that lets me be comfortable is to use microfiber blankets as sheets and laying naked in bed. On bad days I have to change them. I use antibacterial soap and still stink after a few hours. I tried everything my doctor said to stop sweating, even going off a pain med and suffering the pain - which causes sweating too. I only made the Cymbalta connection a week ago because I had been in bed for a week with just the slightest activities , such as going to the bathroom, causing me to breakout again.
I took the Cymbalta late and I started sweating within 20 minutes. I'm trying a drug that I got from a website and it looked like it was going to work but I haven't been feeling well this morning and checked my blood pressure and it is as high as 186/86. Your sweating is caused by the Cymbalta. It is not going to get better. You need to find another medication to help you deal with the sweating or you need to get off it. I live in Canada and I never feel hot. I'm always cold. I need to get back to researching what I can do to get out of this hell I have been living for the past 15 plus years. Good luck to you.
Wow, this is enlightening! I've been on Cymbalta for years, but have always sweated a good deal--my dad's genes--so I. Ever made the connection when it got worse. I love to dance, but even when there's plenty of a/c, I look like I poured water over my head (was even asked once if I did!). Taking a shower that is anything but chilly can leave me sweating, and hiking? Forget about it--I need twice as much water as everyone else. Those women who talk about not being able apply to apply makeup or style hair--YES! Went through menopause quite early (at 42 & I'm now 58, so that's not it, and no, it's a different feeling. This is just heavy sweating with minor activity; menopause was like a wave moving up from my chest to my head. I did read about the meds that help with sweating--think I will talk to my shrink about them next time because I don't want to reduce my Cymbalta dose. It keeps the anxiety and depression at bay quite well. Worst case, I'd rather sweat!
I responded to one person but wanted to give it a main response of it's own. This has been a huge side affect for me and it is literally life changing in that I don't exercise, wear any clothing that isn't all cotton, and have to ALWAYS wear my hear up. However, I found a solution. I saw online that .5 tablet tablet of benztropine which is an old parkinson's med that is super cheap. It is used (off label) to eliminate depression induced sweating and so far it is working for me. Off label use is also to eliminate uncontrolled movements (in my case my hands sweat and my leg jumps on both Effexor and Duloxotine). Looks like some people require 1mg, and it is taken every day, or every other day... or just when you have a problem with the sweating. I just started it today and it worked within one hour. I'm not worried about the leg jumps/shaking as it's not all the time but will be interesting to see if it gets rid of that also. The only side affect is dry mouth. I think this is a game changer for me.
I had the very same symptoms since taking Cymbalta, for YEARS (started when it first came on the market). MD blamed sweaty symptoms on menopause. I was 65 & still having meltdowns. I slowly weaned myself off Cymbalta about 3 months ago, and NO FURTHER SWEATS, none at all!!
I have been taking cymbalta for 6 months. I noticed the sweating right away. I have fibromyalgia and chronic pain with headaches so the pain relief was great but the sweating was unbelievable. I never used to do that. I live in Florida and have spent a lot of time outside and always was cool and dry. I am not sure it is worth all this craziness. Like many of you, I can't even sit outside for a few moments. Swimming doesn't even release the heat. The only showers I take are with cold water. Sometimes it feels like I'm on fire. So now I will have to be weaned off this crazy medicine. Think I will try for my previous Zoloft. It worked for many of my problems with the exception of the pain. Good luck to everyone.
I have awful sweating from Cymbalta I think. One thing that does help is Clonodine .01 mg once a day at night. I'm 60 and do hormone replacement therapy if I didn't I would not make it
I have been taking Cymbalta practically since it came on the market for anxiety/depression related to early menopause and chronic knee pain related to degenerative arthritis. I have daily drenching sweats after showering and have to sit still with a fan blowing directly on me until the sweats subside ... if I keep moving, dressing, getting ready to leave, I will keep sweating & sweating... I am an Hospital RN and I can suddenly have sweating of my head and neck until the back of my hair is soaked and my face is dripping. Very embarrassing to be dripping sweat on my patients!! I went through menopause with my last period at 41. I am now 64 and I still have the same type of sweats almost every day. I recently was diagnosed with type two diabetes. The Metformin oral hypoglycemic, has made me very ill with nausea and diarrhea.
I can't hardly stand to put anything in my stomach and have started to wean off Cymbalta..so we'll see if the sweats stop. I want off this med so bad to see if this is the drenching sweats reason !! In the past, when I tried to get off Cymbalta, by the third day off, I would be "weepy" for no reason. So I always went back on. I have had metabolic syndrome with all those added medical problems. My thyroid is always a little low but the MD doesn't want to treat. I take Lisinopril HCTZ for hypertension. I take Crestor for high cholesterol. I have yo-yo dieted all my life and have lost 100 pounds plus at least 4 times in my life and have never kept the weight off for more than a few years. I currently need to lose about 120 pounds and am trying to lose weight yet again!! My MD blames all my sweats on obesity. Can anyone relate?
Hi I can definitely confirm that the sweating is from taking the cymbalta I decided last year to stop taking them and reduced with the help of my GP my sweating went away and that was a bonus but unfortunately I suffer from fibromyalgia and the chronic pain was back within weeks, I'm back taking cymbalta 120 mg and the sweating is back especially from my face and hair which is very annoying and embarrassing but when I weigh the sweating at night and the head sweating up to the pain Il cope with sweating at least I can live my life and walk practically pain free . I empathise with you and would love to be sweat free I hate it .
Best wishes
I also have excessive sweating. I have depression and fibromyalgia. I take 120 mg of Cymbalta a day for the past over five years. I cut my hair short because it looked awful dripping wet. Now I call my sweats raining; because my sweat drops down to my shoulders just like Rain does.
I have told my doctors about the excessive sweating and they do not want me to get off of Cymbalta. I went to a doctor last week because I have two replacement shoulders and at least six times While having the sweating, all of a sudden my muscles in my shoulder area lock up. The pain comes suddenly and I usually scream when it happens. I'm thinking it has something to do with the depletion of electrolytes from the sweating. This is only my conclusion. I have night sweats terribly but not every night. I don't have a pattern with the sweats, not from the weather or the activity I am currently doing. I empathize with everyone that's going through this. I too want to become a recluse because of the reaction I get from other people. It's very embarrassing.
I was having these same symptoms after shoulder surgery. I was 58 when I had the surgery and had been going to a natural hormone replacement center. So I told their PA about it and she said take 1mg of Clonodine at night. FYI My medical dr. Couldn't figure it out. It helped 80% I only sweated and got BEET RED IF I WAS STRESSED. 7 days ago I started Cymbalta 20 mg and got off the Clonodine. I'm having some Clamy hot spells. Just started 60 mg Mon. Night and already am constipated. Ugh I've taken linzess 290's for one year and was FIMALLY not constipated. Now I am. Guess I will go back to 20 or 30 mg. But my hormone PA said Cymbalta causes hot flashes. How are you in. 2017. Do you still take Cymbalta. I take for Fibromyalgia. First time I have been pain free in months!! But I also can't sleep on the 60mg. Taking it a bit longer before I ask my dr. To put me back on the 20mg or maybe 30. 60 Maybe tooo much
Oh my gosh! YES! I was on it for about 5 years and it was AWFUL!!! I didn't know that's what was going on until I went off. I thought it was my hormones for years. I went off and within a few days I actually felt cold for the first time in so long. It was so strange and felt SO good!! It's No doubt this medication. It caused me MANY issues, stopping that mess was the beat thing I ever did.
How can your dr refuse to take you off of a medication? He is there to advise you, of course but, if you want off, he needs to help you get off the appropriate way. I would have changed Drs that very same day. That's insanity! You have every right to stop a medication if you have concerns. It's your body! Find someone new who will listen to YOU! Best of luck!
I also take cymbalta and break out in profuse sweating. It starts around my hairline and is really frustrating
I have been on Cymbalta for probably 5 or 6 years now. I've hated it from day one, but my doctor refuses to take me off of it, I even just all but begged when I was in last week. My reason for wanting off has always been because of the withdrawal symptoms I get when I take it even just a little later than the day before, and if I miss an entire day, I'm out of commission for at least an entire day. I attempted to just quit last week because I didn't have the money for the copay and it was AWFUL by the second day I was pretty much completely debilitated. I ended up calling my mom and asking her to pay for my prescription.
Anyway, the reason I was even searching cymbalta tonight is because of the HORRIBLE sweating I've been experiencing. It has been going on forever, but I had no idea it was a side effect until my doctor mentioned the sweating could be from that a couple months ago. I have been changing my tshirt and underwear at least 3 times a night because I wake up soaking wet. Eventually I usually just sleep topless because it's such a disgusting feeling to be wringing wet and then I'm freezing cold and shivering from being wet. It isn't quite as uncomfortable if I'm not wearing anything. I don't know what I'm going to do, I obviously can't just take myself off of it because of the awful withdrawal symptoms, but it seems like the sweating keeps getting worse and worse. I feel like I'm going through menopause at the age of 33!
I have been taking Cymbalta, 30 mg, for a few years now. I take it in the morning with other medications. I take it for neuropathy and a balance for antidepressant. It's been working fine. However, ever since this summer, I have been experiencing fits of extreme sweating. There is no reason or cause of it. It doesn't happen on a regular basis or routinely. The weather has no bearing on it. Doesn't matter if it's cold or hot. Doctors are not sure what causes this sweating at night or during the day. Not sure if it is Cymbalta or not.
In my opinion, there is a good chance at least some of the swearing is from the Cymbalta. I'm on 60mg once a day, and like I already said, the sweating is AWFUL. I think it has gotten a lot worse over time too. I have spent so much money trying to find just the right bedding over the years thinking that may have been the problem, but it hasn't helped. 100% Cotton is better I guess, but I still sweat like crazy, it just doesn't seem to be as bad after I sweat, like it soaks the sweat up better than synthetic material. That sounds, and is, so gross.
With all due respect, you need a new doctor if he/she doesn't acknowledge that these side effects are ongoing and intolerable. You definitely need a different medication. No one needs to live like this! There are many SSRIs, SNRIs, and NDRIs available that will give you relief with much more tolerable side effects. You can be put on a weaning schedule to transition from Cymbalta to a new medication, which can simultaneously be titrated up, to help you to avoid the nasty withdrawal syndrome.
I have taken many Antidepressants. Sometimes you luck up and find the right one for you on the first go round. But for most of us, it takes 2 or 3 or more to get satisfactory results. And it takes patience. Lots of patience. G
I could have written your question. I am currently on 90 mg. of Cymbalta and trying to decrease to 60 mg. I dread the day I have to come off of it, because I'm already experiencing slight withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia and increased anxiety. The intent in decreasing the Cymbalta is to decrease the sweating. It is terrible. It is embarrassing and humiliating. I have people ask me if I'm all right, offer to turn up the air conditioning, offer me tissues to wipe the sweat from my face. I wear bangs, and they immediately go into strings because of the wetness, so I am growing them out. The back of my head and hair become soaked. I have actual water running down my temples, around my eyes, down my nose, upper lip and chin! Was I running or working up a sweat? NO! I am sitting quietly in a chair or standing calmly in line. I never know when it's going to happen.
I take cold showers and need to dry off two or three times before I get dressed. Putting on makeup is nearly impossible. It runs off as quickly as I am drying my face and trying to reapply it. I've had all kinds of blood work which comes back ok. My thyroid is normal. The doctors think the sweating is due to the Cymbalta, but they don't want me to come off of it entirely since it and Abilify are the only two antidepressants that seem to work for me. I was relieved to come across your post and to read others, because now I know I am not alone and have a little more faith in my doctors who are blaming the profuse sweating on the Cymbalta. I am so frustrated and tired of being uncomfortable all the time.
I wish there was another antidepressant that I could take to replace Cymbalta that would be effective on my depression and anxiety.
I am a 57-year-old man. I have secondary progressive MS and in a wheelchair. I get chronic sweating attacks. My face, neck, back and sides drip profusely. I sometimes wake up from a nights sleep needing to be wiped down. It drips down into my ears. Doesn't matter if I eat or not. There are no specific times or moments that trigger such sweating. I have been taking Cymbalta for years, 30 mg once each morning. I take it for neuropathy and a light antidepressant. I've only been getting sweating attacks recently. I would say in the last month or so. Why so recently and so harshly (it comes on suddenly and is kind of scary)? Although, I do sweat a lot at night in my sleep. But when I'm in my wheelchair, I get the sweat attacks at various times during the day/evening. Is there something to counteract this sweating side effect? If this sweating is a side affect? What other medications have decided? My primary doctor prescribed it, but when I asked her what may cause sweating, she does not know. Any clues? Thanks, Tony
You won't know unless you try. That would be an intolerable side effect for me!. I would try more antidepressants till I found one that gave me a better quality of life, and I don't consider that amount of sweating to be OK. G
Hi there, I am on 90 mg. per day and also get sweaty numerous times a day. I tolerate it but am very annoyed by it.
Related topics
cymbalta, depression, hyperhidrosis, anxiety
Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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