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 30 April 2022
Thank you everyone for your responses... please continue to respond if you have anything else to say! I appreciate it. :)
41 Answers Page 3
Well, this explains a lot. While on cymbalta, I've had extreme heat sensitivity and sweat a lot. For me, I have to watch out for fungal infections.
Luckily, I just took my last dose of the stuff today. It has been a bear weaning off this over two months from 120 mg. I'm not out of the woods on withdrawal yet. But this makes me hopeful that anything above 75 degrees won't make me feel like dying anymore.
P.S. Other thing I've realized about cymbalta was that it was making me incredibly constipated! It's so weird to go potty normally now.
Hi I'm so glad that I'm not alone. I can sweat like a racehorse just sitting. I have been taking Cymbalta for almost two years.I take 30 milligrams morning and 30 Evening. I too was starting to really worry as I am 60 and over menopause. I didn't realize this was for depression also. I have extreme arthritis everywhere. Also fibro and now possibly sciatic nerve problems. I also take oxycodone for pain but not much.
I too sweat constantly. It is not only annoying but embarrassing! strangers stop me to ask if I am ok. I insisted that my doctor help me do something, anything, that least lessen the sweating. I only take 30 mg of cymbalta but have been taking it for more years than I can remember. It does work extremely well for the cronic pain and depression, even just the low dose of 30 mg. When I started the doctor wanted me to go up to 60mg. But when I did my brain felt strange, physically strange. So I stayed on 30. But sweating in the shower ? Enough is enough. I am going to see if taking less is an option or not at all. It's a shame b/c it worked so well otherwise. Do they even make a pill less than 30mg?
Cymbalta also comes in 20 mg.
You do NOT have to sweat, I was having the same problem and took some studies to my doctor today. Essentially "anticholinergic agent benztropine reduced or eliminated diaphoresis at doses ranging from 0.5 mg every other day to 1 mg/d.2,3 Dry mouth was the only reported side effect." I see other studies online but they were for meds with bad side affects. I took .5 tablet today of benztrophine and WOW! I am--for the first day in 2 years--NOT sweating so bad my hair is sopping wet while I wipe off my forehead. I had to put a jacket on inside my house (A/C is on) which is shocking. This tablet is actually an off label use for an old Parkinson drug. Studies I saw are .5 to 1mg a day or every other day. Honestly, this is life changing. I start sweating profusely just moving a tiny bit. I live in a cold state and even when it's 10 below zero out I sweat this way. To have this go away is amazing! Also, this med is CHEAP. my co-pay is $10 and I ended up paying $5.50 for this med which means that was the actual price. Truly life changing.
Happy, I am so excited to have read your message! I’ve got a prayer now. Been on 60 bid Cymbalta for years, and 3600/day of gabapentin among other things. Without them for chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy it is just hard to walk. I’m a guy that likes to be outside. I love to tinker with cars and do yard work, and used to coach, but being outside in the south is almost like death with as much as I sweat. If I go outside at all I can’t see from the sweat burning my eyes, I change clothes 8-10 times a day just trying to do a simple project. Have to lay down 30 mins- an hour after drenched to stop sweating. After a cold shower with the a/c blasting it takes 30 mins- an hour to stop sweating before I can get dressed to go somewhere and begin sweating again. Have to have a towel with me everywhere I go to drive... then the hot flashes out of nowhere... colostomy bag adhesives break down so fast it’s gross, I literally sweat it off of my belly...
I’m going to find a dr somewhere to give me a shot on what you found. That sounds very promising to me. Thank you so much for this post!!
Montana, I am so excited to have read your message! I’ve got a prayer now. Been on 60 bid Cymbalta for years, and 3600/day of gabapentin among other things. Without them for chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy it is just hard to walk. I’m a guy that likes to be outside. I love to tinker with cars and do yard work, and used to coach, but being outside in the south is almost like death with as much as I sweat. If I go outside at all I can’t see from the sweat burning my eyes, I change clothes 8-10 times a day just trying to do a simple project. Have to lay down 30 mins- an hour after drenched to stop sweating. After a cold shower with the a/c blasting it takes 30 mins- an hour to stop sweating before I can get dressed to go somewhere and begin sweating again. Have to have a towel with me everywhere I go to drive... then the hot flashes out of nowhere... colostomy bag adhesives break down so fast it’s gross, I literally sweat it off of my belly...
I’m going to find a dr somewhere to give me a shot on what you found. That sounds very promising to me. Thank you so much for this post!!
You betcha and increased anxiety and agitation! In my case I couldn't be on that classification of drug that was prescribed for anxiety and my back so I had to be weaned off after giving it four months a try!
Oh yes! Between the Cymbalta sweat and menopause hot flashes, I could warm a small planet. Still Cymbalta works well for me, especially worrying and anxiety. So I'll take the sweating like a pig and continue to eat ice... not a side affect. I have always done this... and throw my head in the freezer now and then as needed.
I too have menopause flashes and night sweats and I take Black Cohosh and Evening Primrose, one of each, and my symptoms have decreased 90 percent in a month once the herbs built up in me, they are a Godsend! You can find both at Walmart but I find them at better prices online with Swanson Vitamin company...
Thanks Shellybeans.
Reading al comments have helped me To realize and discover that Cymbalta causes heavy profuse sweating and that I'm not crazy! I'm 71, way over menopause. Taking Cymbalta and going through profuse sweating, more so on my head & face. It's very embarrassing to be out with friends - worse if we dance- and have heavy sweating all over my face, and body too. Will go to my PC next week to switch meds. Cannot stand it any longer. Thanks to everyone for sharing. Blessings and good health.
I'm glad I'm not alone. I have always been a little hotter than most people, but the last few years have been awful. I have been on Cymbalta 30mg for five years. I really just started noticing it the last two years. This summer has been the worse. I can be in the ac and still sweat. It is uncomfortable and embarrassing. I can handle a little bit of sweating, but mine is pretty severe. I also get the redness in my face, neck and chest. I mentioned the sweating to my doctor and at first she thought it could be Menopause or my sugar and than she looked at my chart and saw I take Cymbalta. She wants me to take it in the evenings and see if that helps at all. I hate to stop the medication because it does help my depression. I have been on other medications for my depression and the side affects were awful. I hope we can all find something that helps this.
shellybeans, I will definitely try the black cohosh and primrose!!
I get hot especially in the morning. I'm sensitive to the heat and I sweat a little bit more than usual. But not so much were I'm embarrassed about. But In the past I didn't sweat that much anyway. Unless I was really working out hard Everyone is different
I too have profuse sweating from cymbalta. I have sweat running off my face and my hair drips from sweat. I don't have to do any activity. I just start sweating. I take 30 mg of cymbalta. My doctor told me to increase to 60 mg, but the sweating got so bad I couldn't stand it. I started taking it for pain. It does work, but I can no longer stand the side affects. I've taken it for five years. I am weaning myself off of it. I am on my 6 th day off cymbalta. The withdrawal is hard. I don't know if I can do it.
I know what you mean. Withdrawal from cymbalta is a bear. It's been a week and a half off for me. The anxiety is terrible. I had to increase my gabapentin to get past that. My insomnia is acting up again, even with trazadone. And the skin crawly feeling is driving me nuts.
How long did it take you to get off cymbalta?
@jujumama49 I stopped taking Cymbalta a while ago. I weaned off very, very, very slowly, however, it still took me approximately 4 months before I felt more "normal". I was taking the largest dosage & felt that the Cymbalta wasn't really helping me at all. I was having trouble handling the many various side effects. Ultimately, it wasn't worth it to me any longer to persist with this particular prescription.
I'm sorry I'm not being more specific with details but now I suffer from extremely poor memory recollection. Even so, I can still recall how absolutely abysmal I felt during the weaning process which transpired over a period of several weeks. Others will likely have different experiences that they can impart to you. I do wish you good luck & remember that there will be a light at the end of your tunnel. All the best to you, jujumama49.
God Bless you. from Wendy
@jujumama49 I stopped taking Cymbalta a while ago. I weaned off very, very, very slowly, however, it still took me approximately 4 months before I felt more "normal". I was taking the largest dosage & felt that the Cymbalta wasn't really helping me at all. I was having trouble handling the many various side effects. Ultimately, it wasn't worth it to me any longer to persist with this particular prescription.
I'm sorry I'm not being more specific with details but now I suffer from extremely poor memory recollection. Even so, I can still recall how absolutely abysmal I felt during the weaning process which transpired over a period of several weeks. Others will likely have different experiences that they can impart to you. I do wish you good luck & remember that there will be a light at the end of your tunnel. All the best to you, jujumama49.
God Bless you. from Wendy
Omg! I have been on cymbalta for probably 20 years and just turned 68. I am so tired of sweating all the time and it's embarrassing. My Dr never believed anything I told him. Anyway I started taking it as an alternative for something else I forget what but not for pain then but supposedly tinnitus. My ears buzz if I don't take it on time and when I close my eyes it sounds like a door slamming. Anyway I have a king size pillow and by the middle of the night both sides are completely soaked and I have to change it. Very tired of that! I have tried to get off it three times and can't and I only take 20 mg. Taking it in the morning doesn't help. My hair also drips with sweat pretty much all the time. My Dr wants me to up to 40 mg. No way! I'm now finishing a few 30 mg I've tried bc I'm out til the 1st. Drs give it to me for FM RA and Scleroderma. They say there's nothing else to take.
Really? Don't buy that! I worked for many drs over my lifetime but IDK what else to try. I have so many side effects from everything I take. Sorry this is so long with no options to offer. If anyone finds something please let me know. Thanks
I switched from Cymbalta to Effexor which is in the same group, and helped with the side affect of sweating. Have to agree that going off it is awful. I tapered pretty slowly and then for weeks I would be sick off and on. It really is a horrible thing to wean off of. It took about 2 1/2 of being completely clear of Cymbalta for me to be ok again. The depression was awful on top of physical sickness.
i sweat like that too and its from the cymbalta i can be sitting and break out in this sweat like I've ran a 5k marathon and now i have bacterial infections from the excessive sweating i drink tons of water bathe regularly but nothing helps right now its 75 outside with a wonderful breeze and im in a closed apartment with the air on bc i don't dare clean my house with out the air on i cant ill pass out and i feel bad too bc i cant hold my daughter sometimes bc im just too hot and too sweaty i cant stand it
I can feel your pain about the sweating. I've been reading some of the comments here where they offhandedly mention that sweating is just an annoyance and something they can live with. For some, like you and I, it's not. I'm a high school teacher, and imagine standing in front of a bunch of high school students, sweating profusely, enough that your shirt is wet down the back! It's sad that you feel so uncomfortable while holding your daughter! I'm with you on not being able to stand this anymore. It's like my whole life revolves around dealing with the sweating. Those that think the sweating is no big deal can go suck on my sweaty shirt.
I am shocked to read all this. I finally solved the mystery as to why I sweat so much and get red faced doing the most menial job like making the bed!! I take 60 grams cymbalta daily. I would never had made the connection!
I take 1 mg Benzotrophine twice a day, and it counteracts the sweating. .5 works for some people. I sweat so bad otherwise that my head is soaked, it is horrifying. They checked my hormone levels, and they are fine (although I am 50 years old and that was originally the guess). I actually take Effexor now, and went off Cymbalta. While tapering off and going on the Effexor they totally went away. Effexor is, however, in the same drug class as Cymbalta.
Not only sweating but hair loss, and withdrawal is a nightmare on Cymbalta What is wrong with the medical community --I was put on 2 drugs --one for restless leg syndrome (Klonopin) and Cymbalta for Dystonia (nerve pain).
The Klonopin changed my life and my brain forever... but that is another story.
I do not take any new drug without investigating it first. Unfortunately when I try and tell the Doctor about the negative side effects and difficult withdrawal they look at me like I have two heads.
"Do you believe everything you read on the internet? They ask this in a very dismissive way,,, I got so fed up with their attitude I copied several articles backing up my claims. Of course they did not take kindly to suggesting they did not know what they were talking about
My Neurologist got angry with me when I seemed reluctant to take Cymbalta, so I took it for a month, and sure enough The sweating and hair loss was profuse
So I weaned myself off anf the sweats have seemed to subside, but I now am dealing with the hair loss, and that will take time.
Ibelieve the sweating and hair loss are related--like some hormonal balanced has caused stress on the body and that effected my hair.
I now have short hair because the sweating made it impossible to hold a style and will now deal with this for the next 6 months.
I am 67 years old went through the hot flashes years ago..oh no with Cymbalta they just come out of no where I would bw reading a book and suddenlt my hair was soaking wet.
Doctors ahould take their clients reactions to drugs as something to warn others about. We are the guinea pigs / they should listen to what their pigs tell them happens when they take a drug... or maybe they should begin taking them themselves.
I annot help but distrust the medical community--burned too many times
,
I am also a teacher, elementary teacher. I also sweat due to Cymbalta. Going back to work now in Sept. with a face shield and mask in an upstairs room without A/C, I'm going to feel miserable and look ridiculous. I am trying to find another antidepressant that does not make me sweat. Ugh!
Yes,yes, yes... it is sooooo miserable!!! Wet almost constantly unless sitting very still..even happens sometimes when I'm only doing that!!! Can't perform any activity without being drenched and it is very excessive. I'm on 60mg a day for my diabetic neuropathy and it helps that alot..I hardly leave the apartrment in this hot weather and never without cold water, paper towels and personal fan around my neck... I'm so tired of the side effects, but don't know if there is another answer that really helps. My doctor doesn't think so!!
I hear you! I have the same problem. I have been on Cymbalta for about 4 years and gradually I started sweating by doing little things like drinking the 3 sips of green tea and there it goes it started again. Imagine working out. I am wearing a head band and at the end of the work out, I twist it and sweat just pours out of it, a lot of sweat. So now, with my psychiatrist I am trying to find an antidepressant that does not make me sweat!
I have had no ovaries for 31/2 years. Most of the menopausal symptoms had gone away. Since I started Cymbalta I have notice I sweat more again. I mentioned it to my doctor but did not seem to concerned. Probably think is menopausal. But I can live with the side effect for now. I think I will mention this side effect next time. Maybe you need to cut the Cymbalta dose down to cut down on some of the side effects. I would agree you need to talk to your docto.
Sheila7281
I see. Did you start menopause before or after you had your ovaries removed? Im curious because I have endometriosis and pcos and have no idea how those conditions will progress as I get older. I have to take birth control to have a reg period. Once I go through menopause would I still have endo and pcos? Or possibly gonna need a hysterectomy? I haven't asked my gyno those things cuz he's not that easy to talk to. If you don't mind me asking those questions...
I am going to ask my psyc doc when I see her about weening me off of cymbalta or at least taking me down to 30 mg and seeing if it gets any better. I don't think cymbalta is the right med for me anyway because it honestly hasn't controlled my depression or anxiety very well. If I don't have the profuse sweating at 30 mg maybe she'll keep me on it and add something else, or try something else all together. idk.
Hi anjeegyrl! Welcome to Drugs.com!
I presently take Cymbalta 120 mg daily for chronic pain. I am menopausal, however, I do have sweating which is likely from this medication. I consider it as an annoyance that I can live with. It is similar to menopausal hot flashes but slightly different. My other hot flashes were like waves that came rolling in & then out. My Cymbalta sweating doesn't "roll in" but seems more constant & at an even level. By the way, anjeegyrl, I'm 55 years old & have been menopausal for at least 4 years.
All the best to you!
from Wendy :)
Do you just sweat more because of the medication or is it profuse sweating? You said you could tell the difference from when it is due to menopause because of how those hot flashes roll in and then out. I'm only on 90 mg and the profuse sweating would occur even when I was only on 30-60 mg.
Wendy, you sound exactly like me... Cymbalta 120 mg, menopausal, 54 years old. I was considering asking my PDoc to bump the Cymbalta down to 90 mg but do not want to miss the benefit of it helping my back spasm flares. This med has really helped my mid back seize ups. Nothing for the lower back, unfortunately.
Excessive sweating is unfortunately a side effect of many antidepressants and really nothing to worry about, just an annoyance. You could have an hormonal imbalance as well which normal blood work wouldn't pick up on. You could discuss the hormonal imbalance with the gynecologist that is tending to the endometriosis. She/he can do the blood work to determine if it is hormonal.
Well having the endocrine disorders I have my gyno tests my hormone levels fairly regularly and since I've taken birth control my levels are pretty much always normal. Most of the responses I'm getting on here is that the sweating is a side effect of cymbalta that is simply an annoyance... but the first comment from Pledge sounded as if it were more serious? Hopefully it isn't serious, but it sure is annoying, and actually scares me a little.
It took me 15 years to figure out that the growing sweating problem that for the last 8 years robbed me of my life, leaving me cold, naked in bed with Mico fibre mink blankets used to wick away the sweat that just poured out of me for any reason... talking on the phone, thinking about getting out of bed to get something to eat... anything at all. In the winter, I couldn't leave my house unless it was unavoidable because I would have soaked my clothes before I even left it. My doctor was convinced it was the narcotic I was on for pain and had me giving up most of that, chocolate, zinc, Lyrica. ... I jumped through so many hoops trying to get it to stop and he never once suggested the Cymbalta. I figured it out by missing a dose, which, upon taking it 6 hours later... my bed was soaked. Now, 8 months later and I sweat only when I'm hot. I'm dry, and I'm warm for the first time in years. Cymbalta can be hell for some people and you sound like me. Get off it.
Hello anjeegyrl. Excessive sweating is considered to be a severe, serious side effect of taking Cymbalta. You really should mention this to your doctor. I can't understand how your primary doctor didn't pick up on this. You might phone your pharmacist, or another doctors office to confirm or get thier opinion on your question. Do ake care and best of wishes to you, pledge
My primary doc didn't mention anything about is possibly being from the cymbalta. I dont see my psyc doc that prescribed it until feb. I can't remember if I've mentioned the sweating to her before or not, but definitely will when I see her. In the mean time I am seeing a neurologist that is testing my nerves and muscles. I've been told I might have fibro, ms, or ra. I definitely have known for a while that I at least have fibro. Hopefully she will be able to determine something. I read that ms can cause heavy sweating. Idk. Im a mess. The sweating is just something that on top of the other pains I have is driving me crazy. I've been diagnosed with "neurocardiogenic syncope" in the past and I often get light head and dizzy with my vision sometimes blurring out. But the sweating doesn't happen then. It happens on its own.
The hot sweaty flashes were horrid. I was the color of a beet on my face chest and upper arm. Awful.
And MINE WAS before Cymbalta but after a major shoulder Surgery
I thought it was perimenopause. I am 49, never had any problems that appeared to be menopausal. I have been sweating like crazy for over a year & 1/2 now. Tried 2 kinds of birth control pills that have higher estrogen/progesterone than they treat menopause symptoms with (I'm still ovulating so is an option for me). Didn't help. Tried all kinds of over the counter health things. Nada. So, went to the OBGYN, he did a panel of tests. All fine. Hormones ok. All that leaves is that it's a side affect of the Cymbalta. So, I go back to my GP. He seems to believe that can't be it. Says under 1% reported possibly as a side affect. Now I'm not sure what to do. Gave me some prozac to switch to but it looks like all SSRIs have this possibility. Sounds like if I still have it he will take it as proof it isn't caused by the meds. I'm wondering if I should go SSRI free for a few months. Ugh. Scared of the depression. Otherwise I take Tramadol and Gabapentin also.
I've been taking Cymbalta for 2 weeks now and YES excessive sweating has definitely been an issue so far. I've been having trouble sleeping due to this issue. I usually have NO issues sleeping. I was told to take Cymbalta at night, is that what you do? Thanks! Ang
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)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
