Last Updated:
June 4th, 2025
Sweating (Hot or Cold) Caused by Addiction
Sweating is a natural process in which your body reacts to an increase in temperature or a physical or emotional stimulus. While it is normal to sweat when you exercise, or the weather is sunny, drug and alcohol addiction can also make you sweat profusely. Whether they come on suddenly, keep you up at night or hit you during withdrawal, drug and alcohol sweats can be uncomfortable and even point to a dangerous underlying issue. It is important to understand the link between perspiration and alcohol and drug addiction so you can get the help you need.
What is sweating?
Sweating is your body’s way of keeping itself cool. When you become too hot, your sweat glands release fluid through the skin, and as the sweat evaporates, it helps cool you down. This is a basic survival response that happens without you having to think about it.
But sweating doesn’t always happen just because you’re warm. Your emotions, hormones and stress levels can all trigger it, too. That is why people often sweat when they’re anxious or afraid, as the body is reacting to emotional intensity as if it’s a physical threat.
For most people, sweating happens during exercise, in hot environments or during stressful moments. But when sweating starts happening without any clear trigger, it can be a confusing or even frightening sign that something is going on internally.
In some cases, unusual sweating can just be your body adjusting to stress or a symptom of a minor illness like the flu. In other, more serious cases, it can be the result of a severe physical or mental health condition, substance abuse or addiction.
How can addiction cause sweats?
When you are struggling with addiction, your body is in a constant state of stress and that can affect how much you sweat. You can start sweating excessively during active substance use, withdrawal or even during long-term recovery when your nervous system is still trying to find its footing.
Alcohol sweats are particularly common, especially while you sleep. Heavy drinking can affect your body’s temperature control and cause random spikes in heat that leave you drenched with night sweats. During alcohol withdrawal, your nervous system can also go into overdrive, which often results in cold sweats and uncontrollable shaking.
Stimulants can also raise your body temperature and heart rate so meth, MDMA and cocaine sweats are common, especially when you are using large amounts. These effects can be very dangerous and can even be the cause of overdoses, which can be dangerous and even fatal.
Opioids and benzodiazepines may seem like they calm you down but during withdrawal, they can create the opposite effect and overstimulate your systems. This can lead to sweating, restlessness and spikes of anxiety that leave you scared, overheated and completely drained of energy.
Whatever substances you have been using, excessive sweating requires medical assessment and rehab treatment to address the underlying causes.
When to contact a medical professional for sweating due to addiction
When you begin to sweat excessively, especially after using drugs or alcohol, it is advisable that you immediately seek expert medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Since there may be other possible reasons for the onset of profuse sweating, consulting a doctor helps rule out other health threats and also ensures that the right addiction therapy is administered.
As it is common for a patient receiving detox treatment to experience excessive sweating, medical care providers should give the right diagnosis and withdrawal support before rehab therapy begins. This ensures you are physically safe and ready for the mental and emotional stages of recovery.
What are the symptoms that can accompany excessive sweating?
When sweating is linked to addiction or withdrawal, it is usually part of a wider wave of symptoms. If you know what signs to look for, it becomes easier to understand what your body’s trying to say:
Is it dangerous to ignore irregular sweating?
A little sweat now and then is no big deal. But when sweating becomes intense, unpredictable, or constant, it can be very dangerous to ignore it.
When sweating is linked to substance use or withdrawal, it means your nervous system is overwhelmed and is trying to regulate itself through chaos. When substances interfere with your temperature control, heart rate and hormone balance, sweating can escalate to intense anxiety, panic attacks or lead to extreme dehydration. Cocaine sweats, for example, often come with an elevated heart rate and overheating, and this a mix that can tip into a medical emergency if ignored.
Sweating can also begin to weaken your immune system, disrupt your sleep cycle and lead to chronic fatigue. When you’re sweating constantly and unpredictably, you’re more likely to experience confusion, mood swings and depression, especially during withdrawal.
Cold sweats and clammy skin can also be early signs of an opioid overdose. When opioids slow down your systems too much, your body can start to panic and sweating can be one of the first physical clues. If you notice cold, damp skin alongside other symptoms like pinpoint pupils or difficulty staying awake, seek emergency medical help straight away.
What should I do if I or a loved one are experiencing excessive sweating from an addiction?
Unexplained sweating can be uncomfortable but when it’s linked to addiction or withdrawal, it can also be very dangerous. At Addiction Helper, we can help you figure out what’s driving your sweating and connect you with some of the country’s best detox and rehab facilities. Don’t wait for things to get worse. Contact us today for compassionate and expert guidance.
Our compassionate team are ready and available to take your call, and guide you towards lasting the lasting addiction recovery you deserve.
