sweaty palms

Hello, if your palms are sweaty due to any of these meds: lithium, valproate, invega... drop me a line, pls. Cheers.

I keep telling my pdoc about this but he's taking it easy, like it's not relevant.

I've also suffered a syncope recently and suspect the valproate affected my heart... again, hard to tell because these meds have so many side effects... any help appreciated, thanks .

Good RX has a list of medications that can cause sweaty palms but your medications are not on it: Access to this page has been denied.

Syncope was likely to invega and getting up abruptly in the middle of the night, as we have discussed in the Bipolar forum.

If you’re sweating more than usual, there can be a few reasons why. For example, low blood glucose (sugar), a thyroid problem, or an infection could be the cause.

But it may be worth checking your current medication list, too. In fact, some antidepressants and other prescription medications can cause sweating as a side effect. An over-the-counter (OTC) product could be to blame, as well. Let’s discuss 11 medications that might make you break a sweat, and how to manage it.

1. Antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRs), like escitalopram (Lexapro), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil), can cause excessive sweating. In fact, about 10% of people taking an SSRI report this side effect.

But sweating isn’t unique to SSRIs. Other antidepressants can also make you sweat more than usual. Examples include bupropion (Wellbutrin XR, Wellbutrin SR) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR). Tricyclic antidepressants aren’t used as often, but they can cause sweating, too.

If excessive sweating starts interfering with your quality of life, talk to your healthcare provider. They may recommend adjusting your dosage or trying a different medication. For example, trazodone is an antidepressant that may be less likely to cause sweating.

Keep in mind: Sweating from antidepressants can be a sign of serotonin syndrome. While rare, this is a serious condition caused by high serotonin levels in the brain. If your sweating is accompanied by other symptoms, like shaky hands or a fast heartbeat, contact your healthcare provider right away. But if any symptoms feel severe or life-threatening, go to your nearest emergency room.

There’s a higher risk of serotonin syndrome if you’re taking multiple medications that affect serotonin levels. Your pharmacist can help you review your medication list to identify potential interactions.

2. Prednisone
Corticosteroids like prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol) are known to cause many side effects. One of these includes feeling warm and sweating more than usual.

For many people, prednisone is only taken for a short period of time. Increased sweating should go away after you complete your treatment course. But in the meantime, wearing an antiperspirant and loose, breathable clothing may help if it becomes bothersome.

But some people need to take prednisone or other corticosteroids for a longer period of time. So, if sweating becomes an issue, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to manage this side effect.

3. Triptans
Triptans are a class of medications used to treat migraines. Examples include sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), and frovatriptan (Frova).

Triptans are only taken for a short period of time for migraine pain. But you may experience warmth, flushing, and even sweating after taking one. This should go away after the medication is out of your system, which can vary across triptans.

Similar to certain antidepressants, triptans also carry a risk of serotonin syndrome. If you’re sweating more than usual, are taking two or more medications that affect serotonin, and notice a fast beat or shaky hands, let your healthcare provider know right away.

4. NSAID pain relievers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and aspirin, can sometimes cause sweating as a side effect. This might seem surprising since they’re sometimes taken to break a fever.

Some people only take NSAIDs as needed for pain or fever. Sweating may not be a major issue in this situation. But other people take them regularly for longer periods of time, like for osteoarthritis (OA).

If excessive sweating from regular NSAID use is affecting your daily life, talk to your healthcare provider. A topical NSAID, like diclofenac gel (Voltaren gel), may be an option if you have a condition like OA. Topical products tend to be absorbed less than oral pills, so you may not sweat as much.

5. Opioids
Opioids, such as morphine (MS Contin) and oxycodone (OxyContin), are a well-known cause of excessive sweating. This is because opioids stimulate a type of immune cell known as mast cells. Mast cells release histamine, which can result in skin warmth and sweating.

Tramadol (Qdolo, ConZip) is another opioid pain reliever that can cause sweating. Like some antidepressants, tramadol can increase serotonin in the brain. Because of this, there’s a risk of serotonin syndrome. Symptoms include sweating, shaky hands, and a fast heartbeat.

Keep in mind: Opioids carry a risk of dependence. And sweating can be a withdrawal symptom after you stop taking them. Don’t stop taking an opioid abruptly on your own, especially if you’ve been taking an opioid medication for a long period of time. Your healthcare provider can help you discontinue it slowly and safely to avoid or minimize withdrawal symptoms.

6. Diabetes medications
If you’re experiencing sweating while taking diabetes medications, this could be a sign that your blood glucose is too low (called hypoglycemia). Other symptoms often include shakiness, fast heartbeat, and dizziness.

Hypoglycemia is the most common side effect of insulin. It’s also common with medications like glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase) and glipizide (Glucotrol XL). Hypoglycemia can happen if they’re taken alone or in combination with other diabetes medications.

Check your blood glucose levels if you notice abnormal sweating or more sweating than usual. If it’s too low, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for how to bring it up safely. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your medications if this is happening regularly.

7. Certain asthma inhalers
Manyasthma inhalers contain beta-agonist drugs that open up the airways. Some people experience increased sweating after taking these medications. They include albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, ProAir) and levalbuterol (Xopenex). Some combination inhalers also contain beta-agonists, including fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair) and ipratropium/albuterol (Combivent).

Certain inhalers, like albuterol and levalbuterol, are only used as needed. So, sweating may be less of a concern. But if you’re needing to use these inhalers frequently, you may need to add a daily inhaler to keep your symptoms under control.

Combination inhalers, on the other hand, are used daily. It’s not common, but they’re more likely to cause sweating than as-needed inhalers. In this case, let your healthcare provider know if sweating becomes a problem.

8. Proton pump inhibitors
While uncommon, sweating has been reported with medications like omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). Both medications belong to the same class: proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

OTC versions of these PPIs should only be taken for up to 14 days at a time. Prescription versions are typically taken for up to 4 to 8 weeks. Let your healthcare provider know if sweating becomes an issue. If needed, they may consider a different acid blocker to see if that helps.

9. Viagra
Viagra (sildenafil) can commonly cause flushing. And some people also report sweating. This is because it widens blood vessels close to the surface of your skin.

Fortunately, these side effects should be temporary. They should go away when your Viagra dose leaves your body. But if they become a problem, your healthcare provider may lower your Viagra dosage.

10. Breast cancer medications
Certain hormone therapy medications for breast cancer, like tamoxifen (Soltamox), can cause night sweats. Other examples include anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin), and letrozole (Femara).

These medications either block or lower estrogen in your body, which can result in symptoms similar to menopause. Commonly, this can include hot flashes or night sweats.

If these symptoms are interfering with your quality of life, talk to your cancer specialist. They may recommend certain medications or other tips to help. Avoid trying an OTC menopause product without speaking to them first, since it may interfere with your treatment.

11. Leuprolide
Leuprolide (Lupron Depot, Eligard, Camcevi) is an injectable medication used to treat prostate cancer. It lowers testosterone in the body, which can commonly result in hot flashes and sweating.

You may experience these side effects when starting treatment. And for some people, they may improve over time. Talk to your cancer specialist if they get worse or become bothersome at any point. They can discuss potential treatment options with you.

How can you stop sweating caused by antidepressants or other other medications?
Some medications listed above are only taken for short periods of time. In this case, sweating usually lasts as long as you’re taking it. Wearing loose clothing and using an antiperspirant may help provide some relief during treatment.

Other medications are taken for a longer period of time. In this case, your healthcare provider may suggest a few options if antiperspirants or lifestyle changes aren’t helping. These may include reducing your dosage, changing your medication, or having you stop it altogether. Don’t attempt to do this on your own without their guidance. In some cases, they may add a medication to help keep your sweating under control.