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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by IsoM on February 18, 2003, at 15:35:47
I'm throwing this open to everyone who has problems with sweating & SSRIs. Maybe among us, someone will know the answer.
Sweating is common with SSRIs but do the rest of you also feel uncomfortably hot or do you just sweat easily at temperatures you used to feel comfortable at? Do you sweat but still feel comfortably warm, not overly hot?
A lot of my work includes working outside in summer, sometimes under direct sun. It can be physically hard work too, further raising my body temperature. I find despite drinking lots & making sure I'm getting enough electrolytes in my foods to make up for any salt loss, I think I fit the definition of heat exhaustion (though not heat stroke).
I live in the Pacific Northwest & while our summers can get very warm & fairly humid, they're nothing like Texas heat or New York temps & humidity. Most people are quite comfortable in our summers but I dread the heat though I really love the long daylit hours.
Does anyone know if our core body temperature rise with SSRIs & this sweating or what? Does it rise dangerously high at all? I'm literally wiped out after working in the heat. Weak & exhausted & it takes a day or so to feel better again. When I have the choice at home, I only work in the cooler hours, out of the sun. They don't understand at work how I can feel so sick in this temperature while most others are enjoying it.
Posted by linkadge on February 18, 2003, at 17:20:19
In reply to SSRIs, Sweating and Possible Heat Exhaustion?, posted by IsoM on February 18, 2003, at 15:35:47
SSRI's made me sweat but never changed my body temperature.
Actually I always felt cold after taking them. The sweating went away after about a month. How long have you been taking it ??Linkadge
Posted by IsoM on February 19, 2003, at 1:17:16
In reply to Re: SSRIs, Sweating and Possible Heat Exhaustion?, posted by linkadge on February 18, 2003, at 17:20:19
Luvox - took it for close to four years.
Paxil - about the same length of time.
Celexa - been taking it for close to three years.No, I'm definitely warmer, even to the touch. If I'm inactive (reading) for extended periods of time, or very tired, then I can get cold like any one else. All these posts about sweating made me wonder if any one else felt too warm most times, or if they simply sweated easier. Oh well, at one time, I used to get cold too easily. I'm not sure which is better.
Posted by Dysfunk on February 19, 2003, at 10:30:32
In reply to SSRIs, Sweating and Possible Heat Exhaustion?, posted by IsoM on February 18, 2003, at 15:35:47
I don't know for sure about the core temp rising, but I can tell you my own experience. I was on Effexor during the terrible heat wave in NYC this summer. Mostly I sweat from my brow. Now it is cold out and and pits are soaked on lexapro. Even if I am shivering, there still is that wetness. Recently I thought I was sick and took my temperature. I didn't notice a rise even though I was sweating profusely. You are doing everything right- keep taking sports drinks, maybe salt pills (?).
Posted by Sunnely on February 19, 2003, at 19:44:28
In reply to SSRIs, Sweating and Possible Heat Exhaustion?, posted by IsoM on February 18, 2003, at 15:35:47
Just my own 2 cents.
I believe it is possible that heat-related adverse events (e.g., heat exhaustion, heatstroke) can occur with the use of SSRIs.
Serotonin is a neuromodulator of dopamine. Increased serotonin effect inhibits dopamine action. Dopamine plays a vital role in body-temperature regulation via the hypothalamus. Decreased dopamine activity (e.g., antipsychotic drug effect) increases risk of body temperature dysregulation. This may not be a problem if the individual avoids extreme temperatures. If exposed, the body may assume the environmental temperature, that is, increased risk of hyperthermia when the weather is hot and humid; increased risk of hypothermia during cold winter weather.
Paxil, aside from being the most potent SSRI, also posseses anticholinergic properties, especially in high doses. Blockade of the cholinergic receptors can lead to decreased ability to sweat and potential for heat-related adverse events during hot and humid weather. Therefore, Paxil's dual properties of serotonin and anticholinergic effects further increase risk of hyperthermia during hot and humid weather.
Of course, SSRIs (and other serotonin antidepressants such as Effexor) can also cause sweating. This may lead to dehydration and potential for heat exhaustion especially under hot & humid weather.
It is important to know your area's HEAT INDEX if you are on certain psychotropic meds such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antiparkinsonian drugs. People on psychotropic meds (also high blood pressure meds, diabetic meds, thyroid meds) are at higher risk for developing heat-related adverse events, including the potentially deadly heatstroke.
Posted by delna on February 19, 2003, at 21:45:52
In reply to Re: SSRIs, Sweating and Possible Heat Exhaustion?, posted by Sunnely on February 19, 2003, at 19:44:28
my personal experience: i was on effexor 300mg and suddenly after having great results started suffering severe exhaustion. my doc tried me on everything including ritalin to deal with the lethagy. i used to sweat alot and it is very hot where i live.
when i took my body temperature, by chance, i found that it was raised to b/t 99-101 degrees celcius for 3 months. especially when i had been out in the heat. finally i had to comeoff the effexor. my physician suspected TB due to low grade fever and exhaustion. Even malaria, hep B etc. no one thought of effexor. but i read in a book that all SSRI's mess with your bodys temperature control mechanism.
delna
Posted by Ritch on February 19, 2003, at 23:34:44
In reply to SSRIs, Sweating and Possible Heat Exhaustion?, posted by IsoM on February 18, 2003, at 15:35:47
> I'm throwing this open to everyone who has problems with sweating & SSRIs. Maybe among us, someone will know the answer.
>
> Sweating is common with SSRIs but do the rest of you also feel uncomfortably hot or do you just sweat easily at temperatures you used to feel comfortable at? Do you sweat but still feel comfortably warm, not overly hot?
>
> A lot of my work includes working outside in summer, sometimes under direct sun. It can be physically hard work too, further raising my body temperature. I find despite drinking lots & making sure I'm getting enough electrolytes in my foods to make up for any salt loss, I think I fit the definition of heat exhaustion (though not heat stroke).
>
> I live in the Pacific Northwest & while our summers can get very warm & fairly humid, they're nothing like Texas heat or New York temps & humidity. Most people are quite comfortable in our summers but I dread the heat though I really love the long daylit hours.
>
> Does anyone know if our core body temperature rise with SSRIs & this sweating or what? Does it rise dangerously high at all? I'm literally wiped out after working in the heat. Weak & exhausted & it takes a day or so to feel better again. When I have the choice at home, I only work in the cooler hours, out of the sun. They don't understand at work how I can feel so sick in this temperature while most others are enjoying it.I've experienced some rather pronounced sweating from Effexor and Celexa. Effexor is the worst for me in that regard. The other SSRI's I didn't notice it near as much (never noticed it on Prozac at all). Effexor/Celexa at higher doses than I usually take (which isn't much) create this "heat furnace" effect right in the center of my chest/abdomen. It is kind of like taking a form of internal "Icy-Hot" or something for arthritis. I haven't done a temp reading when experiencing this, so I don't know what's actually happening to my actual central temperature. I have a feeling that the temp regulation center in my brain just gets fooled into thinking that my body is too hot (by the excess extracellular serotonin), and sets off the autonomic sweating reaction. I also get diarrhea from all SSRI's, too, so it is probably related as well.
This is the end of the thread.
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