Night Sweats Could Be a Symptom of Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is the term for when someone develops symptoms after not drinking for a period of time. Because of the effect of AWS on the body, many people will develop night sweats when they stop drinking. While it might not be possible to get rid of this symptom and others, there are ways that you can mitigate them.
How Alcohol Withdrawal Works
When you consume alcohol on a regular basis for weeks, months, or years, your body gets used to having alcohol present. Your body actually changes the way it works to accommodate the alcohol you drink. If you suddenly stop drinking, you can end up going into mild to serious alcohol withdrawal. Thankfully, you’re unlikely to develop withdrawal symptoms if you only drink from time to time.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down the functioning of your nervous system and brain. Your body increases its baseline level of activity to counteract this depressant effect. If you suddenly stop drinking, this baseline remains artificially high. As a result, you will go through withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly quit.
The Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Minor withdrawal symptoms can begin just six hours after your last drink. For most people, these symptoms will peak around the third day. Then, the worst symptoms will generally dissipate by the fifth day. Mental and emotional side effects can continue for months after you stop drinking.
You may experience some of the following withdrawal symptoms after you stop drinking alcohol.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hand tremors
- Sweating and night sweats
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Seizures
- Restlessness
- Insomnia and other sleep problems
While these symptoms can start just a few hours after you stop drinking, the more severe ones usually begin four or five days later. In extreme cases, you may develop delirium tremens. This condition involves seizures and hallucinations. This is a life-threatening symptom that requires immediate medical assistance.
The Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal
Depending on a range of factors, alcohol withdrawal can cause moderate to severe symptoms. For example, you are more likely to experience delirium tremens if you have low potassium levels, abnormal liver function, low sodium levels, dehydration, low platelet counts, or brain lesions when you go through withdrawal. If you have experienced delirium tremens when you tried quitting in the past, you are more likely to experience these symptoms again.
6 Hours Later: Night Sweats May Begin
After six hours of sobriety, you can start developing minor withdrawal symptoms. For people who have serious alcohol use disorders, seizures can happen as early as six hours after their last drink. During this time, you may also suffer from restlessness, nausea, and clammy skin. Night sweats typically begin between 6 and 72 hours after your last drink.
12 to 24 hours Later
About 12 to 24 hours after your last drink, you may start to see or hear things that aren’t actually there. Other than hallucinations, you may experience mood swings, depression, nightmares, insomnia, headaches, and continued night sweats.
1 to 3 Days Later
Between 24 and 72 hours later, you may develop headaches, an upset stomach, or tremors. If you are only experiencing minor withdrawal symptoms, your symptoms will generally peak after about 18 to 24 hours. For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will peak about 72 hours after their last drink. Unfortunately, some withdrawal symptoms can last for up to a month in severe cases.
The First Few Weeks
Even when your major symptoms have stopped, you may still go through post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) for several weeks. During this time, you may suffer from irritability, sleep issues, anxiety, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. You are also likely to experience cravings during this time. This period is when relapses are the most likely, so it is important to maintain your vigilance after you complete your initial detox.
The Connection Between Alcohol Withdrawal and Night Sweats
If you are going through withdrawal symptoms, night sweats may be a side effect. After you quit drinking, you may also experience a higher body temperature and flushing. These symptoms happen because of the way alcohol affects the central nervous system.
Normally, your central nervous system is responsible for regulating your body temperature, heart function, blood pressure, and other physical processes. When you drink alcohol, the alcohol changes the way your central nervous system functions. After you quit drinking, your central nervous system is still trying to operate like alcohol is present. Withdrawal symptoms, like night sweating, are caused by this adjustment process.
Excessive sweating may also occur while you are still drinking. For example, alcohol can increase your heart rate and stimulate your circulatory system. This causes your blood vessels to enlarge. As a result, your skin can become flushed and warm, and your body may start sweating profusely in an attempt to cool off.
The Health Risks Linked to Night Sweats and Alcohol Withdrawal
It is important to take night sweats seriously. This heightened level of sweating can quickly leave you dehydrated. Excessive sweating can also lead to an electrolyte imbalance.
While a little sweating won’t harm you, sweating a lot can be an issue. Dehydration can cause a range of symptoms, like kidney failure, dizziness, low blood volume, seizures, coma, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue. Some of these side effects can be fatal, so it’s important to seek help right away if you think you might be dehydrated.
Detoxing From Alcohol Use Disorder at Home
While it is possible to go through detox at home, you should never go through this process alone. Detoxing at home should be done under the supervision of your doctor. Depending on your past alcohol use history, a medical professional can let you know if going through alcohol withdrawal at home is a safe option. If you choose this option over a detox in a treatment facility, you will have to set up a check-in schedule with medical professionals. You should also have a trusted friend stay with you who can call for assistance in case of health complications. In addition, you should speak to an alcohol use disorder specialist about therapy and support after your detox to sustain your decision to embrace a sober lifestyle.
If you are suffering from night sweats during alcohol withdrawal at home, there are a few changes you can make. These changes won’t remove the underlying cause of your symptoms, but they can help you alleviate your night sweats until the withdrawal process is finished. Depending on your situation, your doctor may make several recommendations to deal with night sweats and other symptoms you may experience.
When you experience night sweats during detox, you should drink water to replace any lost fluids. Then, you should replace the sheets on your bed so that you can feel more comfortable. You may also want to reduce the temperature in your room to a more comfortable level.
If your night sweats are bad enough during detox, you may require more than simple lifestyle changes. Your doctor may recommend a specific medical treatment based on your symptoms. For example, your doctor may check you for signs of dehydration. You may be given fluids intravenously. You may also be given electrolytes to replace any electrolytes you have lost.
Night sweats might be extremely uncomfortable, but they won’t last forever. As long as night sweats are caused by alcohol withdrawal, they will most likely go away once you finish the withdrawal process.
Detox at a Treament Center
Your doctor may recommend a detox at a treatment center because of the health risks inherent to going through alcohol withdrawal at home. This recommendation may be influenced by your history of alcohol use and any other health issues you have. For instance, if you have previously experienced delirium tremens or other significant withdrawal symptoms when you stopped drinking, your doctor may recommend a professional detox. In addition, many people choose to go to a treatment center because the symptoms of withdrawal are extremely uncomfortable, or they feel that they need a structured environment to refrain from consuming alcohol during the detox process.
At a professional detox, your health will be monitored around the clock. You may also be administered medications to reduce your alcohol withdrawal symptoms and help you sleep. The goal of the staff at a treatment center is to make you as comfortable as possible.
The other advantage of a professional detox is that when you feel a little better, alcohol use disorder specialists are available to talk to you about your next steps. They will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will include inpatient or outpatient care.
Inpatient Programs
Inpatient treatment programs may be appropriate for clients who have co-occurring disorders, have a long history of drinking heavily, or have tried treatment before. Because you live at the treatment center, you will get 24/7 care and supervision.
Outpatient Programs
At an outpatient treatment program, you don’t sleep and live at the treatment facility. Instead, you sleep at home and go to the treatment center several days a week and can continue going to work or school. This type of treatment may work for clients who have not been drinking for long, have a strong support network outside of the facility, and feel they do not need constant supervision to refrain from alcohol. Most treatment centers offer the option to switch to a residential program if you feel that you are in danger of relapse.
Therapy
No matter where you go for treatment, you can get help through cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and other therapy options. Group therapy and support groups can give you the advice and encouragement you need to recover. In addition, there are aftercare programs you can take advantage of to remain sober after your treatment is complete.
The Alcohol Awareness Hotline
At Alcohol Awareness, our mission is to increase awareness about alcoholism and provide help to people who have chosen to quit drinking. We know how hard it can be to find reliable support when you make this life-changing decision because we are recovering alcoholics ourselves. Contact us at (855) 955-0771 so that we can help you find alcohol use disorder resources in your area.