Side Effects Of Antidepressants

Sweating

Excessive sweating may occur with any type of antidepressant, and doctors estimate that this symptom is experienced by four to twenty-two percent of patients who use these medicines. Excessive sweating is particularly likely to develop in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In fact, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor called bupropion causes sweating in twenty percent of users, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like paroxetine and sertraline are associated with this side effect too. These medications increase serotonin in the brain. Serotonin affects the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls the body's core temperature, and the serotonin increase caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is believed to be the trigger for excessive sweating. Patients with this side effect may find the soles of their feet or the palms of their hands are sweaty regularly, and body odor could become an issue. If sweating is disruptive or affects their quality of life, patients might want to ask their physician about reducing their dose or switching to a different antidepressant. If the patient wishes to remain on their current antidepressant at the same dose, taking a medication called benztropine with the antidepressant may help reduce or eliminate excessive sweating.