Night sweats have many causes: anxiety and panic can trigger them, but so can menopause, low testosterone, medications (including SSRIs), obstructive sleep apnea, infections like TB or HIV, and endocrine problems. Keep your bedroom cool, avoid alcohol and spicy foods before bed, review medications, and see a clinician for persistent or worrying symptoms.

How to tell if you had anxiety night sweats

Waking up with damp sheets or soaked nightclothes is the clearest sign of night sweats. You might feel hot, clammy, or suddenly drenched enough to change bedding. Anxiety and panic can activate the sympathetic nervous system and trigger sweating, so stress or nighttime panic attacks can cause night sweats for some people.

Common causes of night sweats

  • Menopause: Hot flashes and night sweats are among the most common menopausal symptoms in women.
  • Low testosterone (so-called "andropause" or late-onset hypogonadism): Men with falling testosterone levels can also report hot flashes and night sweats.
  • Medications and substances: Antidepressants (including SSRIs such as sertraline), some diabetes and cardiac drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and spicy foods may trigger nighttime sweating.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to episodes of night sweats, especially when accompanied by loud snoring and daytime sleepiness.
  • Infections and systemic illness: Tuberculosis, HIV, and some cancers (for example, lymphoma) classically cause drenching night sweats, often with fever, weight loss, or other systemic symptoms.
  • Endocrine and metabolic causes: Hyperthyroidism and some blood sugar issues can cause increased sweating. Some older sources list diabetes insipidus as a possible cause, but evidence is limited and uncommon .

When to seek medical care

See a clinician if your night sweats are:

  • New, severe, or happen regularly night after night
  • Accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, or persistent fatigue
  • Associated with loud snoring and daytime sleepiness (ask about a sleep study for possible OSA)
  • A possible side effect of a new medication
Your provider will review your history, current medications, and symptoms and may order blood tests, imaging, or a sleep study depending on the suspected cause.

Practical steps to reduce night sweats

  • Keep the bedroom cool and well-ventilated; use a fan or air conditioning.
  • Choose breathable, moisture-wicking bedding and sleepwear (cotton or technical fabrics).
  • Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, and spicy foods within a few hours of bedtime.
  • Take a cool shower before bed or use a damp washcloth if you wake sweating.
  • Review medications with your clinician - some can be changed or timed differently.
If lifestyle adjustments don't help or you have red-flag symptoms, get medical evaluation. Treating the underlying cause (for example, menopausal therapy, adjusting medications, or treating sleep apnea or infection) is the most effective way to stop persistent night sweats.
  1. Verify evidence linking diabetes insipidus to night sweats and update the statement accordingly.

FAQs about Anxiety Night Sweats

Can anxiety alone cause night sweats?
Yes. Anxiety and panic attacks activate the sympathetic nervous system and can produce sweating during the night, especially if you experience nighttime panic or vivid stress dreams.
When are night sweats a medical emergency?
Night sweats themselves are rarely an emergency, but seek prompt care if they come with high fever, unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes - these could indicate infection or cancer.
Will changing my meds stop night sweats?
Sometimes. If a medication is the likely trigger (for example, some antidepressants), your clinician may adjust the dose, change timing, or switch drugs, which can reduce sweating.
Can sleep apnea cause night sweats?
Yes. Obstructive sleep apnea can produce night sweats. Loud snoring, witnessed apneas, and daytime sleepiness suggest a sleep study to evaluate for OSA.
What immediate steps help when you wake up sweating?
Get up and change into dry clothes, cool off with a shower or sponge bath, change bedding if needed, hydrate with a nonalcoholic drink, and lower the bedroom temperature.

News about Anxiety Night Sweats

What Causes Night Sweats? - Sleep Foundation [Visit Site | Read More]

7 Common Causes of Night Sweats (and When to Worry) - Hartford HealthCare [Visit Site | Read More]

This New Wearable Tracks Perimenopause Symptoms Like Anxiety and Hot Flashes — Here’s How - Currently.com [Visit Site | Read More]

Perimenopause and Anxiety - Johns Hopkins Medicine [Visit Site | Read More]

Here's what night sweats could tell you about your body - BBC Science Focus Magazine [Visit Site | Read More]

Do Antidepressants and Anti-Anxiety Drugs Cause Sweating and Insomnia? - The People's Pharmacy [Visit Site | Read More]

Why your period is wrecking your sleep – and how to fix it - Women's Health [Visit Site | Read More]

Experts Reveal 7 Sneaky Triggers for Hot Flashes You Need to Know - Prevention [Visit Site | Read More]