Alcohol Withdrawal Night Sweats

Alcohol withdrawal can be a difficult and challenging experience due to the different side effects that come with it. A common symptom is experiencing night sweats. If you find yourself waking up in pools of sweat, you will realize that night sweats from alcohol withdrawal can be excessive and discomforting.

The good news is that with the right help and support, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be effectively managed. You can learn to keep your alcohol withdrawal night sweats under control. So, what exactly is alcohol withdrawal and why does it make you sweat?

Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is recognized as a series of symptoms that are experienced when someone who is physically dependent on alcohol reduces their intake or suddenly stops drinking.

If you have an alcohol use disorder, characterized by excessive alcohol consumption despite any negative consequences caused by alcohol use, it is likely that you have developed an alcohol dependency. This means that you are unable to function or feel ‘normal’ without drinking alcohol.

Due to changes in the body and brain caused by excessive alcohol consumption, when alcohol is no longer present, the body has to readjust. This causes alcohol withdrawal syndrome to take effect. Although withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to manage, with the help of a medical professional you can learn to control and manage any adverse symptoms, including night sweats.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

The first step in alcohol use disorder treatment is a detox, where you stop drinking so the body can rid itself of any remaining alcohol and toxins. If you have an alcohol dependence, common symptoms experienced in alcohol withdrawal include the following.

  • Mood disturbances
  • Irritability
  • Increased body temperature and blood pressure
  • Excessive sweating
  • Sleep disturbances

Severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are identified as delirium tremens and can be potentially life-threatening. These are experienced by people who have a history of chronic alcohol use and who have most likely already experienced additional symptoms of withdrawal. Symptoms of delirium tremens include tremors, nausea, seizures, and severe sweating.

Why Alcohol Withdrawal Causes Night Sweats

Why Alcohol Withdrawal Causes Night Sweats

There are a number of reasons why you could experience night sweats from alcohol consumption. They may happen after drinking alcohol, as a symptom of alcohol intolerance, or during the withdrawal process. This is largely due to the effect that alcohol has on the central nervous system (CNS).

Changes to the Central Nervous System

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system (CNS), which slows down the rate of physical functions, such as speech, walking, or coordination. With heavy drinking, the brain and body have to compensate for these different changes by over-generating signals and triggering psychological reactions, including high body temperature, increased blood pressure, and excessive sweating.

During alcohol withdrawal, these systems that have been affected by alcohol use slowly change back into their normal states, however, the body will continue to send out different signals in an attempt to counteract the alcohol’s effects. This can cause night sweats.

Alcohol Intolerance

Research has also suggested that night sweats can be induced by an alcohol intolerance. This is caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the body from effectively metabolizing alcohol. Other symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:

  • Increased heartbeat
  • Low blood pressure
  • Headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Night sweats

Cardiovascular System

Alcohol affects all organs and systems within the body, including the cardiovascular system. Alcohol has been found to increase heart rate, both while consuming alcohol and during the withdrawal process, and as the heart rate increases, the body temperature rises. This causes blood vessels within the skin to widen, making the skin flush and causing excessive sweating, therefore leading to night sweats.

How to Manage Alcohol-Induced Night Sweats

How to Manage Alcohol-Induced Night Sweats

If you experience frequent night sweats that are causing extreme discomfort, it may be time to seek medical advice from a professional. If you are going through alcohol withdrawal, they can help you to overcome your symptoms while ensuring support is provided for the rest of your recovery journey.

However, night sweats are very common and can be easily avoided. It is not always necessary to receive medical attention, and there are some steps that you can take to ease the physical discomfort caused by night sweats. This includes:

  • Keeping hydrated throughout the day
  • Washing and changing sheets regularly
  • Showering before and after sleeping
  • Wearing light fabrics to bed
  • Using a lighter blanket

Alcohol-Induced Night Sweats FAQs

Alcohol-Induced Night Sweats

Are Night Sweats Normal When You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

Night sweats and alcohol are closely interlinked and sweating is a common alcohol withdrawal symptom. If you are undergoing an alcohol detox and experiencing symptoms of night sweats, there is no need to worry.

How Long Do Night Sweats Last?

There is no set timeframe for how long night sweats will persist. The withdrawal process differs for everyone and is highly contingent on how the body reacts to alcohol. Night sweats can begin a few hours to a couple of days after your last drink, and can last for a number of days.

Are Night Sweats Dangerous?

Night sweats are common for those who are familiar with alcohol abuse and most of the time pose no threat of danger. Severe night sweats can cause discomfort or sleep disturbances and in rare cases, can cause the body to lose excess salt and liquid, increasing the risk of dehydration.

Alcohol Abuse and Addiction Treatment at NP Addiction

If you believe you or someone you know is experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it may be because of an alcohol use disorder. We know that substance withdrawal can be uncomfortable, but our specialist team has expertise in stabilizing and reducing dependency to make the first stage of recovery as smooth sailing as possible.

At NP Addiction, we know that substance use is often the result of a much bigger problem. We aim at healing the whole body and mind by helping to address the root causes of addiction. We provide around-the-clock support, guidance, and help and allow you a safe space to recover.

We understand that each recovery journey is unique, so we nurture all aspects of your physical and mental health to give you the best chance of finding happy and long-term sobriety. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you.

Begin the first day of the rest of your life

To find out more contact our team

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Samantha Kelly​

Director of National Business Development & Admissions Coordinator

I am a dedicated and passionate professional with extensive experience in business development Admissions and marketing. I have an incredible passion for showing others that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel if someone truly wants it.
Being in recovery myself I understand the struggles of addiction and alcoholism. I Started this Career path in 2009. With multiple years of experience, I bring a multi-faceted approach and am always seeking new ways to make a difference in the lives of those I work with.

Kim L. Buckner

Facilitator

As a Substance Abuse Motivational Speaker, Pastor, Peer Advocate, and Facilitator. Kim helps clients avoid relapse by understanding their triggers. Those people, places and things that can cause craving, as well as internal triggers like feelings, thoughts, or emotions. Kim also clients with identifying and building healthy relationships now that they’re clean and sober.

Kim’s background includes extensive experience as a motivational speaker and work in faith-based organizations helping youth and adults alike. He says he is motivated by giving back to the community, understanding, and not judging who she comes into contact with. Kim’s favorite quote is by Dr. Raymond Johnson: “The respect given to others rebounds to the giver to deny the scared in the Other is to deny it in oneself.”

Caty Burns

Clinician

Caty graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Counseling and History. Throughout her undergrad, she worked at the local CASA program, supporting volunteers advocating for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. Caty worked for seven years at a community mental health center (CMHC), partnering with children, adults, and families.

During those seven years, she taught life and coping skills as well as behavior management, provided case management and peer recovery services, and facilitated treatment teams that included the client, family, providers, and community members. I have also worked at an IOP providing group therapy services. She is currently working towards my Master of Social Work.

In her free time, Caty enjoys reading, especially historical fiction, spending time outdoors and having movie nights with her family. Disney World is her happy place, and she dreams of living among the elephants.

Madison Knowles

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Madison Knowles, I am a Mental health therapist at NPAC. I am a single-mother of two and I have a daughter who is globally delayed and has been diagnosed with autism. I have been in this industry since I was 16 years old, as I was fascinated with human behavior. I obtained my masters in applied behavioral analysis and started off working with people with disabilities. I then found my love for counseling when I worked with juveniles who had mental health and substance use issues. I then decided to go back for my mental health therapy license after that and working in a forensic treatment center. I went on to obtain my therapy credentials and since 2017, I have also been working on my PhD in forensic psychology in which I am currently working on my dissertation. I am inspired by change and how resilient people can be. My favorite inspirational quote is “Some will, Some won’t, So what, NEXT!!!” This quote has inspired me to try, try, and try again no matter how hard life gets, someone will give you a chance eventually. As a therapist at NPAC, I have been given the opportunity to work with diverse populations such as in substance use and mental health and I am known for my work with people on the schizophrenic spectrum as well as with other clients with other severe conditions including personality disorders.

Megan Carmona, LMHC

Lead Therapist

Our Lead Therapist, Megan, is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in working with adults who struggle with addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma. As Lead Therapist, she provides individual, family, and group therapy sessions to our clients.  Megan says “I am very passionate about therapy, especially about supporting my clients in exploring their strengths and identity. My goal is to provide individuals with the tools that can help them achieve independence in coping with their challenges and facilitating personal development.” In her free time, Megan enjoys watching docu-series and playing video games with her family. Her dream is to own acres of land so she can care for vulnerable animals, especially old dogs, cats, and horses. 

Kristen Bensley

Primary Clinician

As Primary Clinician, Kristen works with all aspects of our clinical team, from case management to primary therapy.  She has broad experience working in the mental health field. Prior to joining our team at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic, Kristen was part of the team awarded the Evernorth Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Designation by Cigna. She says her motivation is to help people rediscover who they are and become excited about the future and all the possibilities life offers. Kristen’s favorite quote is: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Ronn Daigle, MSW

Therapist, Utilization Review Clinician

Ronn Daigle services as a Therapist and Utilization Review Clinician at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic. He has been working in the field of substance use disorder treatment since 2011, with experience in all facility-based levels of care. Ronn earned, both an Associate of Arts in Psychology (2013) and Bachelor of Science in Human Services, with an Addiction Studies Concentration (2015) from Indian River State College. 

Ronn additionally earned a Master of Social Work degree in 2021 and is a current Registered Clinical Social Work Intern working toward licensure (LCSW). He describes himself as detail oriented, and solution focused.

Ronn says: “There is nothing more fulfilling than working with someone who doesn’t believe in himself or herself, and being there in the moment with them when the belief begins. We work with individuals who come to us at a point and time in their respective lives where they do not believe that change for others is possible; let alone for themselves…throughout the process they eventually come to a point where they realize that change is not only possible, but achievable.”

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI

Assistant Clinical Director

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI is the Assistant Clinical Director at Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic who specializes in the treatment of LGBTQ, addiction, as well as mental health disorders ranging from depression and anxiety, to Bipolar Disorder, trauma, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders. Erika utilizes a number of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness amongst others. Erika has been in practice for close to a decade and has earned her license in Mental Health Counseling, as well as being a Master’s Certified Addiction Professional. Erika has worked with many individuals including couples counseling and family therapy, and is fluent in Spanish.
 
Throughout my years of practice, one of the things I enjoy helping people find is inner peace. Whether you are in the deepest parts of depression, overrun by your anxiety, controlled by your addiction, or there are certain issues in your life that are negatively impacting your ability to function, and have a happy, healthy life, maybe now is the time to talk about it. I am a big believer in empowerment, working hard in therapy, and utilizing different techniques to help you regain that inner peace that may have been lost along the way. I want to work with you as a team because with two people, absolutely everything is possible. I want to be there as a therapist, to help build you up, support you, but also help you be honest with yourself and accountable. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, my biggest goal for you is going to be simple….for you to no longer need my services. Why? Because if you no longer need my services, it means that you have regained your peace, you have regained your strength, you have regained your confidence. It means that you now have the tools to address any issues that try to derail you, and best of all, you will have the insight to overcome and thrive. So let’s begin this journey together, and get you to the place you want to be, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and in your sobriety.

Aurelio Ayuso, MSW, LCSW, CAP, ICADC

Clinical Director

Aurelio has worked with those that suffer from the disease of addiction in adults and juveniles alike for over 10 years, beginning in the United States Navy where he proudly served for 20 years, working with those that were succumbed by addiction due to trauma and continuing his passion for helping those in need locally in Central Florida.

He specializes in both Addictions and Trauma, he has worked first as a therapist then as the clinical supervisor to both the Juvenile and Adult Drug Court programs in Brevard County. Aurelio has been instrumental in developing substance abuse treatment programs directly tailored to help those that also suffer from complex trauma due to their addiction. He has been recognized by several organizations for his forward thinking and ability to tailor treatment to individuals in the most restrictive environments.

Mr. Ayuso received his Graduate Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as Certified Addictions Professional in the State of Florida, and Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. Aurelio specializes in the treatment of Addiction, Trauma, and Abandonment using strength based strategies deeply rooted in Solution Focused, and Mindfulness Therapies. At the Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic he passionately develops holistic curriculums that foster the belief that through addressing the mind, body, and spirit together, the Disease of Addiction can be addressed successfully.

Robert Lehmann, MHSA

Chief Operating Officer

Bob Lehmann is the Chief Operating Officer at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic. He has a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration with a concentration in Mental Health Administration and over twenty-five years of experience as a senior executive at addiction and mental health treatment facilities.

One of the reasons for his commitment to excellence in addiction treatment was his experience related to family members who suffered from the disease of addiction. Bob has been actively involved in community organizations throughout his career. Recently he was one of the founders of the Florida Addiction Treatment Coalition (FATC) and is its present Vice President. FATC was designed to bring together treatment executives in Florida to advocate on behalf of treatment facilities and the clients they serve adhering to a foundation of integrity and service excellence.

Jose R. Toledo, M.D.

Medical Director

A well-rounded and accomplished individual, Jose R. Toledo, M.D., is the Medical Director of Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic.

Dr. Toledo is a neurologist with 25 years of experience and has been in private practice since 1991 on the Treasure Coast of Florida. He completed his neurology training at the State University of New York and his Fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh in Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology.

He also completed 24 months of acute inpatient psychiatry at the Western Missouri Mental Health Center, University of Missouri in Kansas City. In 2008, Dr. Toledo participated in and was certified in the continuing medical education activity entitled “Buprenorphine and Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence” from The Medical University of South Carolina during which began his quest to found and head Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic.

Dr. Toledo is a brain specialist with particular competence in addiction medicine and out-patient detoxification treatment and integrates the fields seamlessly. He is certified to prescribe Buprenorphine (Suboxone). He incorporates his background in neurology into the addiction field. Dr. Toledo is member/fellow of The American Medical Association, The Florida Medical Association and The American Society of Addiction Medicine