Night Sweats And Alcohol: Causes And Treatment

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Medical News TodaySubscribeAre night sweats a sign of alcohol withdrawal?

Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on December 19, 2023

Causes
When to seek help
First symptoms of liver damage
Treatment
How long do they last?
Outlook

Drinking alcohol can cause some people to feel hot and may lead to night sweats. This occurs when alcohol affects the nervous system and how the body regulates and senses body temperature, blood pressure, and heart activity.

Night sweats may also result from alcohol withdrawal or alcohol intolerance. For people who already experience night sweats, including those going through menopause, consuming alcohol can worsen the sweating.

Home remedies can usually help manage alcohol-induced night sweats. Such home remedies may include staying hydrated and keeping the bedroom at a comfortable temperature.

It is best that people with alcohol dependency or intolerance speak with a doctor.

This article covers the possible causes of alcohol-related night sweats, including how to manage night sweats after drinking. We also look at the first signs of liver damage from alcohol and when to contact a doctor.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.

Causes

Close up of a person's shoulder with sweat drops — Tom Lao/EyeEmGetty Images

Alcohol can cause night sweats in several different ways. People may sweat more after drinking due to the reasons below.

Effects on the heart and blood vessels

Alcohol affects the body in many ways. One of the areas it affects is the heart. Alcohol can cause the heart rate to quicken or the heart rhythm to become irregular.

With alcohol intake, the blood vessels in the skin tend to widen when the heart rate speeds up. This process is called vasodilation.

Dilated blood vessels cause the skin to feel warm and flushed, which can trigger the release of sweat. This sweating could occur at any time of day. However, as many people drink alcohol in the evening, night sweats are common.

While many people feel warm after drinking alcohol, the core body temperature drops as blood moves from the core to the skin through dilated blood vessels. Sweat also removes heat from the body.

People may not realize that because of this, they are at risk of hypothermia in cold weather. During hot weather, they may begin to experience nausea and dizziness with dehydration in addition to sweating.

Alcohol withdrawal

People who drink heavily or regularly may have night sweats several hours or days after consuming alcohol. Night sweats are a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal, which often affects people with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a 2022 national survey suggested that 29.5 million people ages 12 years and older in the United States had past-year AUD. This figure includes 17.4 million males and 12.2 million females.

Night sweats due to alcohol withdrawal are usually temporary but may last several days. Other withdrawal symptoms include:

aches and pains
anxiety and depression
headache
loss of appetite
nausea
shaking
sleep problems, including insomnia and nightmares

Some more severe symptoms include:

vomiting
fever
hallucinations
seizures

A person should seek immediate medical attention if they experience these symptoms.

Alcohol intolerance

Alcohol intolerance is a genetic disorder where the body does not have enough of the enzyme activity necessary to break down alcohol.

One of the most common symptoms of alcohol intolerance is facial flushing, which can also cause excessive sweating.

Other symptoms include:

low blood pressure
nausea
headache
fatigue
rapid heart rate

Sometimes, a person may appear to have alcohol intolerance but react to another ingredient in a drink. Doctors may use allergy tests to determine whether alcohol is the issue.

Other factors

Other factors, such as menopause or medication use, commonly cause hot flashes and night sweats. Drinking alcohol may make these symptoms worse.

However, hot flashes and sweating can also affect other people, since alcohol can affect the endocrine system. This system makes and secretes hormones that can contribute to these symptoms.

When to seek help

Night sweats are often self-limiting and not a cause for medical intervention. However, if they persist, recur, or happen alongside other symptoms, help may be necessary.

People who experience night sweats regularly after drinking may have an issue with alcohol. There are many risks of long-term alcohol use, including cancer and liver damage. For this reason, experts recommend seeking help if a person experiences persistent night sweats related to alcohol consumption.

Those who believe they have AUD or alcohol intolerance may wish to speak with their doctor. Night sweating may also indicate certain types of cancers, which a person can discuss with their oncologist.

Others who regularly experience night sweats, especially if they have additional symptoms such as weakness, severe nausea, and weight loss, should also make an appointment with their doctor to determine the underlying cause.

First symptoms of liver damage from alcohol

A person may not experience any symptoms or signs of liver damage or scarring, which people call cirrhosis, until the liver is badly damaged.

Early symptoms of liver damage may include:

tiredness or weakness
reduced appetite
unexplained weight loss
nausea and vomiting
mild pain or discomfort in the abdomen

A person should speak with a doctor if these symptoms do not improve. Without diagnosis and treatment, it could lead to liver complications.

Alcohol-related liver disease also does not usually cause symptoms until the liver is severely damaged.

Severe symptoms can include:

jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
swelling in the ankles and abdomen
confusion or drowsiness
vomiting blood or blood in stool

Read more about the severe symptoms of liver disease.

Treatment

People experiencing mild night sweats from occasional alcohol consumption may find relief using home remedies.

These include:

drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and replacing fluids lost through sweat
showering to remove excess salt and sweat from the skin
keeping the bedroom at a comfortable temperature for sleep
removing excess blankets and wearing light pajamas

People with alcohol intolerance may need to avoid drinking alcohol to stop night sweats from occurring. Some individuals could improve their symptoms by limiting the amount of alcohol they consume.

People experiencing alcohol withdrawal relating to alcohol dependency should consider seeking urgent medical attention. A doctor can provide information and guidance on how to avoid alcohol.

How long do alcohol night sweats last?

There is no defined time that night sweats will last. Duration of symptoms can vary depending on the amount of alcohol a person has consumed, the rate at which their body processes alcohol, and their overall health.

Outlook

Sweating is a common effect of drinking alcohol. For many people, night sweats may have links to their alcohol consumption for a particular occasion. However, it should not have any lasting effects.

Endocrinology
Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Alcohol flush reaction. (2022). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-flush-reaction
Alcohol's effects on health. (n.d.). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health
Brunner S, et al. (2017). Alcohol consumption, sinus tachycardia, and cardiac arrhythmias at the Munich Octoberfest: Results from the Munich Beer Related Electrocardiogram Workup Study (MunichBREW). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5837309/
Hot flashes and night sweats (PDQ®) — Patient version. (2021). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/hot-flashes-pdq
Kudo R, et al. (2015). Effect of alcohol on vascular function. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26502571/
Overview: Alcohol-related liver disease. (2018). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease-arld/
Symptoms & causes of cirrhosis. (2018). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis/symptoms-causes
Tachycardia: Fast heart rate. (2016).http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/tachycardia--fast-heart-rate

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Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on December 19, 2023

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