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What Causes Profuse Sweating While On Narcotics For Back Pain?
Question: I am taking a narcotic for chronic back pain. Have had surgery, shots in back and the narcotic helps a wee bit. My question is, why do I sweat profusely after taking any narcotic. What does sweating profusely doing to my body and what can I do to help remedy it. I have to take pain narcotic
Brief Answer:
there are several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
that you will know better than I.
First if you google "narcotics" and "sweating" you will get a lot of information on narcotic withdrawal. That would not be expected to be right at the time of taking the narcotics but when they've run out. Furthermore, the odds are probably > 90% that you won't have withdrawal! But since it is the number 1 association in the textbooks, I have to at least mention it.
Then...there are many other ways in which narcotics trigger sweating. They can in some people lower blood pressure. You would feel lightheaded, or heart racing, or about to faint. At least as common, the use of any medication can trigger a panic attack. Usually the person would also have panic. Narcotics are supposed to trigger histamine release (professionally, I have only very rarely had anyone report anything that could even be close to this; BUT.. if someone has any odd reaction to narcotics the anti-histamine VISTARIL is usually used and usually works). Oh, I seem to have answered the question.
In summary,
first, make sure there is not a serious reaction lowering blood pressure (but, frankly, you'd mostly know that)
then, this is a common, odd reaction to narcotics that isn't well known why it occurs but vistaril is pretty usually helpful.
there are several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
that you will know better than I.
First if you google "narcotics" and "sweating" you will get a lot of information on narcotic withdrawal. That would not be expected to be right at the time of taking the narcotics but when they've run out. Furthermore, the odds are probably > 90% that you won't have withdrawal! But since it is the number 1 association in the textbooks, I have to at least mention it.
Then...there are many other ways in which narcotics trigger sweating. They can in some people lower blood pressure. You would feel lightheaded, or heart racing, or about to faint. At least as common, the use of any medication can trigger a panic attack. Usually the person would also have panic. Narcotics are supposed to trigger histamine release (professionally, I have only very rarely had anyone report anything that could even be close to this; BUT.. if someone has any odd reaction to narcotics the anti-histamine VISTARIL is usually used and usually works). Oh, I seem to have answered the question.
In summary,
first, make sure there is not a serious reaction lowering blood pressure (but, frankly, you'd mostly know that)
then, this is a common, odd reaction to narcotics that isn't well known why it occurs but vistaril is pretty usually helpful.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is the sweating doing any damage ti my body, I never feel lightheaded or faint and should I drink more water daily?
Brief Answer:
water level is easily assessed.
Detailed Answer:
A less than 5% reduction in body weight just isn't going to do very much except change some lab numbers. Wiring for regulation of water content works quite well; drink if you are thirsty, don't if you aren't and kidneys regulate the amount of water in either case. It takes overdrinking GALLONS A DAY to mess up blood chemistry. Doesn't hurt to drink 1 gallon a day. Don't go for an ultra low salt diet in this context. A normal diet will allow the kidneys to regulate salts.
Have to at least mention that sweating is the end result of all triggers of it. Warm conditions will make any other trigger more likely to cause more sweating (this matters because you can make it a bit better or worse; doesn't have health effects). AND... other important health issues such as a low grade infection or HIV, or sinuses, or thyroid, or diabetes, or mild bronchitis or chronic hepatitis, (or TB or malaria... we have many XXXXXXX patients on the site) will make someone MUCH more prone to sweats. Oh.. right... pain and anxiety also interact to increase sweating... should have mentioned those earlier.
water level is easily assessed.
Detailed Answer:
A less than 5% reduction in body weight just isn't going to do very much except change some lab numbers. Wiring for regulation of water content works quite well; drink if you are thirsty, don't if you aren't and kidneys regulate the amount of water in either case. It takes overdrinking GALLONS A DAY to mess up blood chemistry. Doesn't hurt to drink 1 gallon a day. Don't go for an ultra low salt diet in this context. A normal diet will allow the kidneys to regulate salts.
Have to at least mention that sweating is the end result of all triggers of it. Warm conditions will make any other trigger more likely to cause more sweating (this matters because you can make it a bit better or worse; doesn't have health effects). AND... other important health issues such as a low grade infection or HIV, or sinuses, or thyroid, or diabetes, or mild bronchitis or chronic hepatitis, (or TB or malaria... we have many XXXXXXX patients on the site) will make someone MUCH more prone to sweats. Oh.. right... pain and anxiety also interact to increase sweating... should have mentioned those earlier.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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