Anyone else experiencing this? It is embarrassing having sweat pour off your face..hair gets wet.
Gabapentin - I am experiencing horrible sweating..even in cool conditions..pouring off my face?
Question posted by Imlmcooper on 11 July 2013
Last updated on 24 July 2023 by TeriD54
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27 Answers
I was just searching this! I started gabapentin again about a month ago (it’s been yrs since I’ve taken it) and this time I’m sooo hot all the time and sweating like a pig constantly. It’s driving me nuts and making me so uncomfortable. It didn’t do this when I used to take it, but it’s literally the only thing that’s changed.
Since starting Gabapentin I have more hot flashes than I did during the worst of my menopause years. I have to continue on it, but yes sweating is definitely an issue. Also dry mouth.
I hope you're keeping in touch with your doctors because there are remedies that can help with this.
Yes!! I experience the same thing. Sitting in church or at a meeting and my head starts dripping. My scalp and neckline get wet and sweat runs down my face. It's very embarrassing!!
Yes. And your right. It doesn't matter how cool it gets or that I'm not doing anything except getting something to drink, I sweat profusely.
Talk to your doctors! There are treatments that can help... even some OTC's may be beneficial.
I just starting taking Gabapentin. I took one at noon today and the sweat was rolling off my face. 300 mg
So I have a similar issue! I have developed horrible swelling in my legs and excessive sweating. I was told at first it was the Celebrex that caused the sweating. I’ve been off of it for months and still sweating. So I started developing this weird reaction to water. My dermatologist called it Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms which had to do with sweat. We are going to try to switch from gabapentin 3 600mg tablets a day to lyrica. My lower leg edema is really bad. We’ve blood tested everything it just makes no sense.
I have the same problem from a similar medication, and have for years. I deal with extreme reaction to temperatures, mostly heat, but sometimes I get the cold sweats instead. Only one thing helped the sweating itself: I got wipes that are "for underarms" from Amazon that are advertised to keep you from sweating for up to a week. I pressed those wipes onto my face, neck, chest, underarms, and a couple other spots every 4 or 5 days and it honestly changed my life.
If you are going to try them, be aware- you must wash your skin first and you cannot sweat while it sets. So gather whatever you will need for the next couple hours, set up a fan or two, and go take a shower. The chemicals burn on open skin and were sometimes uncomfortable anywhere my skin had turned warm.
All these answers are from 2013!! Time to update the site.
Hello everyone!
I have just started taking Gabapentin for pinched nerve pain and spinal stenosis. I hate the side effects. I will be sitting at a friend's house and 15 minutes in I will start sweating so bad that it drips off of my arms and face, my face gets flushed too! And the air conditioning will be blasting... so embarrassing!!
Also, I can't walk straight and look like I'm drunk
I too hate the side effects. I take Gabapentin for nerve ending pain. I notice the more I take, the more fatigue I have. Also, if I have to increase my dosage, I have no memory! Really. Can’t remember why I go into a room. I didn’t connect Gabapentin to my memory loss until my sister was put on it for diabetic nerve pain. The second day she took it, she was in her car, going to the Doctor and couldn’t remember where she was going or why. That’s scary. As for my sweating, I think it was the combination of gabapentin and Ultram which I was on for a few months. The sweating was horrible. Until I stopped the Ultram and it got much better. It’s totally embarrassing to sit in and air conditioned church with wet hair and sweat dripping off your nose. I can’t take Lyrica. Hemp oil and cbd raises my blood pressure. ( What a big disappointment). Don’t know an answer.
My answer in response to July 2019 question.
I have been sweating about 12 years. I've never been able to figure out the cause. Thought it was stress or medications. I can sweat from head to toe - always starts around the head and stops when I look like I've been in a pool. Sometimes I think its stress (I've had a lot) but sometimes when I do anything like lifting something heavy. It can start when I've lost my keys for a few minutes - that sounds like stress - but can also start when watching a movie (maybe stress is still in my head - divorce etc). I've checked medications - hydrocodone for back pain, gabapentin 800 x 4 daily. I've tried the different tablets which supposidly dry you up but dry mouth - so dry can't speak. Wish I had the magic answer. Would love for anyone who has found help. Good luck to you.
I also have excessive sweating of my head and face for no apparent reason. Terrible to end up with wet, stringy hair from it. I'm also having high blood pressure, has always been low before! It does help my fibromyalgia pain but not sure if it's worth it at this point.
Yes! I never considered gabapentin as the possible culprit until I saw your question. Have you learned more?
Yes but I finally figued out it wasn’t the gabapentin, it was the tramadol or Ultram. I got off the Ultram and the horrible sweating stopped. I was taking both the Gabapentin and the Ultram for pain. Now I just take Gabapentin in a reduced dosage and if I need to, I take 2 tylenol with it at night.
Hello!!!
I'm on gabapentin as well, been on t for a couple of years and thought it was my anxiety that was making me drop sweat, IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS!!! I go to beauty school. And I am constantly sweating and it's so embarrassing cuz, well girls are the most judgemental people out there. I absolutely hate it. I asked my instructor today if I could bring a fan, she said yes. The only fan I had was a freakin big blue box fan!!! Now, the girls are super super nice, and they were cool with me bringing a fan. We all laughed about it, but I hate it. I can barely even wear makeup!!! After seeing this though. I am DEFINITELY going to wean myself down. I take 3 to 4 600 mg a day...
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Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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