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Antidepressant-Induced Sweating

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Mark L Britton, PharmD CDE

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Reprints: Dr. Marcy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, 1110 N. Stonewall, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1223, fax 405/271-6430, todd-marcy{at}ouhsc.edu

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of excessive sweating probably caused by paroxetine, review the literature on antidepressant-induced sweating, and provide recommendations for the management of antidepressant-induced sweating.

CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old white female presented to a pharmacist-staffed pharmacotherapy clinic with episodes of excessive sweating. The episodes occurred primarily on her head and back of the neck. Other etiologies were ruled out and paroxetine was discontinued. Paroxetine had been initiated at least 7 months prior to the reporting of symptoms. Sweating symptoms gradually improved until resolution 5 weeks following discontinuation of paroxetine. The Naranjo probability scale indicated a causal relationship is probable.

DISCUSSION: Excessive sweating has been associated with antidepressants including tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, and venlafaxine. In some patients, these symptoms require therapeutic intervention such as dose reduction, antidepressant substitution, antidepressant discontinuation, or addition of an agent to control sweating. Agents that have been reported successful in controlling the sweating include benztropine and cyproheptadine.

CONCLUSIONS: We recommend a patient-specific approach for the management of antidepressant-induced sweating. First, consider dose reduction or a trial off antidepressant medication. In patients in whom this is inappropriate or ineffective, substitution of another antidepressant should be considered. If episodes of excessive sweating persist, consider treatment of sweating symptoms with benztropine or cyproheptadine in the absence of contraindications.

Key Words: antidepressants, drug-induced sweating, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants

Published Online, February 22, 2005. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1E564

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