Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Medications that can cause night sweats

Night sweats are a common side effect of many medications, such as:

  1. Depression medications (antidepressants)
  2. Drugs used to treat diabetes (if the level of sugar in your blood gets too low) (hypoglycemic agents)
  3. Hormone-blocking drugs used to treat certain cancers (hormone therapy)

Medical conditions that can cause night sweats

Diseases and conditions that can cause night sweats include:

  1. Anxiety disorders
  2. Autoimmune disorders
  3. Autonomic neuropathy (damage to your autonomic nerves)
  4. Brucellosis (a bacterial infection)
  5. Carcinoid syndrome (a certain type of cancerous tumor in your intestines)
  6. Drug addiction (substance use disorder) or withdrawal (alcohol, opioids, cocaine, cannabis, benzodiazepines)
  7. Endocarditis (an infection of the inner lining of the heart)
  8. HIV/AIDS
  9. Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
  10. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
  11. Leukemia
  12. Myelofibrosis (a bone marrow disorder)
  13. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  14. Osteomyelitis (a bone infection)
  15. Pheochromocytoma (a rare adrenal gland tumor)
  16. Pyogenic abscess (a pus-filled cavity caused by an infection)
  17. Sleep disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnea)
  18. Stroke
  19. Syringomyelia (a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord)
  20. Thyroid disease
  21. Tuberculosis

Night sweats and hot flashes are very common among women around the time of menopause. If you are around age 50 and are having irregular or absent menstrual periods, and have no other symptoms, this is likely the cause of your symptoms.

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Feb. 22, 2020

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  40. HIV/AIDS
  41. Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
  42. Hodgkin's vs. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: What's the difference?
  43. Hormone therapy
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