From Shivers to Sweats: Why Perspiration Plays a Role in Withdrawal Detox

Last Updated:

March 27th, 2025

The withdrawal process can create distressing new changes in your body that undermine the well-being you need for full recovery. One common physical symptom is your body releasing sweat, which can be uncomfortable and difficult to manage.

We discuss why sweating is such a common factor of recovery and give you some tips to help you feel more comfortable during detoxification.

What are the physical symptoms of withdrawal detox?

While the length of a detox programme varies depending on the severity of the alcohol or drug addiction, the process is often plagued with new and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Physical symptoms can range in severity and may peak around the third day of the cleansing process. Some physical withdrawal symptoms include:

Rapid and fluctuating heart rate or palpitations
Disturbed sleep, including insomnia and fatigue
Headaches
Stomach issues, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
Tremors, shaking and, in severe cases, seizures

How does perspiration relate to the withdrawal process?

In addition to some of the symptoms mentioned above, many people experience excessive sweating and shivers as the body detoxifies. The detox process will naturally cause peaks and troughs in your core body temperature and sweating helps with regulating these changes. This response is primarily driven by your autonomic nervous system, which can be dysregulated as your body gets used to functioning without a substance it has grown to depend upon.

Sweat consists of 99% water, with a tiny amount of chemicals such as ammonia, urea, salts and sugars. Some research suggests that trace amounts of heavy metals are also expelled from the body during detox, including mercury, lead and arsenic. However, the liver and kidneys remain as your primary detoxifying organs and sweating is primarily for cooling down, not for detoxifying.

Which substances cause excessive sweating in withdrawal?

Withdrawing from a drug or alcohol addiction can be an overwhelming and frightening process. Research shows that exposure to stressful situations raises your body temperature, making you sweat to cool your body down.

Alcohol

Alcohol affects almost every organ system in your body and has a significant impact on temperature regulation. Many people going through alcohol withdrawal will experience excessive sweating, especially at night. This is commonly called “night sweats” and is the result of alcohol impairing your central nervous system.

Waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat is distressing, disrupting your sleep quality and the peace of mind you need to recover comfortably.

Cocaine

A person who regularly takes cocaine can commonly face excessive perspiration, commonly called “cocaine sweats.” While cocaine can raise your body temperature, excessive perspiration usually happens after the drug exits your system. Cocaine constricts blood vessels in the body, over time causing blood vessels to dilate. Withdrawal from cocaine disrupts your body’s thermoregulation, so your body compensates by releasing excess sweat as the drug leaves your body.

Opioids

Cold sweats can be common for people who abruptly stop taking opioids. Each time an opioid is taken, your brain releases dopamine, which your body becomes accustomed to over time. The sudden cessation can be overwhelming as you try to return to the production of dopamine by natural means.

Some research suggests that sudden cessation can lead to a condition called “adenylyl cyclase superactivation-based central excitation.” One symptom of this condition is a change in how your enzymes control the widening and contraction of your blood vessels. Tissues in the body can be flooded and then deprived of blood which leads you to experience hot and cold flushes. Heat makes you sweat and then the cooling sensation can make wet skin feel cold, to the point of shivers.

How can I better manage perspiration during withdrawal?

While sweating is considered a relatively common result of alcohol and drug detox, it may reach the point of excess, called “hyperhidrosis”, and can make the recovery process more uncomfortable. Generally, hyperhidrosis is not considered life-threatening, but it can become distressing and affect your overall well-being in recovery.

Here are some ways you can help better manage sweating for a more comfortable recovery:

Make a conscious effort to stay hydrated

Firstly, to make perspiration more manageable in detox, ensure you’re constantly hydrated. Water management is essential during recovery. Create a simple hydration schedule throughout the day, or use phone alarms as reminders and develop a habit of carrying reusable water bottles.

Replace sugary drinks you may normally choose with water as often as you can, or add citrus peels and healthy sweeteners if you have cravings. Being dehydrated creates a craving for water, and this craving may actually be mistaken for another during your recovery period. Create routines where you drink more water to support stronger recovery.

Focus on healthy nutrition

To help your body return to balance and homeostasis during recovery, it can be extremely helpful to focus on a nutritionally balanced diet. Spend time researching how your previous diet may have been having adverse effects on your health.

For example, sugar and processed foods are linked with many diseases that hinder the body’s ability to detoxify, harming the organs needed for recovery like your liver and kidneys. Detoxing can involve eliminating excess water, so cutting back on salt can help, as salt may cause your body to retain excess fluid. Increasing potassium-rich foods can also help counterbalance salt’s effects.

Make the space around you more tranquil

To help reduce anxieties and worries you may feel throughout addiction detox, modifying the physical space around you can have a deeply calming effect. This could involve both physical and psychological relaxation techniques. Keep the temperature of the room comfortable with AC or heating as needed, and keep ventilation open for airflow.

In addition, try to create an environment focused on hope and self-efficacy, as these will both affect your likelihood of succeeding. It may help to have helpful messages and photos of loved ones nearby to remind you of why you’re striving to recover.

Choose the most comfortable laundry

As you’re likely to sweat more as you recover, wearing clean, breathable and soft fabrics can keep you calmer throughout recovery. This small comfort may lead to a significant improvement in your quality of life. Research shows that you may experience heightened sensitivities to sensory stimulation, including the quality of the fabric on your skin. Make sure your bedsheets are regularly changed if you’re experiencing more perspiration.

Where can I turn for help with substance detox?

Trying to detox alone can be extremely difficult and may increase the risk of relapse. If you or a loved one needs support with withdrawal symptoms, we want to let you know that you are not alone.

At UKAT, we specialise in structured detox programmes designed to help you through withdrawal with expert care. Our holistic drug and alcohol detox programmes ensure you get the highest level of care every step of the way.

Your journey to a healthier, substance-free life starts today. Reach out to UKAT and take the first step toward lasting recovery.

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