ADHD and Excessive sweating?

[ADDandMe]

Hi there,

I’ve googled whether there’s a link between ADHD and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) - albeit a slightly small one according to the few studies I accessed.

Though I’ve never sought medical help with my sweating I’ve always had an issue. Sweaty hands as a child. Excessive sweating (especially of the torso) in social situations especially and often sweat starts to pour down my back at seemingly random times (ie. Environment not to hot, not been exercising etc). Whilst I am an almost 45 year old female, my experience of sweating in this way has been life long. It was exacerbated by drinking alcohol - which I’ve stopped altogether for 2.5 years. My question is do you notice a link between ADHD and sweating? And do any of your meds help or worsen it? If so, which ones?

I have my psych appointment on Monday and hoping to identify a suitable medication - I would like to use your insight to help shed light on this aspect of ADHD and how meds impact with it.

Thank you 🙏🏼

[Greenbeeps]

Hi,

My son has hyperhidrosis and I I do wonder if he has adhd….he uses an Iontophoresis machine which is brilliant…he tried a roll on that dried his hands out and tablets that didn’t work…it affected his confidence so much he wanted to have surgery (before trying the machine) Thankfully a junior doctor who I’d been working with discouraged this and recommended the machine. It was definitely the best choice.

There’s a hyperhidrosis group on healthunlocked so you could ask the same question on there.

Good luck xx

[ADDandMe in reply to Greenbeeps]

I’ve never heard of such a machine. I’ll Google it now, thanks. Glad to hear he’s had some relief from his symptoms. 🙏🏼

[Oldgrumponabike in reply to Greenbeeps]

I swear profusely when my meds wear off in the afternoon. But that has only been since I have been on Adderall.

[ADDandMe in reply to Oldgrumponabike]

I had to read that twice! Then I got it 😂 🤬🥵

Thanks for sharing your experience 🙏🏼

[LuisBarcelona]

I have always sweated a lot. I also like you in social situations but after going fast, when it's hot and when anxiety appears as well. Yes, we have hyperhidrosis.

In my case, I don't take any medication other than drying my hand, avoiding shaking hands and if it's not possible I shake hands with sweat and I think: Despite having a sweaty hand, I am useful, I am worthy and I am not weird at all.

But yes, it's a big issue on a social level.

[ADDandMe in reply to LuisBarcelona]

thank you for sharing this 💕 yes - we are worthy, sweat and all 💦

[Emsil21]

yes!! So much so I have booked in Botox for facial sweating in a couple of week, I think the meds do make me have a hot flushes, also post having a baby 3 years ago Iv found since that I just am a sweaty person, not dripping on my body but a film on my back and chest, even last night I woke up with sweaty calf’s - what’s that about ! I do drink a fair bit, but post baby for 8 months I didn’t touch it and was still as sweaty, I work from home with international travel mainly warm countries and my face makes me so self conscious, Iv tried matifying creams but I feel as soon as sun light hits my skin anything Iv put on just slides off, top of cheeks, upper lip and hair line mainly, interesting if it is a adhd thing I can’t remember it being this bad when younger tho. 🤔

[ADDandMe in reply to Emsil21]

which meds are you on out of interest? I saw an influencer that puts stick deodorant on before applying make up. I tried it once and it was good, though not sure if it’s inadvisable to do this.

I used to sweat at night and even drench my sheets. I thought it was menopause until I stopped drinking alcohol and the night sweats stopped completely.

[MessyButTidy]

Hello, I recently tried benztropine, a .5mg dose, per my therapist's recommendation to counter the excessive sweating on 75mg sertraline and 20mg Adderall XR. I tried it 1 day and felt extremely dehydrated, it caused very uncomfortable bloating, and despite chugging water and electrolytes all day I peed very little. I haven't taken it more than that 1 day as the side effects weren't worth the marginal reduction in sweating.

[ADDandMe]

thanks for this. Good to know the good the bad and the ugly so to speak

[MessyButTidy in reply to ADDandMe]

Oh the ugly parts 🤦‍♀️ my doctor thought the side effects would be minimal and perhaps in the grand scheme of things they were, but the combination of side effects felt more uncomfortable than the sweating.

[ADDandMe in reply to MessyButTidy]

can I ask which meds you found this with?

[MessyButTidy in reply to ADDandMe]

I take 75mg sertraline, 25mg Adderall ER, 10mg Adderall short acting to jumpstart my day. I tried adding .5mg benztropine

For reference: 155lb, 5'7", female, ADHD diagnosed in 2022, CPTSD and suspected OCPD by therapist. Otherwise healthy.

[FoggyMoggy]

Yes. But I also have Autism, M.E/CFS, FM and many more things and all seem to have hyperhidrosis. HH is a huge thing for me especially in cold weather. It seems to be to do with autonomic NS dysfunction or dysautonomia. Awareness is growing but still a long way to go. I have secondary all over body hyperhidrosis rather than primary HH which usually begins earlier in life and effects hands and feet mainly

[Hidden]

I am or, was on adderall 30 mg twice a day and, it worked like a charm but I have to say, it made me sweat like crazy. 🙄💦

[ADDandMe]

I’ve been on my meds almost a month, and only had one morning of profuse sweating caused by rushing around after a hot bath and going for a doctor’s examination… so me meds thankfully aren’t triggering anything sweat-wise. (I’m on methylphenidate).

[ADDandMe in reply to ADDandMe]

Thanks for your replies everyone.