Night sweats - increase in Citalopram, early menopause symptoms or something else?

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

I've been having early menopause symptoms for about 18 months or so, heavier than usual periods and flooding, numb face, hot hot hot all the time. I'm 43.

A couple of months ago I increased my dose of Citalopram from 10mg to 20mg every other day. I'd been on 20mg for 2.5 years and was ready to start cutting down but felt awful, unable to cope, and so increased the dose again. I'm now much more stable emotionally, but have had some of the symptoms that I had when I first started taking them again - vivid dreams, heartburn etc.

But a new one on me is night sweats. DH says he wakes in the night because of the heat coming off me and when he touches me he says I am wet to touch. I'm sleeping through though, but waking up with crazy hair as if it's been wet and dried as I fidget. I can't explain it any better, sorry.

I think it's the Citalopram, and hopefully it will settle, but I am concerned that it might not be that. I can't cool down, even going outside or opening a window just cools my skin but doesn't cool me down inside. Has anyone else experienced this and if so what do you put it down to? Would my GP be able to do a blood test or something to find out the cause?

Sounds like another menopausal symptom but why not go back to your GP, describe what you've just said here and explain about adjusting the dosage of Citalopram, just discuss your concerns.

I take fluoxetine and I also suffer night sweats. Whenever I up the dose I get them and same thing if I lower the dose. I think it's common with these ssri medications x

Hi Doris, it sounds as though you could be experiencing the start of the dreaded hot flushes that begin as you head towards menopause. The GP could possibly do a blood test to check your hormone levels but these are usually quite unreliable.I took the mini pill for a little while when I was at the stage you describe and it stopped my heavy periods and calmed down the hot flushes too...best to see what your GP advises.

Citalopram is probably to blame. I get quite bad sweats on it and these started before the menopause

Thanks for your messages. I've been sick the last couple of days and sleeping during the day and waking up with wet hair and damp clothes. I'm going to see my GP for advice as soon as I can make an appointment. I think I am hoping it's Citalopram because I don't want it to be the alternative!

Sorry to hear you have been sick, I wonder of your body has been fighting off a bug hence the overheating at night? Anyway good luck at the doctor's.