Night sweats after quitting alcohol: why they happen and how long they last
Waking up soaked after you stop drinking is a common withdrawal sign. Why it happens at night, how long it lasts, what helps, and when to see a doctor.
Night sweats are a common alcohol withdrawal symptom. They come from a nervous system that is running too high once alcohol is gone. Symptoms usually start 6 to 12 hours after the last drink, which is the middle of the night if you drank in the evening, and usually last 3 to 7 days. Sweats that keep coming back for weeks, or come with a fever, weight loss or confusion, need a doctor.
Why quitting alcohol makes you sweat at night
Alcohol slows the brain and nervous system down. When someone drinks regularly, the body adjusts to that, and when the alcohol suddenly stops, the adjustment is still there. A 2015 clinical review of alcohol withdrawal describes the result as autonomic hyperactivity: the part of the nervous system that runs your heart rate, blood pressure and sweating goes into overdrive. The symptoms it lists include tremors, a fast heart rate, raised blood pressure, fever and heavy sweating.
The UK charity Drinkaware explains it as the body's "fight or flight" response. Alcohol suppresses it, the nervous system gets used to that, and when the alcohol level drops you can go straight into fight or flight mode even though there is no danger. Sweating is one of the ways that shows up. The NHS lists sweating, a racing heartbeat and shaking among the typical withdrawal symptoms.
Why at night. According to the NHS, withdrawal symptoms begin within 6 to 12 hours of your last drink. If you usually drank in the evening, that window lands in the middle of the night, so the first signs of withdrawal can arrive while you are asleep. The NHS describes night sweats as sweating so much that your night clothes and bedding are soaking wet, even though where you are sleeping is cool.
Drinking can cause them too. The NHS lists alcohol use among the most common causes of night sweats, and its advice for excessive sweating includes avoiding alcohol because it can make sweating worse. So some people notice sweats while they are still drinking, and a new wave when they stop.
How long do night sweats last after quitting alcohol?
It depends mostly on how much and for how long you were drinking.
The first days. The NHS says withdrawal symptoms usually last from 3 to 7 days. Drinkaware puts the peak in the first 24 to 72 hours, and says most people feel better within a week, with the first 48 hours likely to be the worst.
Longer. The NHS adds that some withdrawal symptoms can last for a few months, especially after heavy drinking. Drinkaware says that after heavy or long-term drinking, some people have symptoms for a week or longer.
If the sweats keep going. Night sweats that carry on for weeks after the other withdrawal symptoms have settled may have another cause. The NHS lists the most common causes of night sweats as:
- anxiety
- medicines, such as some antidepressants, steroids and painkillers
- low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- menopause symptoms (hot flushes)
- alcohol or drug use
- a harmless condition called hyperhidrosis that makes you sweat too much all the time
Anxiety is worth a special mention, because it is also a withdrawal symptom and can take longer to settle than the physical ones. Our guide to anxiety after quitting alcohol covers how long that usually lasts.
Why they matter: a sign your body was dependent
Night sweats after stopping are more than an annoyance. The NHS says withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your body has become dependent on alcohol, and it recommends seeing a GP or an alcohol support service if you get symptoms like sweating, anxiety, difficulty sleeping or nausea when you try to stop.
They are also on the same scale as the dangerous symptoms. The 2015 review describes sweating as one of the early, milder signs of withdrawal, and delirium tremens, the most severe form, as coming with severe sweating, palpitations and tremor alongside confusion. Most people never get anywhere near that, but it is why sweats plus confusion, hallucinations or a seizure are an emergency, not something to sleep off.
What actually helps
Keep the room and the bed cool. Normal sweating goes up when the room or the bedding is too hot, so a cooler room and lighter covers take away the part of the sweating that is not withdrawal.
Wear loose, breathable clothes. For heavy sweating, the NHS recommends loose-fitting clothes and avoiding tight clothes and synthetic fabrics like nylon.
Drink plenty, but not caffeine. For the first days after stopping, Drinkaware suggests keeping hydrated with plenty of non-alcoholic drinks while avoiding caffeine, eating regularly, and finding ways to relax.
Be ready for the night. A towel and a spare set of night clothes next to the bed make a soaked 3am a two-minute job instead of the end of your night's sleep. If sleep is the bigger problem, read our guide to insomnia after quitting alcohol.
Do not drink to make it stop. A drink will ease withdrawal for a while because it gives the nervous system what it adapted to. But the NHS lists alcohol as a cause of heavy sweating, and Drinkaware warns that if you keep drinking heavily despite withdrawal, the symptoms tend to get more and more severe.
When to get help
If you drink heavily every day, speak to a doctor or a local alcohol service before you stop. The NHS warns that stopping suddenly when you are dependent on alcohol can be very dangerous.
Call 999 or go to A&E (or your local emergency number) if you or someone else has severe withdrawal symptoms after stopping, such as shaking visibly, being unusually restless, irritable or upset, confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not there, or a seizure. Do not drive yourself.
See a doctor if night sweats keep waking you up or worry you, if they come with a very high temperature, shivering, a cough or diarrhoea, or if you are also losing weight for no reason.
Questions
Are night sweats normal after quitting alcohol?
Yes. Sweating is on the NHS list of typical alcohol withdrawal symptoms, along with a racing heartbeat, shaking, anxiety and trouble sleeping. They are a sign your body had become dependent on alcohol, which is why a doctor or alcohol service is worth talking to.
Why do I sweat at night but not during the day?
Timing. Withdrawal usually starts 6 to 12 hours after the last drink, so an evening drinker's first withdrawal hours fall while they are asleep. A warm bed and heavy covers add to it.
Are night sweats my body sweating out toxins?
The sources describe something different: sweating in withdrawal comes from an overactive nervous system, the same fight or flight response behind the racing heart and the shakes, and it eases as withdrawal passes.
When do night sweats stop after quitting drinking?
For most people within about a week, since withdrawal symptoms usually last 3 to 7 days. If they carry on for weeks, see a doctor to check for another cause.
Sources
- NHS: Night sweats (page last reviewed 9 November 2023)
- NHS: Alcohol-use disorder (page last reviewed 24 April 2026)
- NHS: Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) (page last reviewed 7 November 2023)
- Drinkaware: Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Mirijello A, D'Angelo C, Ferrulli A, et al. Identification and management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Drugs, 2015
Count your sober days
Sober Counter counts your days, shows what your body is healing and helps the moment a craving hits. It never resets you to zero after a slip. Coming soon to iPhone.
Need support right now?
In the UK, the NHS lists free alcohol support services: NHS alcohol support. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential and open all day, every day. Elsewhere, your local health service can point you to help near you.
Also in: Español · Français · Português · Deutsch · Polski · Svenska · Italiano · Nederlands · Русский · Čeština · Suomi · Dansk · Norsk · Türkçe