Taking SSRIs is not for the weak. From painfully long hours spent in the psychiatrist's office to the inevitable mood swings and brain zaps that often come with forgetting a single dose, antidepressants come with their fair share of challenges.
The most commonly cited issue however? The sweat. A brief scroll through TikTok will result in a stream of content courtesy of frustrated antidepressant users who are struggling to cope with the heat this summer.
Stars including Charli D’Amelio have opened up about their struggle with bodily heat regulation, while hashtags including #sertralinesweats, #ssrisummer and #venlaflaxinesummer are rapidly gaining momentum online.
As those who have grappled with their mental health understand all-too well, the alternative to not taking medication can be far worse. Yet, the journey with antidepressants isn't always easy to talk about or embrace, not to mention a total pain when it comes to wardrobe curation. (Hot tip - steer away from the synthetic materials and lean towards breathable cottons and linens.)
What are SSRIs?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressant commonly prescribed to treat mental health conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
They work by increasing levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, by preventing it from being reabsorbed too quickly in the brain. This allows serotonin to remain active for longer, helping to improve mood and reduce symptoms over time.
A closely related group of medications, known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), includes drugs such as venlafaxine. As well as increasing serotonin, SNRIs also boost levels of norepinephrine, another brain chemical involved in mood, focus and the body's response to stress. SNRIs may be prescribed when SSRIs have not been effective, or for people experiencing both depression and anxiety, as well as certain chronic pain conditions such as nerve pain or fibromyalgia.
Both SSRIs and SNRIs are typically taken daily and usually take several weeks to reach their full effect, so they should only be started, adjusted or stopped under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
We spoke to Dr Farideh Banafshei, Counselling Psychologist at H&C Therapy, for some advice about how to navigate a sweaty SSRI summer this year. Read on for her answers below.
Why do people who take SSRIs struggle so much in the heat? What causes the sweating?
“Serotonin doesn’t just influence our mood; it also plays an important role in regulating body temperature. SSRIs increase the availability of serotonin in the brain, and one recognised side effect for some people is increased sweating and reduced tolerance to heat.
From a psychological perspective, sweating isn’t just a physical symptom; it’s also a social one. People can become hyper-aware of sweating caused by their medication and begin shifting their behaviours in an attempt to hide it. They may start overdressing, avoiding certain social situations, or constantly monitoring themselves. That self-consciousness increases the anxiety even further, leading to more sweating. What may begin as a medication side effect can develop into a cycle where the physical symptoms and the psychological response reinforce one another.”
How would you recommend people taking SSRIs stay cool?
“From a practical perspective, staying well hydrated, avoiding prolonged periods in direct heat, and wearing light, breathable fabrics such as linen or natural fibres can all make a real difference. If you know you tend to overheat, carry a water bottle, use a handheld fan, and take breaks indoors whenever you need to.
From a psychological perspective, the most important part is the mindset we bring to these experiences. If you view sweating through a lens of embarrassment or shame, you’re much more likely to become preoccupied with it. There is nothing wrong with you. We need to break it down through a self-compassion lens. This is a natural bodily response, and a recognised side effect of the medication. It’s as normal as someone taking an antihistamine for allergies.
We can shift 'I have to wear this and shift my behaviour cause I’m ashamed' to 'I’m adapting to the needs of my body and know how to care of myself.' Those thought processes around the physical experience are going to be the determinant of whether it turns into an emotional response as well.
© Getty ImagesGive yourself permission to dress comfortably and respond to what your body needs, rather than focusing on how you think you appear to other people. You’re not giving in to the side effects; you’re adapting sensibly and listening to your body.
Note: Never stop taking your medication because of side effects without first speaking to the clinician who prescribed it. If something is affecting your quality of life, it’s always worth having that conversation.”
It can be daunting to discuss the heat-related side effects of taking SSRIs. Do you have any tips on how to open up about them?
“Many people worry that if they mention side effects, they’ll sound ungrateful or as though they’re complaining. But this could not be further from the truth. The more we normalise these conversations, the less isolated people feel. Sweating is a normal human experience, and medication side effects are something people navigate every day.
First, share with someone that you really love or trust first. Someone that makes you feel safe.
© Getty ImagesSecond, start small, start with the side effect that's the least shameful and overwhelming. Once the door opens a little, it can all feel less psychologically threatening. That immediate exposure gives release of stress, and signals to the brain that you're safe to keep talking. We have to start somewhere and if speaking about the sweating feels like too much, we can start with something smaller and build our way up.
What consistently surprises my clients is that when they lean into vulnerability with the people they love, their relationships often become stronger. We tend to fear judgment, but people don’t connect with perfection because it isn’t real. They connect through shared human experiences. That’s why talking about it matters. If we speak about these experiences, we normalise them. If we hide them away, the shame tends to grow, and we feel less connected to ourselves and others."
