Crohn’s Disease and Night Sweats: Causes and Treatment
Digestive HealthCrohn's Disease

Crohn’s Disease and Night Sweats: Why They Happen and How to Manage Them

Crohn’s Disease and Night Sweats: Why They Happen and How to Manage Them
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Published on November 13, 2025
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Crohn’s disease can cause system-wide inflammation and lead to symptoms throughout your body, including night sweats.

“Night sweats can have many causes, but often they are related to infections or other causes of inflammation,” says Adam Pont, MD, a gastroenterologist in private practice in New York City. “[Night sweats] are fairly common in Crohn’s, and in many cases, the specific cause may not be found.”

Besides arising from systemic inflammation, night sweats in Crohn’s may result from a collection of pus called an abscess that’s usually caused by an infection, or even from cancer, says Abby Lochmann-Bailkey, MD, a gastroenterologist with SSM Health in Madison, Wisconsin.

 But once your healthcare provider rules out other causes for your sweaty nights, you can manage Crohn’s disease-related night sweats with the tips below.

Why You May Have Night Sweats With Crohn’s Disease

Night sweats with Crohn’s typically happen because of inflammation or infection, says Supriya Rao, MD, a gastroenterologist in private practice in Lowell, Massachusetts. Cytokines, which are chemical messengers that help regulate your immune system’s responses, can induce inflammation in Crohn’s when a trigger increases their activity.

As cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α increase, they reset the body’s natural thermostat in an important region of the brain called the hypothalamus, says Dr. Rao. “[This process] creates low-grade fevers that tend to peak at night, leading to drenching sweats.”

Night sweats can also be caused by systemic infections as well as abscesses, especially if you take immunosuppressive medications for Crohn’s, says Dr. Pont.

For example, if you take biologic medications, you may have a higher risk of infections like C. diff or tuberculosis, says Rao. “Night sweats can also signal complications such as … medication effects or steroid withdrawal.”

Besides inflammation and infection, excessive sweating at night may point to developing cancer, says Dr. Lochmann-Bailkey. “A very rare but worrisome cause of night sweats that could be related to Crohn’s disease would be lymphoma, especially hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma due to use of azathioprine [(Imuran)] and anti-TNF medications.”

If you go through perimenopause and menopause with Crohn’s disease, your night sweats could get more intense. That’s because this transition causes dropping hormones and prompts this symptom on its own, says Rao.

 “If sweats are new, severe, or paired with fever, weight loss, or worsening pain, they warrant immediate evaluation.”

How to Manage Night Sweats if You Have Crohn’s Disease

If other causes have been ruled out, but you still get night sweats due to Crohn’s inflammation, you can manage the discomfort with these tips.

Limit Evening Triggers

Your environment and habits can have a big effect on Crohn’s, and certain triggers can make night sweats worse.

 “Avoid ‘risky substances’ at night, which means no alcohol, nicotine, spicy foods, or ultra-processed heavy meals late at night,” says Rao.
Alcohol and spicy foods in particular can widen your blood vessels in the short term, which can increase sweating during sleep, Rao says. And alcohol, nicotine, and processed foods can all contribute to sweat-inducing inflammation.

Exercise Early in the Day

Physical fitness may decrease Crohn’s disease activity, and less Crohn’s inflammation may mean less nighttime sweating.

 But timing matters. “Exercise regularly, but try to avoid eating or exercising late at night,” says Lochmann-Bailkey.
Experts say adults need at least 150 minutes (about 2 ½ hours) of moderate-intensity exercise each week. You can break this down into sessions of 30 minutes a day, five days a week — or you can break it down into smaller sessions within a day. Experts also recommend doing muscle-strengthening activities — like weight lifting or resistance training (isometric exercises, Pilates) — two days a week; just avoid doing those strength-training sessions two days in a row.

During a flare, be sure to get enough rest. But once the flare eases, try to get back to regular activity. Be sure to hydrate and choose exercise locations that allow for bathroom breaks.

Optimize Your Bedroom for Sleep

To lower your chances of sweating through your pajamas, design your sleep space to help you stay cool. For example, you can try using a fan at night, says Lochmann-Bailkey.

“Cool your bedroom, wear breathable layers, and use moisture-wicking bedding,” says Rao. “These adjustments can reduce heat retention and prevent you from waking while the underlying cause is being treated.”

Ask for a Medication Review

If you keep getting night sweats, have your healthcare provider review your medications. “Steroids, antidepressants, opioids, and withdrawal from [steroids] can cause sweating. And biologics and immunomodulators can raise infection risk — [infections can] also present with night sweats.”

Some other Crohn’s treatments known to cause night sweats include:

  • adalimumab (Humira)
  • infliximab (Remicade)
  • leflunomide (Arava)
  • mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)
  • tacrolimus (Prograf)

You may not need to change medications — only the time you take them. “Consider adjusting the timing of medications, especially steroids such as prednisone,” says Lochmann-Bailkey. “[For example], it may be best to take it in the morning, as it can disrupt sleep and could contribute to night sweats.”

Pont suggests taking acetaminophen before bedtime if the night sweats are being triggered by fevers and your provider gives you the go-ahead. “However, you should check with your gastroenterologist before regularly taking acetaminophen or any other over-the-counter medications,” he says.

Keep a Symptom and Temperature Log

Frequent night sweats with Crohn’s can offer important information about your condition, and tracking your symptoms can help you and your provider adjust treatment as needed. “Track your bedtime temperature, stool frequency, pain, and timing of your sweats,” says Rao. “The more information you can give your doctor, the better.”

Pont agrees, and says that your provider may want to run tests to make sure you don’t have an infection and confirm that your medication regimen is working. You can keep a written journal to track symptoms, or use a smartphone app.

Rao recommends calling your doctor if you:

  • Wake up drenched in sweat.
  • Get fevers over 100.4 degrees F.
  • Notice new pain in one specific area.

The Takeaway

  • Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation throughout your body, which may lead to excessive sweating at night.
  • Night sweats with Crohn’s may also be caused by infections, medications, perimenopause and menopause, or, in rare cases, cancer.
  • You can take the following steps to help manage Crohn’s night sweats: Limit your triggers, get regular exercise, optimize your sleep space, track your symptoms, and ask your doctor for help.

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EDITORIAL SOURCES
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