Different body smell, not underarm

[VJD33]

When I get hot or sweat I smell differently than I used to.
It started in early spring of 2008.  The only thing changed in my diet has been that I've doubled my prescription of Fluoxetine from 20 mg to 40 mg.
The only place I notice it being different is on my torso, like my back, stomach, and chest.  It's strange, I know, but I smell vaguely of peanut butter (or something similar).  And no, I am not eating a lot of peanut butter, or anything else in abundance.

So, I am trying to find out why my body smells different.  It worries me because I know certain smells can indicate certain illnesses.  It's also embarrassing and I have to shower every time I sweat, and I've always felt like I sweat more than others, so it becomes tiring showering all day long just so I can go out of my house and feel clean for about an hour.

Please help.

[VJD33]

Problem solved.
I drink a lot of coffee and it got to the point I guess where I was sweating it out.  I tried not drinking it for several days and I smell like the regular old me again.  Whew!

[VJD33]

Thank you kindd for your reply.

To make sure everyone has updated information, I'm not obese (or overweight as far as I know).
I don't have many allergies except for pollen and other ourdoor culprits.  I haven't been eating anything different or using different body wash/soap, so I don't believe I have an allergy to something unless it's come on suddenly.
Halitosis, definitely not.
It's a problem even when I wear cotton all week long, so I don't think it's synthetic fibers.

I don't believe I have eczema or psoriasis, although I do have one skin problem - I've had it before and believe it's some sort of bacteria and the only thing I've noticed it causing is that where I sweat the most I've ended up with little light patches of skin that don't tan anymore, and that it comes from using tanning beds.  I was told to use Selsun Blue to get rid of it, but I don't believe it worked.
Any idea what I'm talking about and what it's called?  Could this be the problem??

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Fluoxetine is not responsible for causing bad body odors.The other possibilities are obesity, allergies, eczema, psoriasis,halitosis,sinusitis, synthetic fibers and warm temperatures. It is also seen in excessive sweating or hyperhydrosis.Hyperhydrosis may be primary (without known cause and usually starts during childhood or adolescence and persists all life) or secondary (as part of an underlying condition like Hyperthyroidism or similar endocrine diseases and dermatological conditions like eczema, psoriasis).

One thing which is important is that bromosis((excessive concerns about body odor)  is quite common in depressive and obsessive compulsive disorders for which mostly fluoxetine is prescribed.

I feel that you should firstly discuss the possibility of bromosis with your doctor.If it is ruled out,then other possibilities should be probed.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep us posted on how you are doing or  if you have any additional queries.

[Deja_eeve]

I know this is old but I have to say—I also just changed from 20 to 40mg of fluoxetine and now I am experiencing this same exact thing… so the medication may have something to do with it.

[Ken_PA]

Or the reason that you are on a higher dose of Prozac is the same reason that the problem has resurfaced.  Two effects with a common cause. Increased anxiety? Or maybe high, unrelenting stress causes everything.

Btw, I'd try topical cortisone on that spot just to see what might happen. There's no itching there?

I'd also try caffeine pills to see if that causes the scent and sweating. IOW, it's not some scent molecules in the coffee.