Excessive Sweating, Hyperhidrosis Medications
Aluminum Chloride
is used in regular antiperspirants.
However; hyperhidrosis sufferers
need solutions with a much higher concentration to effectively
treat the symptoms of the condition. My experience is you need
at least a product with 15% or higher of active ingredient. Its
main secondary effect is that it can cause irritation. For severe
cases of palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis there is some success
using conservative measures such as aluminum
chloride antiperspirants
Botulinum toxin (Botox) type A injections are used to disable
the sweat glands. The effects can last from 4-9 months depending
on the site of injections. The procedure when used for underarm
sweating has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
Several anticholinergic drugs reduce hyperhidrosis. Oxybutynin
(brand name Ditropan ) is one that has shown promise, although
it has important side effects which include drowsiness, visual
symptoms and dryness in the mouth and other mucus membranes.
A time release version of the drug is also available (Ditropan
XL ), with purportedly reduced effectiveness. Glycopyrrolate
(Robinul) is another drug used on an off-label basis. The drug
seems to be almost as effective as oxybutynin and have similar
side-effects. Other anticholinergic agents that have been tried
include propantheline bromide (Probanthine ) and benzatropine
(Cogentin ).
Antidepressants were formerly used on the belief that primary
hyperhidrosis was related to an anxious personality style. Beta-blockers
have also been tried, but we have not seen any effectiveness.
*These statements have not been
evaluated by the FDA, and are not meant to diagnose, cure or
treat any disease. |