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Excessive
sweating and non Surgical Treatments for Hyperhidrosis
There
are about 4 popular non-surgical treatments for excessive
sweating and hyperhidrosis that I am aware of for hyperhidrosis
and excessive sweating. This page will briefly describe my
experience with those that I have tried in addition to any
information I have obtained for the ones that I haven't used.
Excessive
sweating antiperspirant treatments: Since ETS surgery does
not work for armpit sweating, the first treatment for excessive
sweating in the armpits that I was made aware of by word of
mouth was a unique antiperspirant called Megadry. You can
also try Certain Dri or Drysol. Excessive sweating can be
controlled to a large degree by these antiperspirants.
Ditropan
is a must for those who are having excessive sweating of the
head. It is used for the treatment of incontinence but the
side effects can cause your head to stop sweating. People
are taking 3 5mg tablets per day. I have recommended it to
a friend with excessive sweating in his head and the change
is unbelievable.
I
used to sweat profusely under my armpits and could never find
an antiperspirant that would work until the antiperspirant
my physician recommended Maxim. It is very different from
conventional antiperspirants because you apply it at night
time. The reason you apply it at night is because that's when
your sweating is minimal and the active ingredient works to
get into the sweat pores to shrink them. It is recommended
that you use Maxim ever night. I can get by with about 4 applications
per week. The antiperspirant can have some side effects which
can include some minor compensatory sweating. Compensatory
sweating is when you sweat in other parts of your body besides
the armpits, including the chest and back areas. Again, this
is very minor and only occurs when I exercise. The other main
side effect that Maxim can have is some minor itching and
burning. It has never really bothered me but some say it can
be bothersome. What these people do is apply cortisone and
benedryl and I have heard that works quite well to alleviate
the itching. This antiperspirant is recommended by Dr. Reisfeld
and Dr. Garza for moderate hyperhidrosis, who are leading
ETS surgeons. The cost of the antiperspirant is about $13.95
plus shipping and will last you about 2-3 months if used every
night. It's pretty cost effective at about $6.00 per month
to prevent excessive sweating.
I
think Xerac is similar but may require a prescriptionl. I
have not been able to locate Xerac, outside of doctors.
DRIONICŪ
is a machine that can be purchased for about $135.00 and uses
the passage of a small electric current (around 15 mA) through
the skin, which tends to stop the sweat glands from working
for quite a while. This process, called iontophoresis, works
by "injecting" electrically charged ions into the skin, which
interact with the sweat glands and ducts to cause them to
stop secreting sweat; it may work by plugging the ducts up
in a manner similar to the antiperspirants. Regular tap water
is used, as it has dissolved salts and minerals that can carry
the electric current, rather than more expensive electrolyte
solutions. Some physicians have recommended the iontophoresis
of medications such as RobinulŪ (glycopyrrolate) to further
cut down on sweating. There are some machines that can only
be used by physicians, but there is one commercial machine,
the DrionicŪ device, that can be purchased with a doctor's
prescription, and used regularly at home. This machine comes
in two forms, one that only works on hands or feet, and the
other that is designed to work only on the underarms. Both
use tap water and batteries to administer the current to the
skin between the two pads of the DrionicŪ machine. Treatment
usually requires 20 minutes of use at each site for a few
times a week, and then once the perspiration has stopped,
the machine is not used until it starts up again. Although
this device has been proven safe and effective, and has been
very useful to many, it can only treat the hands/feet and
underarms, and cannot be used on the head, face, groin, chest
or back; in addition, it does not control the flushing that
is often associated with hyperhidrosis. For people who have
many areas of excessive sweating, this may not prove practical,
but for people who are bothered at treatable locations, this
machine and treatment may be an option, after receiving a
doctor's prescription and instruction for the safe use of
this medical device. I have used the device and have found
it to be moderately affective on the armpits, but it can be
somewhat cumbersome and time consuming. I have also talked
to people who complain of shocking and the breaking of blood
vessels.
As
discussed above, Robinul or glycopyrrolate (RobinulŪ and RobinulŪ
Forte) come in tablets of two different strengths (RobinulŪ
1mg and RobinulŪ Forte 2 mg), so the dose can be easily adjusted.
The tablets can also be crushed up and given mixed with soft
foods such as applesauce, pudding, ice cream, etc., or made
into a liquid form by a pharmacist, if swallowing tablets
are a problem. Glycopyrrolate is usually taken 1 to 3 times
a day, in doses of 1 or 2 mg at a time, depending on the severity
of the sweating. Side effects are few and usually very mild
and not that bothersome. Some patients may develop a dry mouth.
Patients who tend to get diarrhea frequently may find that
the glycopyrrolate tends to help control that, as it is used
for diarrhea in other countries. Glycopyrrolate does not cross
the blood-brain barrier, therefore Central Nervous System
(CNS) side-effects are virtually non-existent. Robinul is
a drug in the class known as anticholinergics. I do not have
experience with Robinul but I hear it can be a good alternative
for hyperhidrosis in all parts of the body.
Lastly,
a new non-surgical treatment that is being promoted is an
injection of botulism toxin or Botox. Botox in its concentrated
form is one of the most deadly nerve poisons known to man.
However, doctors have developed a concentration that is so
small that it can be used safely to treat things from wrinkles
in the forehead, sweating and even stuttering. The way Botox
works is by injecting it into the nerves that trigger sweat.
It temporarily paralyzes these nerves responsible for triggering
the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is
responsible for activating the sweat glands. I have not had
this treatment and have heard it may be painful, and expensive
(around $400.00 per treatment), and will only work for the
small areas of skin around the injection site; however, for
people who are bothered by hyperhidrosis at only a few sites
(such as the hands or armpits. The injections will only last
about 3-4 months as well. Nonetheless, this can be a very
effective treatment.
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