Excessive Sweating - Treatment Options

[David Baxter PhD]

Excessive Sweating
by Diana Kohnle, HealthDay News

Excessive sweating -- even when at rest -- is a medical condition called hyperhidrosis. It's caused by overactive sweat glands, which produce sweat for no reason, even when the body is cool. It most often causes excessive sweating in the feet, hands and armpits.

Here are suggestions on how to help control hyperhidrosis, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• Strong antiperspirants containing 10 percent to 15 percent aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
• Anticholinergic drugs, which help reduce stimulation of the sweat glands. Beta-blockers or benzodiazepines may help reduce stress-induced sweating.
• A procedure (iontophoresis) that uses electricity to temporarily stop sweat glands from functioning.
• Botox injections in the underarm.
• Minimally invasive surgery to reduce excessive sweating in the palms.

 

[braveheart]

Wish I'd known that when I was on efexor!!!

 

[Retired]

Wish I'd known that when I was on efexor!!!

A side effect of SSRI's in some people...depends on how each particular person responds to a given compound. So one person may experience this adrenergic reaction with one compound while another won't, and by changing compounds the reaction can be resolved.

 

[Retired]

Some additional details according to Medline Plus

Common Causes

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Cancer
• Certain medicines, including thyroid hormone, morphine, drugs to reduce fevers, and medicines to treat mental disorders
• Emotional or stressful situations (anxiety)
• Exercise
• Fever
• Infection
• Low blood sugar
• Menopause
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Spicy foods (known as "gustatory sweating")
• Warm temperatures
• Withdrawal from alcohol or narcotic pain killers

Signs and tests
Visible signs of sweating may be noted during a doctor's visit. A number of tests may also be used to diagnose excessive sweating.

Tests include:

• Starch-iodine test. An iodine solution is applied to the sweaty area. After it dries, starch is sprinkled on the area. The starch-iodine combination turns a dark blue color wherever there is excess sweat.
• Paper test. Special paper is placed on the affected area to absorb the sweat, then weighed. The heavier it weight, the more sweat has accumulated.

The patient may be also be asked details about the sweating, such as:

Location

• Is it on face, palms, or armpits?
• Is it all over the body?
• Time pattern
• Does it occur at night?
• Did it begin suddenly?
• How long have you had it?

Triggers

• Does it occur in response to reminders of a traumatic event?
• What other symptoms are present (for example, weight loss, a pounding heartbeat, lack of appetite)?
• Are the hands cold and clammy?
• Is there a fever?

Calling your health care provider

• There is prolonged, excessive, and unexplained sweating.
• Sweating is accompanied or followed by chest pain or pressure.
• Sweating is accompanied by weight loss or most often occurs during sleep.
• If sweating is accompanied by fever, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, or a rapid, pounding heartbeat. These symptoms may indicate an underlying problem, such as hyperthyroidism.