Treatment options for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)

Treatment of hyperhidrosis can take many forms. The simplest if it is to use antiperspirants, aluminium hydroxide and these can be obtained over the counter or the stronger versions by a prescription from primary care and for many patients this is sufficient to deal with their symptomatology. However many patients, particularly those who it affects the whole of the body, may need to think about other forms of medication. One of the typical medicines that is used is an anticholinergic drug called oxybutynin. This is very effective at drying up the sweating but does have complications with respect to causing a dry mouth and dry eyes and drowsiness. However, with respect to the eyes it is important that these patients are checked to make sure that they have not got glaucoma. If, for example, the sweating is confined to the hands it is possible to use something called iontophoresis where you have electric charge in which is transmitted through both hands with the use of water baths to try and reduce the iontophoresis, the sweating. Then there are other options such as Botox injections or surgical intervention. I will talk more about the latter two on separate videos.