Effectiveness of oral glycopyrrolate use in compensatory hyperhidrosis patients

Abstract

Compensatory hyperhidrosis or reflex hyperhidrosis is the increase in sweating in the postoperative stage of thoracic sympathectomy or lumbar sympathectomy. It shares several features with anxiety disorders and has a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. Oralglycopyrrolate is one of the treatment options available. This study reviewed case notes in a series of 19 patients with compensatory hyperhidrosis. We made a comparison between the Milanez de Campos score of a pre-glycopyrrolate medication group and the Milanez de Campos score of a post-glycopyrrolate medication group. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) scale score were also compared between the pre-medication and post-medication groups. In the post-glycopyrrolate medication group, there was decrease in the Milanez de Campos score, BAI score, and BDI score (P < 0.05). But no meaningful change was seen in the ANS score in the post-glycopyrrolate medication group (P > 0.05). Glycopyrrolate is an effective medication in the treatment of compensatory hyperhidrosis that, can alleviate anxiety and improve patients' quality of life.

Keywords: anticholinergic agents; compensatory hyperhidrosis; glycopyrrolate; sympathectomy.

Fig. 1

Comparison of the Milanez de campos scale and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) scale of pre- and post-glycopyrrolate medication groups. Milanez de campos scale show meaningful statistical significance, but ANS scale didn't.

Fig. 2

Comparison of the Modified beck depression inventory (M-BDI) and beck anxiety inventory (BAI) Scale of pre- and post-glycopyrrolate medication groups. Both scale show meaningful statistical significance.