Yonsei Med J.  2003 Aug;44(4):579-582. 10.3349/ymj.2003.44.4.579.

Treatment of Compensatory Gustatory Hyperhidrosis with Topical Glycopyrrolate

• Kim WO
• Kil HK
• Yoon DM
• Cho MJ

• KMID: 720895
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2003.44.4.579

Abstract

Gustatory hyperhidrosis is facial sweating usually associated with the eating of hot spicy food or even smelling this food. Current options of treatment include oral anticholinergic drugs, the topical application of anticholinergics or aluminum chloride, and the injection of botulinum toxin. Thirteen patients have been treated to date with 1.5% or 2% topical glycopyrrolate. All patients had gustatory hyperhidrosis, which interfered with their social activities, after transthroacic endoscopic sympathectomy, and which was associated with compensatory focal hyperhidrosis. After applying topical glycopyrrolate, the subjective effect was excellent (no sweating after eating hot spicy food) in 10 patients (77%), and fair (clearly reduced sweating) in 3 patients (23%). All had reported incidents of being very embrasssed whilst eating hot spicy foods. Adverse effects included a mildly dry mouth and a sore throat in 2 patients (2% glycopyrrolate), a light headache in 1 patient (1.5% glycopyrrolate). The topical application of a glycopyrrolate pad appeared to be safe, efficacious, well tolerated, and a convenient method of treatment for moderate to severe symptoms of gustatory hyperhidrosis in post transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy patients, with few side effects.

Keyword

Hyperhidrosis; gustatory; glycopyrrolate; sympathectomy

MeSH Terms

Administration, Topical
Adolescent
Adult
Cholinergic Antagonists/*administration & dosage
Endoscopy/adverse effects
Female
Glycopyrrolate/*administration & dosage
Human
Male
Sweating, Gustatory/*drug therapy/etiology
Sympathectomy/adverse effects/methods