Allergan Drug May Remedy Overstimulated Sweat Glands

Throw away that antiperspirant? A team of California scientists has developed a treatment that can keep underarms dry for months--no roll-ons, no sprays, no powders required.

So what if it could cost as much as $1,000 per year? At least you’d have peace of mind.

Richard Glogau, a professor of dermatology at UC San Francisco, announced Tuesday that the treatment using Botox, a toxin derived from bacteria, could be the answer for those suffering from excessive sweating caused by overstimulation of the sweat glands by the autonomic nerves.

“This condition can lead to considerable emotional stress, social stigma and high costs associated with clothing wear, repair and cleaning,” Glogau said.

Botox, or botulinum A neurotoxin, is a poison in high doses. Diluted, Botox has proved effective in treating ailments including crossed eyes and sagging eyebrows--usually by neutralizing involuntary muscle movements.

Glogau said that Botox, produced by Irvine-based Allergan Inc., also is an effective treatment against heavy sweating, which in the most severe cases has been treated with oral drugs and surgery.

Glogau said that, while surgery can help to ease sweating, it can have nasty side effects such as “compensatory hyperhydrosis,” described as “a condition in which other parts of the body sweat in excess.” It also has the risk of infection and a 2% to 5% failure rate.

Botox appears to have no such drawbacks. Botox injections block the release of acetylcholine, the chemical responsible for stimulating the sweat glands, thus leaving underarms dry.

Glogau’s study involved treating eight women and four men with small amounts of Botox, injected into the underarm region.

“All patients reported a decrease of underarm sweating within 48 hours of the treatment,” Glogau reported. “Patients remained dry in the underarms for periods from four months to seven months.”

Glogau said the Botox injections led to no objectionable side effects. The only limiting factor, he said, was the price.

“Depending on the amount of Botox required, costs range between $700 and $1,000, and the treatment needs to be repeated at least once a year,” Glogau’s report said.