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.