Hyperhidrosis & Robinul…….. ?
I was diagnosed w/hyperhidrosis. I knew that this horrid facial/head sweating was not normal, I just didn’t know it actually had a name. So, my dermatologist put me on Robinul which has been nothing short of a miracle for me. I take 1 mg. I have not been able to find any good information/ side effects, etc. on this med. Do you know where I could find that info? I’m wondering if this med can cause mood swings? Crying easily? Thanks.
Tagged with: dermatologist • head sweating • information side • mood swings • nothing short of a miracle • robinul
Filed under: Hyperhidrosis
Hair removal (1)
Here’s some info to answer your question about side effects of anticholinergics (that’s the "class" of drug Robinul is in).
According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society (www.SweatHelp.org) many experts do not think that anticholinergics or other oral medications have long-term usefulness for the treatment of excessive sweating that’s localized to the hands, feet, underarms, and/or face. This is because the drugs frequently have serious side effects such as:
Dry mouth
Blurred vision
Impaired speech, taste, chewing, and swallowing
Urinary retention
Constipation
Heart Palpitations
Furthermore, many of the drugs reported useful for hyperhidrosis have not been studied in controlled trials, their use being based only on anecdotal evidence. At the doses likely to inhibit hyperhidrosis, side effects can be limiting. In addition many of these drugs are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of hyperhidrosis.
The most commonly used agents are anticholinergics, which block the sympathetic stimulation of eccrine glands by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine at the synapse. Use of these drugs is limited, however, by the common side effects of the anticholinergic class—dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and visual disturbances such as mydriasis and cycloplegia.Anticholinergics used for hyperhidrosis include propantheline, glycopyrronium bromide, oxybutynin, and benztropine. When stressful situations are a trigger for hyperhidrosis, use of an anticholinergic agent or a benzodiazepine prior to an event likely to provoke anxiety may be helpful. Long-term use of benzodiazepines such as diazepam is limited by development of dependency, and many patients cannot tolerate the sedative effects of these drugs. Some patients are able to take diazepam 5 mg at bedtime for several weeks to get used to its sedating effect and then use it as needed for anxiety-provoking events.
You might really find the IHHS’s site to be helpful. Plus they have a newsletter that can keep you up to date with all the latest research and developments. Hope this helps you!
PS: You can look up the drug’s web site for the official side effect listing posted by the manufacturer.