title: Oxybutynin reduces sweating in depressed patients treated with sertraline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are primarily used in the pharmacological treatment of patients experiencing a major depressive disorder. However, one of the common unwanted effects is excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis. Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic medication which reduces sweating. The aim of this double-blind study was to examine the effect of administration of oxybutynin on subjective sweating in patients treated with sertraline.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 140 patients experiencing a major depressive disorder (mean age 37.69 ± 10.44 years, 86 females [61.4%]) treated with sertraline (mean dose 83 mg/day) were consecutively enrolled in the study, and all reported excessive sweating as a side effect. Thereafter, the patients were randomly assigned to either an oxybutynin 5 mg/day group or to a placebo group. At the beginning and end of the 2-week trial, the patients completed questionnaires related to sweating and medication-related side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over time, subjective sweating reduced significantly in the treatment group as compared with the control group. Oxybutynin-induced side effects were uncommon. Relative to male patients, female patients reported less subjective sweating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of oxybutynin successfully reduced excessive sweating in patients experiencing a major depressive disorder and treated with sertraline. However, possible gender effects should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substances Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaleiha
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jahangard
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sherafat
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadpanah
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holsboer-Trachsler
authors.forename: Hafez
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bajoghli
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghighi