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How Effective Is Glycopyrrolate for Sweating?

Cindy Quarters
Cindy Quarters

Glycopyrrolate is classified as an anticholinergic medication, a type of drug that works by blocking certain nerve impulses. It is commonly used in the treatment of ulcers in both adults and children. This medicine has also been found to be helpful for people who suffer from excessive sweating, a condition known as hyperhidrosis. If other means of controlling the problem don’t work, glycopyrrolate for sweating is likely to be the best option. It is important for users to be aware that it can have significant side effects.

According to the Mayo Clinic, oral glycopyrrolate works well for sweating because it blocks the nerve impulses to the sweat glands. People with severe hyperhidrosis can benefit from taking this medicine, but it is best to start off with the simplest, least intrusive solutions first. Oral medications such as glycopyrrolate usually should be taken only when it is absolutely necessary.

Glycopyrrolate is commonly used to treat ulcers.
Glycopyrrolate is commonly used to treat ulcers.

Patients are often advised to try a general-purpose over-the-counter antiperspirant as a first step. It should be applied on problem areas as needed. If this doesn’t bring relief, the patient should next try a prescription antiperspirant that has aluminum chloride in it as a potentially more effective solution. Many times this can minimize or eliminate hyperhydrosis, avoiding the need to use oral glycopyrrolate for sweating.

A diagram of the human skin, including sweat glands.
A diagram of the human skin, including sweat glands.

Prescription antiperspirants should be applied at night and then washed off about eight hours later. People with sensitive skin are advised to limit the time to six hours. Even so, when using prescription antiperspirants on the face the ingredients can cause redness and a rash to develop. For those who develop a rash it may be best to use prescription antiperspirants only for important occasions, and minimize the time it is in contact with skin to reduce the chance for adverse reactions.

Glycopyrrolate has been used to control excessive sweating problems.
Glycopyrrolate has been used to control excessive sweating problems.

If the topical measures aren't effective, often the next step is to try glycopyrrolate for sweating. This oral medication interferes with the sweat gland function, so sweating is minimized. Due to the many side effects, medication should only be tried when none of the simpler measures help. Some of the more common side effects of taking glycopyrrolate are dry mouth, constipation and blurry vision.

Due to the many side effects, glycopyrrolate should only be taken for sweating when simpler methods have proven ineffective.
Due to the many side effects, glycopyrrolate should only be taken for sweating when simpler methods have proven ineffective.

For people who have social anxiety due to excessive facial sweating or having very sweaty hands, dealing with the medicine's side effects can be worth the relief. It has been proven that glycopyrrolate for sweating is quite effective and can make a significant difference in the amount a person sweats. When other remedies fail to work, this medication may just be the answer.

Discussion Comments

anon950894

I have been taking Robinul (Glycopporyate) for two years. This pill literally changed my life. I used to sweat excessively from all over. I don't sweat at all anymore. These pills are 100 percent worth it.

anon924662

I use Avert/Robinul 2mg daily as side effects decreased but my life trauma has not yet improved. Once again, the ex-banker!

anon924661

I am the one who wrote about hyperhydrosis. I worked in investment banking "one of those," yes, 1 percent. My salary was close to $1M and my life was a living dream. I took private jet trips across the globe when I felt bored. It was a life well worth it. Then I started to notice that my underarms started to sweat, but it was okay because botox was used in Switzerland since it wasn't approved here yet.

Then, my feet, thighs back, chest, buttocks and hands started sweating. I quit my job -- yes $1M -- and stayed in Florida on a water house for six years as a depressed man who once had everything and had dinner with congressman and that made me feel different.

These pills work. I work as a fisherman, fish for myself for food and no longer work. These pills have been working for couple of months. P.S I divorced my wife gave her my net worth "85 percent" as well as for my two kids and failed on them over this condition. If they work I will consider moving back to NY or CT.

anon924391

I am so afraid to begin a new life and then glyco or avert or robinul stop working. It would bring me back to old days. I wanted to suicide but failed. I later found these pills work but I am so afraid of side effects and the pills losing their effectiveness.

croydon

@irontoenail - I think people should get a second opinion, but in the end the whole point of hiring a doctor is to get an experienced and expert person to tell you whether or not you should be taking a certain medication.

And the side effects are nothing to be dismissed so easily. Sometimes people who really want to compete in a sport (or really want to not be sweaty for their everyday life) can ignore the downsides.

With that said, I know that excessive sweating isn't pleasant. I had a teacher once who was constantly sweating, no matter what he did and I know he was teased really badly by some of the kids in the school. Which doesn't sound like it's all that bad, but feeling constantly embarrassed can be pretty crippling.

irontoenail

@pleonasm - Honestly, I would have just got a second opinion if I were your friend. I mean, after a point, it's not up to the doctor to decide whether or not a person should be using a particular medication. As long as they know the risks and they think the benefits outweigh them, I think they should be allowed to use it.

And glycopyrrolate isn't even that bad in terms of side effects.

pleonasm

I remember I had a friend at university who had a problem with excessive sweating. He didn't really have to worry about it on his face so much, but his hands and feet were really bad.

Which, to some extent, isn't that much of a problem for the average person, especially since he already had a girlfriend and she knew all about it and didn't mind the sweaty hands.

But he was a martial artist and having slippery hands and feet was actually pretty dangerous. In the end, I think he tried to get this kind of treatment and the doctor refused to let him use it because he didn't think the problem was severe enough to warrant the medicine.

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    • Glycopyrrolate is commonly used to treat ulcers.
      By: designua
      Glycopyrrolate is commonly used to treat ulcers.
    • A diagram of the human skin, including sweat glands.
      By: Anita Potter
      A diagram of the human skin, including sweat glands.
    • Glycopyrrolate has been used to control excessive sweating problems.
      By: dandaman
      Glycopyrrolate has been used to control excessive sweating problems.
    • Due to the many side effects, glycopyrrolate should only be taken for sweating when simpler methods have proven ineffective.
      By: camrocker
      Due to the many side effects, glycopyrrolate should only be taken for sweating when simpler methods have proven ineffective.
    • Blurred vision is one frequently reported side effect of glycopyrrolate.
      By: bellemedia
      Blurred vision is one frequently reported side effect of glycopyrrolate.