Clinical Effects of Herbal Medicine Against Hyperhidrosis Caused by Administration of the Pilocarpine Hydrochloride

Abstract

Abstract：Pilocarpine hydrochloride （Salagen Ⓡ ） is a therapeutic drug used to treat xerostomia caused by Sjögren' s syndrome （SS） , whose effectiveness has been confirmed. However, some patients treated with this agent develop polyhidrosis, nausea, and increased micturition. These side effects can reduce compliance with regimens containing this medicine. In this retrospective study, we examined the effects of an herbal medicine （Byakkokaninjinto Ⓡ ） on the development of polyhidrosis in SS patients treated with Salagen Ⓡ for xerostomia. Sixteen SS subjects were given 15mg of pilocarpine per day for the first four weeks, after which we initiated treatment with a combination of herbal medicines （Byakkokaninjinto Ⓡ ） in eight cases and in others were given 15mg of pilocarpine hydrochloride alone per day. Consequently all cases involve a polyhidrosis symptoms ; this regimen was continued for twelve weeks. A reduction in polyhidrosis symptoms was observed in six patients （75.0％） . These results suggest that polyhidrosis caused by pilocarpine hydrochloride can be reduced with treatment with herbal medicine （Byakkokaninjinto Ⓡ ） . In this study, the promotion of salivation induced by pilocarpine hydrochloride was maintained.