Oxybutynin reduces sweating in depressed patients treated with sertraline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study

Ali Ghaleiha,¹ Leila Jahangard,¹ Zahra Sherafat,¹ Mohammad Ahmadpanah,¹ Serge Brand,² Edith Holsboer-Trachsler,² Hafez Bajoghli,³ Mohammad Haghighi<sup>1

1</sup>Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substances Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; ²Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; ³Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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.
Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: oxybutynin, sweating, sertraline, major depressive disorders