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

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic data, sertraline dose, and presenting site of sweating for oxybutynin and placebo groups

	Oxybutynin group (n = 66)	Placebo group (n = 74)	Statistics
Age (years, mean ± SD)	37.12 ± 11.47	38.27 ± 9.47	t(138) = 0.65, P = 0.52
Height (cm, mean ± SD)	166.98 ± 10.48	165.40 ± 9.71	t(138) = 0.86, P = 0.39
Weight (kg, mean ± SD)	71.39 ± 14.07	69.60 ± 14.57	t(138) = 0.80, P = 0.43
Body mass index (mean ± SD)	25.70 ± 4.61	25.63 ± 6.09	t(138) = 0.06, P = 0.96
Gender (male/female; number; % within same gender)	27 (50%); 39 (45.3%)	27 (50%); 47 (54.7%)	χ^2 (df = 1; n = 140) = 0.29, P = 0.59
Sertraline dose (mg/day, mean ± SD)	89.01 ± 49.05	77.70 ± 38.50	t(138) = 1.53, P = 0.13
Duration of sertraline use (days)	19.66 ± 26.84	18.75 ± 25.36	t(138) = 0.21, P = 0.84
Presenting site of sweating
Whole body	37 (60.7%)	24 (39.3%)	χ^2 (df = 4, n = 140) = 8.34, P = 0.08
Head and neck	12 (33.3%)	24 (66.7%)
Axilla	8 (40%)	12 (60%)
Palms	2 (33.3%)	4 (66.7%)

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Descriptive and inferential statistics of sweating severity before and after two weeks of administration of oxybutynin or placebo

	Oxybutynin (n = 66)			Placebo (n = 74)			Between-group statistics
	Pre	Post	Comparison within group	Pre	Post	Comparison within group	Pre; comparison between groups	Post; comparison between groups
Statistics			X^2 (df = 6, N = 66) = 18.71, P = 0.005			X^2 (df = 6, N = 74) = 50.23, P = 0.000	X^2 (df = 2, N = 140) = 2.81, P = 0.25	X^2 (df = 3, N = 140) = 9.07, P = 0.03
Severity of sweating
Grade 1	0 (0%)	36 (54.5%)		0 (0%)	26 (35.1%)
Grade 2	27 (40.9%)	25 (37.9%)		38 (51.4%)	30 (40.5%)
Grade 3	21 (31.8%)	4 (6.1%)		24 (32.4%)	13 (17.6%)
Grade 4	18 (27.3%)	1 (1.5%)		12 (16.2%)	5 (6.8%)
	66 (100%)	66 (100%)		74 (100%)	74 (100%)

Table 3 Sweating severity according to time (before versus after treatment), group (oxybutynin versus placebo), and gender (males versus females)

	Oxybutynin				Placebo
	Pre		Post		Pre		Post
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
	(n = 27)	(n = 39)	(n = 27)	(n = 39)	(n = 27)	(n = 47)	(n = 27)	(n = 47)
	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)
Mean HDSS scores	3.04 (0.90)	2.74 (0.75)	1.78 (0.75)	1.38 (0.59)	3.04 (0.71)	2.43 (0.68)	2.15 (0.82)	1.85 (0.93)

Abbreviations: HDSS, Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale; M, mean; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale scores decreased over time, with a greater decrease in the oxybutynin group than in the placebo group (significant time by group interaction [F(1, 136) 21.95, P = 0.000, η² = 0.139]).

Table 4 Adverse effects in the oxybutynin and placebo groups

	Oxybutynin (n = 66)		Placebo (n = 74)		Statistics
	Yes	No	Yes	No
Gastrointestinal complications	7 (10.6%)	59 (89.4%)	6 (8.1%)	68 (91.9%)	χ^2 (df = 1, N = 140) = 0.26, P = 0.61
Sedation	0 (0%)	66 (100%)	0 (0%)	74 (100%)	–
Dry mouth	3 (4.4%)	63 (95.6%)	0 (0%)	74 (100%)	χ^2 (df = 1, N = 140) = 3.44, P = 0.10a
Urinary complications	3 (4.4%)	63 (95.6%)	0 (0%)	74 (100%)	χ^2 (df = 1, N = 140) = 3.44, P = 0.10a

Note:

a Fisher’s Exact test.