from the Fall 2004 issue
We are pleased to announce that the FDA has recently approved BOTOX® for the treatment of severe underarm sweating (primary axillary hyperhidrosis) that is inadequately managed with topical agents. This represents an important new treatment option for the 1.3 million Americans suffering with hyperhidrosis.
Severe axillary hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that involves hyperactive sweat glands. Sweating is the body’s temperature regulator. In hyperhidrosis, sweating significantly exceeds the body’s normal requirements. In some patients, the excessive sweating interferes with daily activities.
BOTOX® treatment helps control this condition by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. In a clinical study of 322 patients with severe underarm sweating, 84 out of 104 BOTOX®-treated patients (81 percent) achieved a greater than 50 percent reduction in sweating, compared to only 44 out of 108 treated with a placebo (41 percent). The median duration of response in BOTOX® patients was between six and seven months.
BOTOX® is not a cure; the excessive sweating will return gradually. The treatment can be repeated as needed to control the symptoms of hyperhidrosis.
We have been performing this treatment successfully for a number of years as a cosmetic treatment. However, the FDA’s approval now qualifies this underarm treatment for coverage under most insurance plans. We are working with Allergan Dermatology Therapeutics, the maker of BOTOX®, to verify insurance coverage for qualified patients.
Please call The Center for Medical Dermatology at 713.796.9199 to schedule your consultation for this newly-approved treatment.
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