The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug developed to reduce excessive sweating – a chronic skin condition that produces more perspiration than needed to regulate normal body temperature.
But don't expect to pick up the drug in time to beat the upcoming heat wave.
Qbrexza will not be available in pharmacies until October, according to Dermira Inc., the California-based biopharmaceutical company that manufactures the drug.
The FDA approved Qbrexza to treat excessive underarm sweating, a condition known as primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The drug comes packaged inside a cloth, which users wipe over their skin each day to prevent sweat glands from activating.
Some 15 million Americans experience some form of excessive sweating, with more than 10 million of them experiencing excessive underarm perspiration.
The stigma and burdens associated with excessive sweating prompted dermatologists to request new treatment options, Dermira Chairman Tom Wiggans said in a statement.
“From the start, our goal was to develop an approach that went beyond masking a person’s excessive underarm sweating and instead focused on treating the condition in a clinically meaningful way," Wiggans said.
The FDA approved Qbrexza based on two clinical trials. The most common side effects include dry mouth, dilated pupils, sore throat, headache, urinary hesitation, blurred vision, dry nose, dry eyes, dry skin and constipation.