Investigating the Excessive Sweating Induced by Aripiprazole: Two Case Reports

Abstract

Background: Many drugs, including antipsychotics, cause an adverse effect, such as excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Hyperhidrosis occurs by drugs that act on the thermoregulatory centers in the hypothalamus, spinal, and sympathetic ganglia or on the endocrine system. Case Report: This study reports two patients who developed hyperhidrosis while taking aripiprazole. A 38-year-old woman who had a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder and a 17-year-old boy who developed multiple motor tics continued to take aripiprazole even though they had hyperhidrosis. The dosage of aripiprazole was adjusted to reduce diaphoresis. Conclusion: Besides the potential risks of dehydration, electrolyte depletion, and hypothermia, hyperhidrosis may be a distressing and embarrassing symptom that, if not addressed properly, can promote noncompliance with the medication. Therefore, it is imperative to create awareness of this unusual potential adverse effect of aripiprazole.

Keywords

• aripiprazole
• hyperhidrosis
• sweating
• adverse drug event