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What Is Severe Underarm Sweating?

Severe underarm sweating is a medical condition known as severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis, which involves overactive sweat glands. Sweat is your body's temperature regulator. In severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis, sweating significantly exceeds the body's normal requirements for cooling.
If you answer yes to any questions below you should consider medical treatment for underarm sweating.

• How many times a day do you change clothes?
• Have you been treated with any prescription strength antiperspirant or deodorants designed to control severe sweating?
• How many hours a day do you spend dealing with severe underarm sweating?
• How often do you think about severe underarm sweating?
• Do you carry supplies (such as extra clothes, antiperspirants, powders or towels) to help you manage your severe underarm sweating?

BOTOX® is FDA Approved for severe underarm sweating that is not adequately managed with topical agents. BOTOX® treatment helps control this condition by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don't receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops.

How Effective Is BOTOX® Treatment?

BOTOX® treatment is very effective. One clinical study involved 322 patients with severe underarm sweating*
• 57 out of 104 BOTOX® treated patients (55%) achieved an effective response—compared to only 6 out of 108 treated without BOTOX® (6%).
• 84 out of 104 BOTOX® treated patients (81%) achieved a greater than 50% reduction in sweating—compared to only 44 out of 108 treated without BOTOX® (41%).
* Results were based on patients' responses to a questionnaire (The Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale [HDSS]) that assessed the extent to which underarm sweating affected their daily activities. Patients were defined as "responders" if they showed improvement greater than or equal to 2 grades on the HDSS from the start of the study to 4 weeks after their first 2 treatment sessions, or if they had a sustained response after treatment 1 and did not receive re-treatment during the study.
In this clinical study, half of the patients had a treatment duration of at least 201 days or 6.7 months.1 It is not a cure; your symptoms will return gradually, and you will know when the time is right for another treatment. Your healthcare provider will recommend a treatment strategy to ensure that you receive the best possible results with BOTOX® treatment.

You should notice a significant reduction in underarm sweating within 4 weeks of your first treatment. There is a possibility that some sweat glands may be missed, and you may continue to experience some sweating from the untreated areas. If you do not see a significant reduction in sweating, you should contact your healthcare provider and request a follow-up consultation.

How Long Does a BOTOX® Treatment Last?

In a key clinical study, half of the patients had a treatment duration of at least 201 days or 6.7 months. It is not a cure; your symptoms will return gradually, and you will know when the time is right for another treatment. Your healthcare provider will recommend a treatment strategy to ensure that you receive the best possible results with BOTOX® treat.

What If I Decide to Stop Treatment?

If you decide not to have further treatment, there will be no lasting change in the treated areas. The effects of BOTOX® treatment will gradually wear off, and your underarm sweating will resume.

Is BOTOX® Treatment Covered by My Insurance?

For years, Allergan has been helping patients and physicians get answers to their health insurance coverage questions through the BOTOX ADVANTAGE® Program. Allergan also has more than a decade of experience with reimbursement for BOTOX® treatment. The BOTOX ADVANTAGE® Program works with a growing number of insurance carriers and healthcare providers to facilitate the reimbursement process. To find out how BOTOX® is covered under your insurance plan, call the BOTOX ADVANTAGE® Reimbursement Hotline, toll-free, at 1-800-530-6680, Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time.

Additionally, Hotline representatives will help physicians and patients research alternative coverage for those who do not have insurance. If alternative coverage is not available, Hotline representatives will help determine if you qualify for the BOTOX® Patient Assistance Program. This program is available to all patients who lack insurance coverage and demonstrate financial need.