question-icon

Suggest Treatment For Excessive Sweating And Belching

default
Posted on Wed, 27 Aug 2014
Question: 68 year old male who is having severe sweating episodes after being in bed 2-3 hours. this also causes belching. this last about 30- 45 minutes. any ideas as to the cause?Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Needs workup.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
Excessive sweating AKA hyperhidrosis is a wide array of manifestation to many etiologies underlying and need a lot of work up to reach one.This symptom is sweating in excess of that required for normal thermoregulation, is a condition that usually begins in either childhood or adolescence. Although any site on the body can be affected by hyperhidrosis, the sites most commonly affected are the palms, soles, and axillae. Hyperhidrosis may be idiopathic or secondary to other diseases, metabolic disorders, febrile illnesses, or medication use. Hyperhidrosis exists in 3 forms: emotionally induced hyperhidrosis (in which it affects the palms, soles, and axillae, localized hyperhidrosis, and generalized hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis often causes great emotional distress and occupational disability regardless of the form and it needs to be sorted out.
Following lab work needs to be done to sort out the roots for this excessive sweating
Thyroid function tests may reveal underlying hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis.
Blood glucose levels may reveal diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia.
Urinary catecholamines may reveal a possible pheochromocytoma.
Uric acid levels may reveal gout.
A purified protein derivative (PPD) test can be performed to screen for tuberculosis.
Chest radiography may be used to rule out tuberculosis or a neoplastic cause of the hyperhidrosis.
Consult to a neurologist and endocrinologist and discuss the different management plans from conservative to interventional like topical agents as anticholinergics, boric acid, 2-5% tannic acid solutions, resorcinol, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde (which may cause sensitization), glutaraldehyde, and methenamine,Drysol (20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate in absolute anhydrous ethyl alcohol),topical application of baking soda,aluminium chloride gel are to be discussed
Systemic agents as anticholinergic medications such as propantheline bromide, glycopyrrolate, oxybutynin, and benztropine. Also sedatives and tranquilizers, indomethacin, and calcium channel blockers are also useful.
Iontophoresis (passing a direct current across the skin) Also works like charm, so does botulinum toxin.
last but not the least is the surgical parasympathectomy if the above mentioned maneuvers fail

I hope you see it in a right perspective. Get to a doctor and let them sort out the probable cause for you here.
Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (20 hours later)
My current medication is simvastin 10 mg daily metoprolol er 50 mg daily and 1 low dose aspirin daily

Could any of this medication be causing my excess sweating?
Please note these sweating episodes only happen about 1or 2 times per week.

Thanks for your reply.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
None of three medicines do that

Detailed Answer:
thank you for asking
None of the three medications you mentioned cause that. Only twice a week episodes are less and simple anxiety may cause that too. Belching association with the sweating may indicates some bowel trouble. If you have normal functioning bowel then no worries. if IBS or any other functional disease it may be the result of that functional bowel.
Nut shell possibilities and management are many. we need to find the cause.
Do as directed above and you wont have a problem.
Take care.
Khan
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Treatment For Excessive Sweating And Belching

Brief Answer: Needs workup. Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking Excessive sweating AKA hyperhidrosis is a wide array of manifestation to many etiologies underlying and need a lot of work up to reach one.This symptom is sweating in excess of that required for normal thermoregulation, is a condition that usually begins in either childhood or adolescence. Although any site on the body can be affected by hyperhidrosis, the sites most commonly affected are the palms, soles, and axillae. Hyperhidrosis may be idiopathic or secondary to other diseases, metabolic disorders, febrile illnesses, or medication use. Hyperhidrosis exists in 3 forms: emotionally induced hyperhidrosis (in which it affects the palms, soles, and axillae, localized hyperhidrosis, and generalized hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis often causes great emotional distress and occupational disability regardless of the form and it needs to be sorted out. Following lab work needs to be done to sort out the roots for this excessive sweating Thyroid function tests may reveal underlying hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis. Blood glucose levels may reveal diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia. Urinary catecholamines may reveal a possible pheochromocytoma. Uric acid levels may reveal gout. A purified protein derivative (PPD) test can be performed to screen for tuberculosis. Chest radiography may be used to rule out tuberculosis or a neoplastic cause of the hyperhidrosis. Consult to a neurologist and endocrinologist and discuss the different management plans from conservative to interventional like topical agents as anticholinergics, boric acid, 2-5% tannic acid solutions, resorcinol, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde (which may cause sensitization), glutaraldehyde, and methenamine,Drysol (20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate in absolute anhydrous ethyl alcohol),topical application of baking soda,aluminium chloride gel are to be discussed Systemic agents as anticholinergic medications such as propantheline bromide, glycopyrrolate, oxybutynin, and benztropine. Also sedatives and tranquilizers, indomethacin, and calcium channel blockers are also useful. Iontophoresis (passing a direct current across the skin) Also works like charm, so does botulinum toxin. last but not the least is the surgical parasympathectomy if the above mentioned maneuvers fail I hope you see it in a right perspective. Get to a doctor and let them sort out the probable cause for you here. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please. May the odds be ever in your favour. Regards Khan