Treatment of Drenching Sweats in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Abnormal sweating is a sometimes distressing autonomic feature that relates to abnormal reflex vasodilation in skin. It occurs in 10–30% of Parkinson’s Disease patients and is possibly more common in younger women. Altered sweating appears to occur in two forms: that related to dopaminergic innervation (“off” sweating) and the other being non-dopaminergic. As sweat glands are stimulated by sympathetic cholinergic, adrenergic, and noradrenergic pathways, these represent the major non-dopaminergic types. Treatment options are limited. In some cases no treatment is needed. For the dopaminergic type, treating “off” times is the best strategy. For non-dopaminergic type the use of anticholinergics can be helpful.