Managing Antidepressant-Induced Hyperhidrosis With Vitamin E: An Over-the-Counter Supplement-Based Approach

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Antidepressant-induced excessive sweating (ADIES) affects approximately 22% of patients.
• ADIES can negatively impact patient quality of life and adherence to treatment.
• Current management strategies for ADIES are limited, often necessitating antidepressant discontinuation or polypharmacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of Vitamin E as an adjunctive treatment for antidepressant-induced excessive sweating (ADIES).

Main Methods:

• A case report detailing the treatment of a patient with major depressive disorder experiencing significant night sweats secondary to venlafaxine therapy.
• Over-the-counter Vitamin E supplementation was initiated as an adjunct therapy.
• Symptom severity was assessed using validated scales (CGI-S and HDSS) over a 3-month period.

Main Results:

• The patient reported a significant reduction in excessive sweating after 3 months of Vitamin E supplementation.
• The intervention was well-tolerated, with no reported adverse effects.
• This approach aimed to avoid switching antidepressants or increasing polypharmacy.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin E presents a potentially effective, low-risk, and accessible adjunctive treatment for ADIES.
• This strategy may improve patient quality of life and medication adherence.
• Further research, including larger clinical trials, is warranted to confirm these findings.